Project 4: Tech in Context

Due at: 11:59 PM PDT on Wednesday, 10/28

Version 2.0. Last Updated: 2026-10-21.

  • Research Document Due: Wednesday, 10/28 on Gradescope
  • Artifact Due: Friday, 11/13 on Gradescope
  • Group Signup Due: Friday, 11/13
  • Presention on Monday 11/16 or Tuesday 11/17 during your Lab, in person.

Content

Introduction

This semester, you have explored how computer science and technological innovations shape society, from individual experiences to global transformations. For this project, you’ll step away from coding to select a creative media format that allows you to critically examine an intersection between technology and society.

The project will consist of three parts: research documentat, artifact submission, and a live presentation. This approach offers an opportunity to engage with the actions and consequences of technology in a non-traditional format. You will select a creative medium to explore a tech-related topic of your choice. The medium you select should effectively convey the societal, economic, or cultural impact of your chosen topic.

We want this to be a fun and exciting project that allows you to pursue your interests. This project shouldn’t feel like a grind. The expected total time spent on this should not exceed five to ten hours. Ideally, most of the time spent on the project will be doing research on the topic.

This is a solo project! There are no partners for this project.

Project 4 Timeline

Part Submission Method Due Date
Part 1: Research Document Gradescope Wednesday 10/28 @11:59 PM
Part 2: Artifact Submission + Group Signup Gradescope Friday 11/13 @11:59 PM
Part 3: Presentation In Person in Lab Monday 11/16 or Tuesday 11/17

Choosing your Topic Content

  • Consider a technological innovation that has significantly transformed the way we live, work, or interact. Be sure to focus on a specific topic that allows for in-depth analysis or creative expression within the scope of the project.
  • Potential topics included: AI (autonomous weapons, AI copyright of artists/deepfakes), biometric surveillance, CRISPR, facebook, pagerank algorithm, smart farming, the internet, the TikTok algorithm, robotic teachers, and online security. Really, anything!
  • Focus on a single topic or innovation. Do not choose a topic that is too broad
    • For example, “LLMs” is too broad. A narrower topic, such as “the social impacts of LLMs on the loneliness epidemic” or “vector embeddings: how language models understand words,” gives you much more to focus and analyze.

AI Guidelines

  • Do NOT create this project with AI. All work that you submit should be your own creative work.
  • Plagiarism, including uncredited AI-generated work, will not be tolerated.

Part 1: Research Document

  • 200-350 words research document explaining your topic of choice and how you plan to create your artifact. You do not have to create the Artifact (yet!). Describe your intended creative process, the research behind the project, and the message you aim to communicate.
  • This is a chance for staff to review your research and make sure you are on the right path.
  • Format
    • Use clear headings and subheadings.
    • Standard font (e.g., Times New Roman, Arial) at 12-point size.
  • Content Overview
    • Introduction
      • Briefly introduce your project, including the topic and the medium used.
    • Creative Process
      • Explain the steps you took in creating your artifact.
      • Discuss how you generated and refined ideas, and any challenges you faced and overcame
    • Research
      • Summarize the key research conducted that informed your project
      • Highlight significant findings and insights that shaped your understanding of the topic
      • Address at least two elements from “Postive & Negative Elements”
      • Address at least two elements from “Technical Elements”
    • Intended Message
      • Clearly articulate your main message and how your medium effectively conveys this message
  • If applicable: include a Works Cited page using MLA format for citations (does not count towards the word count)
    • For in-text citations, reference the author and page number in parentheses, e.g., “Technology is cool” (AuthorLastName 40)
  • Credit any and all images used in your project

You can see documentation examples here

Part 2: Artifact Submission

The artifact should adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Acceptable physical formats include: art/drawings, sculptures, physical posters or collages.
  • Acceptable digital formats include: video interviews/debate, stop motion, live action, short film. Please note that video submissions should be < 5 minutes in length
  • Banned: Essays, songs, other kinds of videos, poems, or single photographs
  • If you’d like to use a different medium, you must get approval from the TAs.

