Technology and AI: Utopia or Dystopia?

Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and digital networks are transforming nearly every aspect of human life. This course examines the double edged nature of technology by asking whether we are building a utopia of progress or drifting toward a dystopia of unintended consequences.

Students analyze real world technologies, debate ethical trade offs, reflect on personal values, and collaboratively design a vision of a future society shaped by responsible technological choices. It is designed especially for first and second year students moving into university level critical thinking, discussion based learning, and English medium academic communication. Discomfort, uncertainty, and challenge are treated as normal and productive parts of learning.

Materials: the class workbook, a computer, and a pen may or will be needed each class. Emails are answered within one working day during the semester.

Why this course matters

By taking this course, students will:

• Understand how AI and emerging technologies reshape economies, culture, creativity, and everyday life.
• Develop critical and ethical reasoning skills rather than memorizing technical details.
• Strengthen confidence in expressing original ideas in English, even without perfect fluency.
• Reflect on personal values, responsibility, and decision making in a technology driven world.
• Practice discussion, collaboration, and presentation skills for future academic and professional success.

What makes it distinct

• Interactive learning through debates, simulations, workshops, and case studies.
• Real world examples including AI in media, healthcare, hiring, surveillance, and the arts.
• Assignments that merge creativity with rigorous ethical reasoning.
• A capstone project where students design and defend their own vision of a future society.

Learning journey and objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Develop a nuanced understanding of how technology and society interact across disciplines.
• Identify both positive and negative effects of technological change.
• Apply ethical frameworks to analyze emerging technologies.
• Communicate ideas effectively in written, visual, and oral formats.
• Forecast technological trends and explore their implications for culture and society.

Responsible AI use policy

AI tools are part of modern learning and professional life. Their use is not automatically prohibited, but it must be transparent and purposeful. For major assignments, students include an AI Use and Decision Statement explaining:

• Whether AI tools were used;
• How they were used;
• Why this use supported learning rather than replaced thinking;
• What key decisions remained fully human.

Evaluation breakdown

Attendance and Participation is split into Homework and Participation at 10% and Attendance at 10%.

Major assignments

Assignment 1, Individual Presentation (20%, Class 5). A paired 5 to 7 minute presentation explaining a technology from your major, its applications, its challenges, and one ethical risk. Full brief and rubric: open the Presentation 1 handout.

Assignment 2, Midterm Exam (20%, Class 8). A closed book exam covering the first half of the semester. It is not about memorizing every detail but about showing that you understand the big ideas. Expect a mix of multiple choice, short answer, and analytical questions, including the Vulnerable World Hypothesis, ethical questions about new technology, and the growing role of AI. Think of it as your checkpoint before the creative, collaborative second half.

Assignment 3, Individual Reflection Paper (15%, around Class 11). A 1 to 1.5 page reflection on the kind of society you believe is worth building and the role technology should play in it. Full brief: open the Reflection Paper handout.

Assignment 4, Group Capstone Presentation (25%, Classes 14 to 16). A group presentation of 12 to 15 minutes that designs and defends a future society, merging your reflection papers into one unified vision. Full brief and rubric: open the Capstone handout.

Homework and participation (10%)

Students are expected to actively engage in discussions, debates, and peer reviews. Homework may include online discussion posts, case study responses, or preparation for debates. Active participation means:

• Speaking and engaging in English.
• Reading provided materials.
• Contributing ideas that enrich class discussion.

Attendance and lateness policy

Attendance (10%)

• Minimum requirement: students must attend at least two thirds of the total class days to pass the course.

Excused absences (Spring 2025 policy)

Attendance points are not deducted for excused absences accepted under the university attendance regulations Article 35(3) and Article 23(3). Examples include military obligation, family death, female menstruation, teaching practicum, participation in sports tournaments for student athletes, early employment, and other unavoidable circumstances approved by the student's College Dean.

Automatic LMS integration: students in the Reserve Forces Unit and those with menstrual excused absences are processed automatically through the LMS. Once approved, attendance for offline classes is recorded as Excused (Present). Recorded lectures (VOD) are not eligible for excused status, as they do not count as real time attendance. Excused records for military training or menstrual absences cannot be modified afterward.

Manual submission for other excused cases (teaching practicum, family death, sports tournaments, early employment, unavoidable personal circumstances): submit the official Confirmation of Absence (공결확인서) form with supporting documents by the next class. The form is issued by your department, and the department, not the professor, determines excused status. Forms must be submitted, signed, and stamped before the next class, and will not be accepted after one week. Do not email the form to the professor; share it after class. Excused absences still cost minus 1 participation point.

Unexcused absence

• Each unexcused absence results in minus 2 attendance points and minus 1 participation point.

Lateness

• Up to 5 minutes late: minus 0.5 attendance point.
• More than 20 minutes late: considered absent, a full minus 2 attendance points.
• Students who are late must inform the professor at the end of class, otherwise the lateness is recorded as an absence (0).

Restrictions on menstruation excuses

Menstrual absences are part of the LMS auto integration system, but they are not accepted on exam days, presentation days, the first week, midterms, the last week of class, or during university festivals (due to past abuse of this rule). For these cases, excuses must be submitted directly to the university, not to the professor.

Class policies

• Participation (minus 1 point per issue): not participating or speaking, speaking anything other than English, missing materials such as your book, laptop, tablet, or a pen, or being on your phone or sleeping.
• Plagiarism is not acceptable. If found, you will have 2 days to rewrite it (minus 20%) or receive a 0. In cases of a second offence, your department and the university will be informed.
• Late assignments are accepted up to one week late, with a deduction of 10% per day.
• You have to take part. This class runs on discussion and effort. Refusing to talk, participate, or simply not trying does not work here. If you are not ready to take part, it is best to find another class until you are.

Grades are your responsibility

15 class schedule

This schedule is subject to change based on class progress and needs. Any changes are announced in advance.