Note: Take Home Exam Questions – We are looking for responses that indicate that not only have you read the material but also considered how the information impacts you and your interest in the class or professional work. Personal examples are encouraged. If asked to “discuss” an issue in the question, responses should be more than 1 or 2 sentences. Please do not respond to a question by using verbatim language from the texts. We would like answers in your own words and your own original thoughts on the subject.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
1. Go to the official website of the Texas Department of Information Resources (www.dir.state.tx.us). Explore this web site and its links. Identify and discuss at least 2 things that you learned about the Department of Information Resources (DIR) by exploring this website and its links.
2. Go to the website of the publication, Government Technology (http://www.govtech.com/). Identify and discuss at least 2 things that you learned from your review of this website.
3. Identify and discuss at least 2 things that you learned from Dustin Haisler’s presentation and materials.
4. Identify and discuss at least 2 things that you learned from Alan Bojorquez’s presentation and materials on social media.
6. Read Walter Russell Mead’s article. How to Save Democracy from Technology. Foreign Affairs January/February 2021. Pages 98 – 110. Identify & discuss at least 2 major points that the author is making about the problems with technology and its threat to democracy. Do you agree or disagree with the author? Why or why not?
7. The following articles have been taken from the New York Review of Books.
(1) The Digital Poorhouse; June 7, 2018 Issue
(2) Disinformed to Death; August 20, 2020 Issue
Identify and discuss at least two of the major points of the authors of each of those articles. Do you agree or disagree with each of the authors? Why or why not?
8. The following articles have been taken from the New York Times.
(1) Inside an Amazon Warehouse, Robots’ Ways Rub Off on Humans
(2) Mass Firing on Zoom is Latest Sign of Weight Watchers Unrest c
(3) An Algorithm That Grants Freedom or Takes It Away, NYT Feb 6, 2020.
Identify and discuss at least two of the major points of the authors of each of the articles. Do you agree or disagree with each of the authors? Why or why not?
9. Read Deloitte’s 2021 Tech Trends
Describe two of the 2021 Tech Trends and provide an example of how each could help improve government.
10. Read The Smart Cities Playbook
Describe one smart cities myth and explain in your own words why it is false. Describe and discuss what roles should be part of a smart city working group and why.
Complete a customer persona (from page 17) about a hypothetical user in your city (or yourself). What did you learn?
11. Watch Innovation in Government TEDx Video
Discuss Jason Reynar’s approach to innovation in local government. What part of his approach did you find most intriguing?
12. Watch Trust and Design TEDx Video
Discuss the role design plays in building trust in digital government experiences. What are some practices your city could apply?
13. Read Follow the leaders: How governments can combat intensifying security risks.
What ideas stand out in this article? Are there common trends – across all the readings and guest speaker talks – that are highlight in this article? What is the role of leaders and leadership in tackling technology issues?
14. I would really like for you to watch the movie, “The Social Dilemma”. It is streaming on Netflix and should be available on other digital platforms as well. Let me know if you are unable to find the movie and I’ll substitute another question for you. Watch the movie and review it. Be sure to identify, discuss and critique what the producers of this movie are trying to tell you. Do you agree, disagree with the producers? Why or why not?
