Critical Approaches to Technology and Society

Level of Study

Bachelor

Teaching semester

Fall

Place of Instruction

Bergen

Objectives and Content

The course provides an introduction and a critical analysis of historical, cultural and normative aspects of information technology. Central themes are:
- ICT as a social and cultural construction
- Cultural expressions associated with digital media


The course provides practice in evaluating various aspects of information culture. Students will write three mandatory assignments for the course. In connection with the writing assignment an introduction to key rules and norms of academic writing will be provided.

Learning Outcomes

After taking the course the students should:
- have knowledge of the various humanistic approaches to the analysis of ICT and information society
- be able to make independent assessments of the cultural, normative and social aspects and consequences of information and communication technology
- be able to write analytical texts on the basis of rules and norms of academic writing

Required Previous Knowledge

None

Recommended Previous Knowledge

None

Access to the Course

The course is open to all students with the right to study at UiB.

Teaching and learning methods

The instruction will be given as lectures and supervision in connection with the assignment writing.

The course is taught in three modules, each over three weeks with two two-hour lectures, 36 hours total. Each of the three modules is followed by a writing week in which students write drafts of a portfolio assignment in connection with the teaching that has been given. Students will be given supervision in connection with assignment writing.

If less than five students are registered to a course, the department might reduce the teaching, please see the department¿s guidelines regarding this on "My page¿. Regarding a course where this is a possibility the students get information about this at the beginning of the semester, and before the deadline regarding semesterregistration 1.February/1.September.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

The student must submit and have approved the draft three tasks, each of at least 1000 words during the semester. Drafts must be approved before the student will be able to take the exam. Guidance in connection with the writing assignment is mandatory.

In order to take the exam was required that the student has participated in at least 75 percent of the teaching and classroom activities. Course participation is approved by the course leader.

Forms of Assessment

Students will build up a portfolio that forms the basis for assessment. During the course students will have three written assignments, which they receive comments on during the mandatory supervision. The student must select two of these essays and revise and expand them to 2000 words each. The final grade is determined by evaluation of the essays in the portfolio.

Grading Scale

Grade scale A-F.

Reading List

About 1000 pages of assigned reading.

Course Evaluation

Evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the University of Bergen's quality assurance system.