Your artifact should include details that express your technical topic in a creative and novel way. Your artifact should answer at least two questions to answer from each of these 3 categories:

  • DEFINE THE PURPOSE:
    • What is the innovation you are focusing on?
    • What is the context for the innovation?
    • What social issue was this innovation meant to address?
    • Does it resolve problems of a certain kind in a particular community?
    • How does the innovation impact quality of life?
    • What motivated the creation or development of the innovation?
  • POSITIVE & NEGATIVE IMPACTS:
    • What has happened as a result of this innovation, intentional or unintentional?
    • Are there any long-term or short-term concerns for this innovation?
    • What major impact(s) has it contributed to in society, economics, or a particular culture or subculture?
    • What kind of regulations are in place for the technology, and how do these regulations (or lack of regulations) affect the public and society?
  • TECHNICAL ELEMENTS:
    • How might we understand this innovation?
    • How does this innovation relate to other innovations?
    • What algorithms are involved in this innovation?
    • How is the data used and analyzed for this technology?
  • Examples include a Handmade Collage on Social Media’s Impact on Youth, a Sculpture on Data Privacy, or Video Interviewing/Debating a peer or yourself on a Controversial Topic in Technology
  • Projects should be created in a manner that maximizes accessibility to all audiences (e.g., captions for videos, clear visuals).

You can see artifact examples here

Part 3: Group Presentation

You will present your Artifact in small, collaborative groups during Lab Monday 11/16 and Tuesday 11/17. This format is to foster a deeper exchange of ideas, encourage constructive feedback, and allow for a more intimate exploration of the societal, economic, or cultural impact of the tech-related topics we are studying.

Presentation Guidelines (5 minutes)

  • Presentations will be student led with AI/Tutor/TA supervision. You will be graded for your engagement and active participation.
  • Sign up by adding your first and last name to this Google Sheet. Sign ups are filled on a first-come first-serve basis. You must stay the full Lab duration
  • Artifact/Visual Aids: Present your physical or digital project. You may have supplementary notes and material, although not required.
  • Content Overview: Provide a clear and engaging description of your artifact and summarize your creative process, including your chosen medium conveys your topic.
    • Highlight key points such as:
      • The societal, economic, or cultural impact of the technology.
      • Any challenges or ethical dilemmas explored.
      • Sources or research that informed your work.
  • Clarity and Engagement: Speak clearly, make eye contact, and engage your audience.

Q&A Discussion Guidelines (3-5 minutes)

After your presentation, there will be a 3-5 minute discussion period where peers are encouraged to ask questions, share thoughts, and provide constructive feedback. This dialogue is essential for refining your understanding of both your own work and that of your peers.

Be ready to answer follow-up questions related to your project, process, and topic. Aim to facilitate dialogue by asking the audience or classmates for their thoughts or feedback on your topic. You are in charge of the Q&A, so do your best to guide the conversation. Conclude the Q&A with a brief summary of your project’s key points or takeaways based on the discussion.

  • Grading: Staff members will be grading your participation to ensure that you adhered to the following:
    • Presents for 5 minutes.
    • Facilitates and leads discussion/Q&A with peers
    • Explains the artifact’s purpose and impact
    • Provides thoughtful answers to at least 2 peer questions
    • Asks a question (as an audience member) to each presenter in the group

Feedback Form

Congratulations on finishing your fourth project in CS10🥳

Please spend some time completing this feedback form. This will be worth 1 point of your project grade. Thank you!

Rubric & Grading

Project 4 will be graded for coherence and content based on the following rubric.

Part 1: Research Document (4.5 pts)

Criteria Points
Documentation addresses at least two questions from “Define the Purpose” +2.0
Documentation addresses at least two questions from “POSITIVE & NEGATIVE IMPACTS” +2.0
Documentation addresses at least two questions from “TECHNICAL ELEMENTS” +1.0
Documentation highlights intended message of Artifact +1.0
All references are properly cited and submission follows style guide +0.5

Part 2: Artifact (3.5 pts)

Criteria Points
Artifact includes details that express technical topic of choice in a creative and novel way +3.0
Artifact is an acceptable medium to explore a single, tech-related topic. +0.5

Part 3: Presentation (8 pts)

Criteria Points
Signs up and is present at the allotted time. Presents for at least five minutes +1.0
Explains why you chose this artifact +1.0
Explains artifact’s purpose +1.0
Explains artifact’s positive impacts +1.0
Explains artifact’s negative impacts +1.0
Explains artifact’s technical elements +1.0
Facilitates and leads discussion/Q&A with peers +0.5
Provides thoughtful answers to at least 2 peer questions +0.5
Asks a question (as an audience member) to each presenter in the group +1.0

Submission

  • You’ll upload your Research Document and Artifact to Gradescope.
  • The Artifact must be uploaded in a single upload. Multiple photo uploads will not be accepted. If necessary, they should be compressed into a single file (PDF)
  • For video submissions we encourage attaching an unlisted YouTube Link or a Google Drive link

Submission

You may submit more than once before the deadline; only the final submission will be graded. It is your responsibility to check that the autograder on Gradescope runs as expected after you upload your submission.