Postgraduate - UnitEDF6442 - Digital agency: the impact of digital technologies on education and society

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Synopsis

This unit explores the complex interaction between digital technologies and both education and society. Students will debate if technology actually enhances learning and will investigate the implications of emerging technologies in work/study, leisure and play. Critical issues will be discussed including the digital divide, identity, cyber threats, globalisation, and emerging forms of social practice. The unit will explore the discourse surrounding technological evangelism and question why technology adoption continues to lag in education and what can be done about it. The unit is run in flexible mode (online and an on campus) and presumes only a basic familiarity with computers.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will have:

• developed an awareness of the impact of digital technologies such as the computer and internet on various aspects of contemporary society and an understanding of the interactions of this with education; and
• a critical understanding of the implications for policies, practices and potential for digital technologies in education.
• an understanding of the discourse surrounding educational technologies; and
• an understanding of the issues and strategies surrounding the innovation and adoption of technologies in the workplace, teaching and learning.

Assessment

Assessment 1 - Learning Portfolio (3500 words equiv.): 40%; and Assessment 2 - Essay or Project (4500 word equiv.): 60%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Michael Henderson

Contact hours

3 hours per week