CS 302: Why behind Everyday Technologies Schedule (Winter 2026)

Important Notes


  • You can find a lot of important information, such as student drop-in hours (aka office hours) and course grade determination, on the syllabus.
  • Class topics and homework information may change over the course of the term. Please treat this schedule as a rough guide for what we'll be focusing on and expect changes as the term progresses.
  • Before Class: Complete the readings and/or preparation activities. Class is structured expecting that you have completed these tasks.
  • Restricted Access: Most of the links will require a Carleton login to view. If you're external to Carleton and want access, just shoot me an email.
  • Revisions: If you are submitting a revision for a deliverable, submit this form to let me and the course staff know where to look for changes.

Date Assignments Due In-Class Activities Assignments Released
Week 1 Personal Website Setup
Mon 1/5 No Prep! Slides
Wed 1/7 GitHub Pages Prep Slides
Deliverable: Build a Personal Website
Fri 1/9 No Prep! Slides
Week 2 Digital Logic Design x Metaphysics (What is being?)
Mon 1/12 Logic Gates Prep
Deliverable: Build a Personal Website Due 10pm
Slides Deliverable: Build a 2-Bit Calculator
Wed 1/14 Binary Math Prep Slides
Fri 1/16 Ship of Theseus Prep Slides
Week 3 Digital Logic Design x Metaphysics (What is being?)
Mon 1/19 Real-Life Tamagotchi Prep
Deliverable: Build a 2-Bit Calculator Due 10pm
Slides Deliverable: DLD x Metaphysics Webpage
Wed 1/21 Computer made of Crabs Prep Slides
Fri 1/23 Computer from 850 CE Prep Slides
Week 4 GenAI x Epistemology (What is truth?)
Mon 1/26 LLM Intuition Prep
Deliverable: DLD x Metaphysics Webpage Due 10pm
Slides Deliverable: Build a GenAI Assistant
Wed 1/28 You vs GPT-4 Prep Slides
Fri 1/30 Bullshit Machines Prep
(Yes, you read that right.)
Slides
Week 5 GenAI x Epistemology (What is truth?)
Mon 2/2 Web of Belief Prep
Deliverable: Build a GenAI Assistant Due 10pm
Slides Deliverable: GenAI x Epistemology Webpage
Pair Deliverable: Everyday Tech Proposal
Wed 2/4 Social Epistemology Prep Slides
Fri 2/6 Allegory of the Cave Prep Slides
Week 6 Social Media x Ethics (What is good?)
Mon 2/9 Mid-Term Break!
Wed 2/11 Social Media Prep
Deliverable: GenAI x Epistemology Webpage Due 10pm
Slides Deliverable: Build a Bot
Fri 2/13 Bots Prep Slides
Week 7 Social Media x Ethics (What is good?)
Mon 2/16 Ethical Frameworks Prep
Pair Deliverable: Everyday Tech Proposal Due 10pm
Slides
Wed 2/18 Categories of Bots Prep Slides
Fri 2/20 No Prep! Jean out. Project Consultation Pair Deliverable: Everyday Tech Project
Week 8 Social Media x Ethics (What is good?)
Mon 2/23 Botivist Prep
Deliverable: Build a Bot Due 10pm
Slides Deliverable: Social Media x Ethics Webpage
Wed 2/25 Socialbot Network Prep Slides
Fri 2/27 Prep your Everyday Tech Explainer for Peer Review! Slides
Week 9 Project Work & Presentations
Mon 3/2 Prep your Final Presentations for Peer Review!
Deliverable: Social Media x Ethics Webpage Due 10pm
Slides
Wed 3/4 Pair Deliverable: Everyday Tech Project Due 12pm Everyday Tech Presentations
Fri 3/6 No Prep! Everyday Tech Presentations
Week 10 Project Presentations
Mon 3/9 No Prep! Everyday Tech Presentations Deliverable: Everyday Tech Webpage
Wed 3/11 No Prep! Everyday Tech Presentations
Exam Period Deliverable: Everyday Tech Webpage Due Mon 3/16 6pm