Welcome to HSTAA 317: History of the Digital Age!
This is a 5-credit online class featuring a mix of synchronous and asynchronous class work. We will meet every week for a synchronous discussion/work sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:30-12:30 PT. Wednesday's session will be immediately followed by 30-40 minutes of open office hours where students can choose to stay online to continue discussion with the professor. Recognizing that remote learners may have geographic and other life constraints, synchronous sessions are optional, although strongly encouraged.
Plan to spend 3.5-5 hours per week in "class" (synchronous sessions and watching lectures and other media on your own time) and another 5 hours per week reading, writing, posting, etc.
Auditors are welcome, but synchronous sessions and online discussions are for registered undergraduate students only.
Please visit the syllabus page to learn about course content, goals, structure, and assignments.
Please visit Professor O'Mara's homepage to learn more about her work and teaching.
Schedule at a glance
| Week One (Jan 4-8) | Introduction; before the digital age |
| Week Two (Jan 11-15) | World War II, the Bomb, and American science |
| Week Three (Jan 18-22) | Loving and fearing “the electronic brain” |
| Week Four (Jan 25-29) | White spaces, tech places |
| Week Five (Feb 1-5) | From moonshots to hippies |
| Week Six (Feb 8-12) | The computer becomes personal |
| Week Seven (Feb 15-19) | Wargames: AI, the internet, and high-tech defense |
| Week Eight (Feb 22-26) | The dot-com boom |
| Week Nine (March 1-5) | Global Silicon Valleys |
| Week Ten (March 8-12) | Big Tech and beyond |