Course - STS: Digitization and social change - KULT2201
KULT2201 - STS: Digitization and social change
About
Examination arrangement
Examination arrangement: Assignment
Grade: Letter grades
Evaluation | Weighting | Duration | Grade deviation | Examination aids |
---|---|---|---|---|
Assignment | 100/100 | A |
Course content
This topic explores the relationship between digital technology and societal change. It explores how digitalisation shapes important aspects in society such as identity, relations, leisure, health, surveillance, community and work life. With a particular interest in the user's role in technological development, the course aims to show how major technological shifts fade into people's everyday lives, and how technological development is not pre-determined or the same as progress. The course furthers a critical approach to visions concerning the potential of digitalization, and highlights nuanced understandings of what digitalization does and does not do in society.
The course is based on science and technology studies that are concerned with how technology and society shape each other, but it also draws on case studies from internet studies, game studies, robot studies, health and more. In addition, the topic draws on gender research to understand how digital technology can be used to exclude vulnerable groups, reinforce inequalities and contribute to discrimination - or vice versa; Provide platforms to excluded groups, create inclusion and counteract injustice.
The course consists of three parts. A theoretical part introducing critical perspectives such as socio-materiality, script and domestication. An empirical part that introduce selected thematic focus areas such as quantified self, toxic algorithms, game-based learning, selfies, platforms (theme will vary from year to year). The third part consists of project work where the students (in groups or individually), plan and carry out a small research project that eventually lead to the semester assignment.
The course is open to all students, and is part of the STS (studies in knowledge, technology and society) annual study program, which can be subject 2 / broad-based year in most bachelor's degrees and qualifies for admission to PPU (social studies).
Learning outcome
Students of this course have knowledge about:
- processes that shape production and acquisition of new media technologies, with focus on gender, design and use
- perspectives on central cultural changes from the introduction of digital communication, virtual societies and social media
- perspectives on social digitization strategies and social and cultural changes relatede to these.
Students of this course are skilled at:
- analyzing new media technologies as carriers and creators of culture
- analyzing acquisition and use of new technology, focusing on the role of the user
- analyzing usage of new media technologies with a gendered perspective.
- writing well reasoned academic texts
Learning methods and activities
The teaching is focused on the work with the student project that form the basis of the semester assignment that is the course exam. To support the student project, the course has 5 work requirements.
The work requirements consist of individual and group based deliverables in various formats. The final semester assignment is an individual work.
Because of considerable organizational changes in 2020, work requirements from semesters before will not be automatically accepted, but they can count as part of the work requirement.
Compulsory assignments
- Minimum 5 approved work requirements
Further on evaluation
Semester assignment. This assumes that a minimum of 5 obligatory work requirements is accepted.
Recommended previous knowledge
None
Required previous knowledge
None
Course materials
Will be specified at the start of the course.
No
Version: 1
Credits:
15.0 SP
Study level: Intermediate course, level II
Term no.: 1
Teaching semester: SPRING 2024
Language of instruction: Norwegian
Location: Trondheim
- Science and Technology Studies
- Gender Research
- Media Studies
- Social Studies
Department with academic responsibility
Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture
Examination
Examination arrangement: Assignment
- Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
-
Autumn
ORD
Assignment
100/100
A
Release
2023-11-27Submission
2023-12-04
09:00
INSPERA
14:00 -
Room Building Number of candidates -
Spring
ORD
Assignment
100/100
A
Submission
2024-05-15
INSPERA
14:00 -
Room Building Number of candidates
- * The location (room) for a written examination is published 3 days before examination date. If more than one room is listed, you will find your room at Studentweb.
For more information regarding registration for examination and examination procedures, see "Innsida - Exams"