Module: E Journal Club: Human and Societal Enhancement

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	E Journal Club: Human and Societal Enhancement
Module Code	PSY1107
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Psychology
NFQ level		Credit Rating	5

Description

Virtual Journal Clubs bring together researchers from Psychology and Computing, external collaborators, stakeholders, and industry partners to explore a common research theme: Psychology and Disruptive Technologies—Human and Societal Enhancement. All club members are expected to read at least two papers (suggested by the guest speaker) and engage in evidence-based debates on the topic. The module aims to develop critical analytical and digital literacy skills in the context of cutting-edge research on Human and Societal Enhancement, using technologies like cognitive systems, social robotics, and Human-Computer Interfaces. Students deepen their knowledge through participatory e-journal club activities, including debates and critiques. Assessment focuses on two areas: 1) critically debating a topic presented by the guest speaker, and 2) contributing to an e-portfolio with various science communication formats, such as interviews, podcasts, feature writing, and video/animation/comic production. The e-portfolio will be publicly available.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically discuss and analyse journal articles to club members
2. Interview one key author from a journal article of interest, and another researcher in the same field that can comment on the impact of that article in her/his own work.
3. Develop a podcast based on the article interview and post to eportfolio.
4. Develop a short feature based on the article interview of publishable quality and post to eportfolio.
5. Reflect on participation in the club and post to eportfolio.
6. Collaborate with other club members by providing peer feedback on their eportfolio.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Workshop	24	Preparatory Workshops in Science Communication
Group work	8	Journal Club (Synchronous) Moderator, Club presenter and student-led Journal Club
Seminars	7	Moderator-led seminars on assessment preparation
Independent Study	86	Self directed learning including assessment preparation
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11873	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Marianna Pagkratidou	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Participation	CA1 E-journal club Debate (worth: 30%).Read one paper before the guest lecture and one paper after. A guest speaker will give a lecture on a debatable issue, and the following week, you will team up to argue either for or against a position on that issue in a debate.	30%	n/a
Portfolio	CA2 Portfolio Content (worth 60%): Choose a topic of your preference and communicate it with scientifically based content, clarity and charisma in the form of: Popular opinion paper, Popular debate piece, Podcast, Interview, Video, Animation, Comics.	60%	n/a
Portfolio	CA3 E-portfolio Peer assessment (worth: 10%). Reflect on participation in the club and post to e-portfolio. Collaborate with other club members by providing peer feedback on their e-portfolio.	10%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Human and Societal Enhancement: A Primer

eJournal Club: How to present a compelling presentation and critique

Science Communication Workshops: Interviews, Podcasts and Feature Writing

Empirical Article Critique: How to critique

Eportfolio
How to develop your portfolio documenting participation, reflection, science communication and collaboration skills

Guest Club Members (invited PIs, Industry and other stakeholders): Learning from the Experts series

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None