course-details-portlet

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.

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

Will be specified at the start of the course.

More on the course

No

Facts

Version: 1
Credits:  15.0 SP
Study level: Intermediate course, level II

Coursework

Term no.: 1
Teaching semester:  SPRING 2024

Language of instruction: Norwegian

Location: Trondheim

Subject area(s)
  • Science and Technology Studies
  • Gender Research
  • Media Studies
  • Social Studies
Contact information
Course coordinator:

Department with academic responsibility
Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture

Timetable

List view
Calendar view

Examination

Examination arrangement: Assignment

Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
Autumn ORD Assignment 100/100 A

Release
2023-11-27

Submission
2023-12-04


09:00


14:00

INSPERA
Room Building Number of candidates
Spring ORD Assignment 100/100 A

Submission
2024-05-15


14:00

INSPERA
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.
Examination

For more information regarding registration for examination and examination procedures, see "Innsida - Exams"

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