Teaching Resources
I've been fortunate in that I primarily teach courses focusing on the social impact of information and communication technologies, an area I am passionate about. I hope these are helpful to other instructors and students.
Winter, 2021: I taught an updated version of my doctoral seminar on Social Media Theory and Research. A abbreviated version of the syllabus is here in case it's useful for other people teaching similar courses: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~enicole/2021_SocialMediaSyllabus_TD.pdf
Fall, 2018: I'm teaching two courses on social media. The syllabus for the undergraduate course on the Social and Psychological Implications of Social Media is here and the doctoral seminar on Social Media Research & Theory is here.
SI710/COMM840: Social Media Studies: Theory & Research: This course will introduce graduate students to relevant theories and scholarship examining the social, psychological, and interpersonal aspects of social media use, using relevant theories in fields such as communication, social psychology, and sociology. We will be reading both classic and new research in this area. Topics include: computer-mediated communication theory; self-presentation and online identity; social capital; interpersonal relationship initiation, maintenance, and dissolution; and psychological implications of social media use.
SI429: e-Communities: This course introduces students to important concepts, terms, and theories that will help them understand how online communities are used by millions of people every day for a variety of purposes. Roughly, about one third of the course will be devoted to developing a language for and understanding of online interaction, community, and online relationships; approximately one third will be devoted to exploring different kinds of online communities; and the final third of the course will review design principles for successful online communities. This component of the course connects social science theories with the goals of designers, online community managers and online community participants.
Fall, 2013 Syllabus; Winter, 2014 Syllabus
TC853: Information Technology and Organizations: This discussion-oriented
course examines the economic, social and organizational changes associated with
new online technologies, specifically focusing on “Web 2.0” companies and concepts.
Through coursework consisting of readings, in-class discussions, guest lectures, and hands-on projects and papers, students will use established concepts and theories to understand and predict developments in the Internet industry.
TC401: MEDIA IMPACTS ON SOCIETY: This course focuses on the social impacts, both practical and theoretical, of computermediated communication (CMC) systems. CMC includes many different types of technologies, such as social networking sites, email, forums, chat, and online games. We will focus on the analysis of CMC practices, the social processes and structures that emerge when people use these applications, and the problems and barriers that emerge from use. Key concepts such as privacy, identity, the digital divide and virtual communities will be discussed and critiqued.
TC375: New Media, Old Media: This class focuses on the social impacts of newer information and communication technologies. We will learn about theoretical approaches to the study of computer-mediated communication and explore how technology affects social processes such as identity formation and relationship-development. Key concepts such as privacy, the digital divide, community, and technological determinism will be discussed and critiqued.
2007 Course Reading List (Email me for full syllabus)
2006 Course Reading List (Email me for full syllabus)
TC853: Information Technology and Organizations: An MA-level course. This year the class is organized around fundamental economic concepts and their application to "Web 2.0" technologies, tools and services.