I. Introduction

A. The law of cyberspace may be a misnomer since there is no coherent body of law currently. There certainly are laws that apply, but most were not developed for this rich new environment. Many questions remain unanswered at present.

1. What law should apply to govern the Internet? Or is it too soon to decide? Should the Net be governed at all?

2. Will a body of cyberspace law develop? Or will Internet issues simply be lumped into relevant substantive laws?

3. How can the United States expect to govern such an international medium?

B. These and other important issues are the crux of this cyberspace law seminar. Subject coverage and possible webproject topics include:

 

II. Goals for the course - There are three types of goals for this course: substantive law, team work and learning to use presentation technology.

A. Substantive law - Certainly students need to master a variety of subjects in order to have an overview of cyberspace law.

1. To identify problems relative to the Internet and World Wide Web and to propose solutions.

2. To explore the difference between the expectations of content providers and users of cyberspace and to recommend legal solutions.

3. To research one area in depth and share the knowledge gained with the class and the world through the web.

4. To consider whether there are issues that will move out of the realm of cyberspace law and into a more general area of the law.

B. Team work - Law students complete little of their law school work as collaborative projects, yet the real world of law practice often is based on a team concept of work.

1. To learn collaborative skills by working in teams to produce a work product that will be shared with the class and critiqued by class members.

2. To work in pairs to produce a website on a cyberspace law topic that will serve the function of a research paper but in a webpage format and that includes pre-assigned readings for the class.

3. To develop communications skills both oral skills and presentation skills by making a class presentation.

4. To share these work products beyond the class via the course website.

C. Technology goals - Many current law students have never created websites, multimedia and the like.

1. To utilize materials from the web for reading assignments,

2. To make available on the course website additional materials not found on the web,

3. To create a more collaborative learning environment through a virtual classroom on the web,

4. To maintain and participate in a threaded discussion list accessed through the course website,

5. To assist students to use educational technology to facilitate class presentations, and

6. To post on the course website student final webprojects so that others have access to the research and analysis that each pair of students produces.

III. Class sessions and Tutorials

A. The course is divided into three segments:

1.    Weeks 1-7 (January 8 - February 12).

a. The class session will be handled by speakers (including Professor Gasaway) with assigned reading from the web.

b. A technology survey will be completed today from which teams and the later pairs will be assigned.

c. Internet policy teams assigned January 15.

d.    A topic survey for website topics will be conducted week of            January 22.

e.    Partners and topics assigned February 5.

f.    Teams will begin to work on drafting Internet policies and will         have them completed by February 12 and on the web.

2.    Week 8, February 19 - Internet policies discussion

3.    Speakers, February 26 - March 4

4.    Weeks 11 - 14  (March 18 - April 8)

a. Students pairs begin their 40-minute class presentations.

b. Presentations are evaluated by all class members on an evaluation form provided by Gasaway.

c. Final projects are due April 21.

B. Student assignments (See chart below for dates)

1. Weekly readings on the web. Check course website twice weekly for assignments and any additional materials.

2. Participate in class discussions based on readings and the presentations.

3. Use the discussion list for out of class discussions of the issues raised in class and to post news items, new cases, questions, etc.

4. Internet policy teams

a. Professor Gasaway [hereinafter lg] will divide the class into three teams which are to draft an Internet policy for a specific type of organization or institution. They are: a medical school and teaching hospital, a major sports organization and a large public library.

b. Begin work as a team to develop a concise but usable Internet policy. Select a team leader, and begin research on this topic. After your team has developed an outline, hold an initial meeting with lg (about 30 minutes in length).  Each team member must be present.  NOTE: YOU MAY HAVE TO REARRANGE YOUR PERSONAL SCHEDULES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. DO IT!  You will have a small amount of time next week in class for the initial meeting.

c. Teams must meet at least one additional time with lg for a one-hour tutorial. Team leaders schedule the meetings after the policy is underway. The purpose of the tutorial is to discuss in detail the issues your policy addresses, how you plan to deal with particular matters that are unique to your assigned institution, etc. EACH TEAM MEMBER MUST BE PRESENT.

d. Complete the policy by February 21 and have the final document on the web by that date.  Policies will be discussed February 28. This is a graded assignment that counts for 30% of the grade; naturally, each contributing member of the team will receive the same grade. Anyone who does not participate and contribute will be graded accordingly.

e. The whole class will critique the document in class. Additionally, teams will be asked to evaluate their own team members. Grades will be determined by lg.

f. Teams will have one last chance to improve documents before they are posted as cyberspace student Internet policies on the course website by March 7.

5. Class webprojects

a. Professor Gasaway will also assign you to work with a partner for your final  project. You will have some choice in the topic, but each pair must be working on a unique topic.
 
b. This website and the class presentation count for 65% of your final grade. See "Project Guidelines" on the course website.

1. This breaks down as 25% for the class presentation and 40% for the final product. Class presentations will be evaluated by each of you and the evaluation forms will be used by lg to determine the grade. The final projects will be graded by lg.

2. Each person must make part of the presentation and the project. It is expected that each team member will receive the same grade -- you are a team.

3. You will have an opportunity to evaluate your team member's participation and work.

4. One or more short readings from the web must be assigned to the class the week before your presentation.

c. In preparing for the presentation, you must hold at least two one-hour tutorials with lg.

1. The first lg tutorial is to discuss generally the topic as you begin the work; it must be held no later than 3 weeks before you are scheduled to give your presentation.  You are responsible for scheduling this with lg.

2. The second lg tutorial is one week before your presentation to discuss both substance and to review how you are going to present the topic.  You are responsible for scheduling it with lg.

d. Should you need technology assistance for either the presentation or your presentation beyond that provided in class, you are responsible for scheduling a tutorial with either me or Steve Melamut in the library.

e.    Look at earlier class projects on the course website.

6. Class and online discussion and critiques counts for 5% of your grade.  The discussion list is available from the website.  Password will be distributed in class.

IV. Assignments

                                CYBERSPACE SEMINAR ASSIGNMENTS
 
 

SPECIFIC ASSIGNMENT	DESCRIPTION	SPECIFIC TASKS	DATE - NO LATER THAN CLASS TIME	FINAL DUE DATE
Internet policy project	Three teams assigned to draft Internet policies for specified entities	1. Select team leader during class & forward name to lg	Week 3	January 19
		2.  Prepare outline 3.  Schedule & hold first meeting with lg	Week 4	January 29
		4. Schedule & hold tutorial with lg	Week 6	February 12
		5. Put policy on the web	Week 7	February 15
		6. Present policy to class	Week 8	February 19
		7. Move policy to course website		March 4
Website Project	Work with assigned partner on final project which your pair will select.	1. Schedule & hold 2 tutorials with lg 2. Arrange technology help if needed	1st = 3 weeks before presentation; 2d = 1 week before presentation	Variable
		3. Locate & provide to lg class reading assignment on web	One week before presentation	Variable
		4. Complete final /project on web	Monday before presentation	Variable
		5. Class presentation	As Assigned	Variable
		6. Move project to course website		April 21

 

V. Announcements

A. Announcements will be posted on the course listserv.

B. Professor Gasaway has established a listserv for the class using your UNC e-mail account.

    1.    You have been automatically enrolled on the listserv if you were registered for the course.

    2.    If you do not have a UNC email account or prefer to use another email address, please provide her with the address by email.   laura_gasaway@unc.edu