Home » Courses » 2007 Spring

RHE 312/STS 311: Computers and Writing (Topic: Lifehacking)

Course: RHE 312/STS 311: Computers and Writing
Semester: Spring 2007
Unique Number: 44790/45430
Time and Place: MWF 9-10 in FAC 9
Office Hours: MWF 10-11 in PAR 17 and by appointment.

Description

Lifehacking refers to developing productivity tricks to avoid information overload and organize one’s life. Although it started in the software development community, lifehacking has spread across various facets of knowledge work.

In this course, we’ll examine lifehacking as a literate phenomenon emerging from knowledge work, with special emphasis on how it relates to changes in work organization and how it changes work and personal activity through self-mediation. We’ll read lifehacking texts and critiques; try out lifehacking techniques and software; and observe knowledge work with the object of recommending lifehacking solutions. We’ll also apply lifehacking to our own work and examine how that work changes.

Learning objectives:

  • Time management basics and genres
  • Ecological analysis of texts in work activity
  • Project management basics and genres
  • Cross-functional collaboration skills

Texts:

  • Johnson-Eilola, J. Datacloud.
  • Allen, D. Getting Things Done.
  • Readings in the course packet (i.e., linked from the schedule)
  • News aggregator, with feeds from http://43folders.com, http://lifehacker.com, and related blogs

Projects:

  • Project 1: Examining an Individual’s Work: Investigate texts at a participant’s work, with special focus on time and project management.
  • Project 2: Lifehacking an Individual’s Work: Recommend a time and project management system for the participant, including appropriate software, tools, and texts.
  • Project 3: Lifehacking an Organization: In teams, examine how an organization handles strategic, tactical, and operational levels of work. Provide recommendations for improving the organization at these levels through flexible systems.

Grades:

  • Project 1: 30%
  • Project 2: 40%
  • Project 3: 30%

This online course packet includes the course schedule, syllabus, project descriptions, readings, and other resources.

For more information on the course, see the links below.