| Kursusnavn (dansk): | Network Society |
| Kursusnavn (engelsk): | Network Society |
| Semester: | Efterår 2014 |
| Udbydes under: | Bachelor i digitale medier og design (bdmd) |
| Omfang i ECTS: | 7,50 |
| Kursussprog: | Engelsk |
| Kursushjemmeside: | https://learnit.itu.dk |
| Min. antal deltagere: | 12 |
| Forventet antal deltagere: | 25 |
| Maks. antal deltagere: | 30 |
| Formelle forudsætninger: | . |
| Læringsmål: | After this course students should be able to:
• Understand the concept of networks and the relevant methodology of basic network analysis
• Apply the basic methods of network analysis to the major themes in the study of digital media
• Examine different perspectives on network society beyond basic network theory
• Discuss implications of different perspectives on network society for the study of digital media.
• Relate the study of network society to a broader context of current issues in information and communication technology
• Reflect on different theories relevant to the study of the network society and discuss how these theories can influence our interpretation of current events |
| Fagligt indhold: | We live in world of near-constant connectedness where people from around the globe are only as far away as a flick of the finger on a smartphone touchscreen, where information about anything is at your fingertips and where we often use the word "network" to characterize our infrastructures, our friends and acquaintances and even our societies. The course teaches students to explore the nature and backgrounds of common characterisations of a "network society" and to assess the related assumptions and implications. What does such a hyper-connected world mean for our understandings of our selves, our cultural affiliations, and our social responsibilities to each other? What do the terms ‘network’ and ‘network society’ mean? What developments are regarded as characteristic of the ‘network society’? Are there historical precedents or precursors and what can these teach us about our current environment? What assumptions about technology development underlie network thinking? What kinds of futures might we expect given our current trajectories?
The course aims to provide a "toolbox" of techniques and theories which will enable the student to discuss the basic idea of networks as a basis for the conceptualization of network society. The course is an introduction to network studies with specific emphasis on the notion of social networks at different levels of engagement. The course will follow on three major themes throughout the course – Networked Connectedness, Privacy/Surveillance/Big Data, Global Reach and Local Concerns.
Relevant topics in this course include:
• Traditional notions of the network society - from networks of flows to networks of networks
• Networked connectedness and information spread - how do we find out information and from whom?
• Sociality and mobility - networked friends, always-on connectedness and dating
• Networked organizations - the winners and losers of distance work and distributed organizations
• Big data/small data/personal data - quantified self, advertising and personalized digital worlds
• Surveillance, security and creepy technologies – what have we learned from Edward Snowden?
• Global reach and local concerns - disasters and activism in the digital world |
| Læringsaktiviteter: | 12 weeks of lectures, 11 learning activities, 1 presentation seminar
- Lectures by the teacher, guest talks, student presentations and ongoing discussions.
- Practical / analytical exercises that the groups work with during the exercise session and after.
- Group work in connection with the exercises focused on the development of a final portfolio.
- A series of methodological workshops designed to help students who lack a relevant background in conducting network analysis
- A closing whole day seminar where select a topic to present with opposition from other groups, a teacher and assistant teacher.
There will be ample opportunity to test and apply the presented theories and methods in the exercise sessions, where we will work with various small cases and current examples as a basis for discussion. These exercise sessions will result in group write-ups and will form the basis of a portfolio that will be included as part of the written work for the course examination. |
| Obligatoriske aktivititer: | The course includes four mandatory learning activities. Three group write-ups based on group-work and one presentation. |
| Eksamensform og -beskrivelse: | X. experimental examination form (7-scale; external exam), 7-trins-skala, Ekstern prøve The examination consists of written work. The exam includes an individually written final paper on a chosen topic and a portfolio consisting of the three group write-ups produced throughout the course as mandatory assignments.
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| Litteratur udover forskningsartikler: | . |
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Kursusoversigt