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Module Specifications

Archived Version 2009 - 2010

Module Title E Society
Module Code CM275
School School of Communications

Online Module Resources

Module Co-ordinatorDr Miriam JudgeOffice NumberC129
Level 2 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Module Aims

Ever since Daniel Bell first coined the term post-industrial society, computer technology has come to play an increasingly important role in contemporary society. On the continuum of technological development over the last thirty years, the Internet, in particular the World Wide Web, has emerged as the killer-application in terms of its global impact. As a result we now live in what can be termed the E-Society as the Internet affects all areas of our lives from communications and media to politics, commerce, health education and contemporary culture, but to name a few.

The overall aim of this module is to examine the affects of contemporary Web-based culture and the impact of the Internet on aspects of everyday life. Fundamentally this module will act as a link between the module on Multimedia Studies, in Year 1 and the module on Perspectives in the Information Society which will be offered as an optional module, in Year 3. It will also provide students with a theoretical understanding of key academic discourse and research in this area, which will be of particular benefit to students who wish to undertake academic research in this field as part of their final year thesis in year 3.



Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students will

  • Be familiar with key theoretical concepts on the relationship between society, technology and culture
  • Have a broad understanding of issues in contemporary web based culture
  • Be able to critically assess the impact of the Internet on society
  • Be able to engage with key discourse on this topical area using an appropriate academic framework in the delivery of both oral written material


Indicative Time Allowances
Hours
Lectures 24
Tutorials
Laboratories
Seminars 12
Independent Learning Time 39

Total 75
Placements
Assignments
NOTE
Assume that a 5 credit module load represents approximately 75 hours' work, which includes all teaching, in-course assignments, laboratory work or other specialised training and an estimated private learning time associated with the module.

Indicative Syllabus
  • Introduction to theoretical perspectives on the relationship between Technology,
  • Society and Culture
  • E-Society - a Definition
  • Cybercultural Theory, Post-modernism and Cyberspace
  • The Internet and the Construction of contemporary Identity
  • Virtual Communities - the rhetoric and the reality
  • Women, the Web and the Gendering of Technology
  • Freedom, Control and the issue of Privacy on the Net
  • E-business and the E-Economy
  • E-Learning
  • The Internet, Politics and Democracy
  • The Digital Divide
  • Ehtical Issues and the Internet
Assessment
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Indicative Reading List
  • Brown J. & Duguid P., (2002) The Social Life of Information: Harvard Business School Press.
  • Castells, M. (2000). The Rise of the Network Society, 2nd ed. Blackwell Publishers
  • Cockburn C & Furst-Dilic, R (1994) Bringing Technology home: Gender and technology in a changing Europe: OUP.
  • Cuban, L. (1986), Teachers and Machines. The Classroom use of Technology since 1920. Teachers College Press, NY.
  • Cuban, L. (1984) How Teachers Taught ? Constancy and Change in American Classrooms 1890-1980. Teachers College Press, NY.
  • Department of Education and Science, Ireland (1988); Schools IT2000: A Policy Framework for the New Millenium..
  • Grabe M. & Grabe C (2001). Integrating Technology for Meaningful Learning. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
  • Gattiker, U.E. (2001) The Internet as a Diverse Community:: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Publishers.
  • Gauntlett D. & Horsley R (2004) Web Studies, 2nd ed. OUP Inc.
  • Hassan R. (2004) Media, Politics and the Network Society, OUP, McGrath Hill
  • Jones, S.G., (1998) Cybersociety: Sage Publications
  • Healy, Jane.(1990) Endangered Minds: Why our Children Don't Think
  • Jones, S.G. (1997) Virtual Culture: Identity & Communication in Cybersociety: ed., Sage Publications.
  • Judge, M. (2003); The Wired for Learning Project in Ireland, Final Evaluation: National Centre for Technology in Education, Dublin.
  • Judge, M. (2004): Building a Networked Educational Community: A Case Study: National Centre for Technology in Education, Dublin
  • Katz J, & Rice R, (2002) Social Consequences of Internet Use: MIT Press
  • Lister M. et al (2003) ? New Media: A critical Introduction
  • Merete Lie (2003) ? He, She and IT Revisited: new Perspectives on Gender in the Information Society, Glydendal
  • McKenzie and Wacjman: (1999)The Social Shaping of Technology, 2nd ed.
  • Murphie A. & J. Potts (2003) Culture and Technology: Palgrave: MacMillan.
  • Negroponte N. (1996) Being Digital, - London : Hodder & Stoughton
  • Oudshoorn N. & Pinch T, (2003)How Users Matter:; MIT Press (2003)
  • Porter D. (1996) Internet Culture: Routledge Press,
  •  Postman, N., (1997). The End of Education: Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  • Postman, Neil (1993) Technopoly : the surrender of culture to technology: Vintage Books.
  • RheinGold H. (2000), The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the Electronic
  •  Frontier - Revised Edition: MIT Press.
  • Sarason, S. (1990): The Predictable Failure of Education Reform. Josey-Bass Publishers, CA.
  • Sarason S. (1996:) Revisiting ?The Culture of the School and the Problem of Change: Teachers College Press.
  • Smith M. & Marx L. (1996).Does Technology Drive History? MIT Press.
  • Spinello, R.A. (2003) CyberEthics ? Morality and Law in Cyberspace, 2nd ed. Jones and Bartlett Publishers
  • Stoll, C. (1996) Second thoughts on the information highway - London : PanYates J. & Maanen V
  • Turkle, S. (1995) -Life on the Screen ?Identity in the Age of the Internet: Orion Publishing Group.
  • Van Dijk, J. (1999) The Network Society: Sage Publications Ltd.
  • Wacjman J. (1991): Feminism Confronts Technology
  • Yates, J. & Maanen J.,(2003), Information Technology & Organisational Transformation: Sage Publications.
Programme or List of Programmes
HMSAStudy Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)
HMSAOStudy Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)
MMABSc in Multimedia
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