233022 KO Discussion Class Techno-Science and Society: Communicating and Interacting (2023S)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from We 01.02.2023 09:00 to We 22.02.2023 23:59
- Deregistration possible until Sa 18.03.2023 23:59
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Monday 06.03. 09:15 - 11:15 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien (Kickoff Class)
- Tuesday 28.03. 09:15 - 11:15 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 02.05. 09:15 - 11:15 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 16.05. 09:15 - 11:15 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 06.06. 09:15 - 11:15 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 27.06. 09:15 - 11:15 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
The aim of this lecture course is to give students an understanding of interactions between technoscience and society, and of challenges relating to these interactions. We will address the multiplicity of settings in which science and society intersect, investigating the actors involved and the processes these engagements entail.We start by mapping the central issues at stake and the actors typically involved in technoscience-society interactions. We then engage with questions of different forms of societal participation in governing technoscientific developments and knowledge-making. Next, we scrutinize the role of values, affect, and responsibility, leading us to reflect on the politics of scientific communication and engagement, with a specific focus on governance and future making. We also explore the question of who holds expertise and thus power in the public arena when it comes to political decision-making, including what happens when science and law interact. Finally, we will look at risk and disaster situations and trace how communication and interaction work out in these contexts. Throughout the lecture, students will be introduced to important approaches and concepts that have been developed to address those questions.
Assessment and permitted materials
The discussion class is an extension of the lecture and aims at clarifying and deepening the concepts introduced in class. In a series of workshops, students will take it in turns to moderate discussion and to present real world cases in order to better understand the challenges at stake at the interfaces of science, technology and society.Each unit of the discussion class will relate to the two previous lectures. To pass the discussion class, students are expected to:1) Read all literature before the respective discussion workshop;
2) Prepare for the discussion by taking notes on the literature and bringing 2-3 questions or issues that you want to discuss to class;
3) Participate actively in all the discussions.;
4) Chair one workshop with your group (groups are assigned in the first class). Each group should plan a workshop and moderate small group discussion based around the themes of the relevant two lectures.
5) Each student should write individually one short essay (1500 words) on the papers he/she had to deal with for the workshop he/she moderated, responding to one of a number of set questions that are provided by the lecturer. The essay should be handed in (uploaded on moodle) three weeks after the workshop presentation. A good essay has an introduction which points at the issues at stake, makes arguments by elaborating on the key points of the papers, and draws a short conclusion.
6) Adhere to the general standards of good academic practice.
2) Prepare for the discussion by taking notes on the literature and bringing 2-3 questions or issues that you want to discuss to class;
3) Participate actively in all the discussions.;
4) Chair one workshop with your group (groups are assigned in the first class). Each group should plan a workshop and moderate small group discussion based around the themes of the relevant two lectures.
5) Each student should write individually one short essay (1500 words) on the papers he/she had to deal with for the workshop he/she moderated, responding to one of a number of set questions that are provided by the lecturer. The essay should be handed in (uploaded on moodle) three weeks after the workshop presentation. A good essay has an introduction which points at the issues at stake, makes arguments by elaborating on the key points of the papers, and draws a short conclusion.
6) Adhere to the general standards of good academic practice.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
The grading of the course is based on the separate assessment of different tasks on a scale of 1-5.In class participation: 30 %. Assessed individually, feedback on request;
Preparing and moderating the workshop: 30 %. Assessed as a group, feedback on request;
Essay (quality of argument, language, layout, correct bibliography, handed in on time): 40 %. Assessed individually, feedback on request.Minimum requirements
To successfully complete the course, a weighted average of at least 4,5 is required. Failure to meet the attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic work may result in a deduction of points.Formal details for handing in written work
All written work must be uploaded in time on Moodle. All documents must contain the name of the student as well as the description of the assignment.Attendance
Presence and participation is compulsory in the discussion class and you have to sign an attendance list each time. Be on time because late coming disrupts the discussion. An absence of two hours (= 1 discussion class session) at maximum is tolerated, provided that the teaching assistants are informed about the absence. In case of problems, please contact the lecturer. Absences of up to four hours in total may be compensated by either a deduction of points or/and extra work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible is decided by the lecturer and needs written (e-mail) agreement. Absences of more than four hours in total cannot be compensated. In this case, or if the lecturer does not allow a student to compensate absences of more than two hours, the course can not be completed and is graded as a “fail” (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfil the attendance requirements on the student’s side (e.g. a longer illness).
In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence for their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the vice-director of studies responsible for the master programme.Important Grading Information
If not explicitly noted otherwise, all requirements mentioned in the grading scheme and the attendance regulations must be met. If a required task is not fulfilled, e.g. a required assignment is not handed in or if the student does not meet the attendance requirements, this will be considered as a discontinuation of the course. In that case, the course will be graded as ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the task on the student's side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.
If any requirement of the course has been fulfilled by fraudulent means, be it for example by cheating at an exam, plagiarizing parts of a written assignment or by faking signatures on an attendance sheet, the student's participation in the course will be discontinued, the entire course will be graded as ‘not assessed’ and will be entered into the electronic exam record as ‘fraudulently obtained’. Self-plagiarism, particularly re-using own work handed in for other courses, will be treated likewise.
Preparing and moderating the workshop: 30 %. Assessed as a group, feedback on request;
Essay (quality of argument, language, layout, correct bibliography, handed in on time): 40 %. Assessed individually, feedback on request.Minimum requirements
To successfully complete the course, a weighted average of at least 4,5 is required. Failure to meet the attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic work may result in a deduction of points.Formal details for handing in written work
All written work must be uploaded in time on Moodle. All documents must contain the name of the student as well as the description of the assignment.Attendance
Presence and participation is compulsory in the discussion class and you have to sign an attendance list each time. Be on time because late coming disrupts the discussion. An absence of two hours (= 1 discussion class session) at maximum is tolerated, provided that the teaching assistants are informed about the absence. In case of problems, please contact the lecturer. Absences of up to four hours in total may be compensated by either a deduction of points or/and extra work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible is decided by the lecturer and needs written (e-mail) agreement. Absences of more than four hours in total cannot be compensated. In this case, or if the lecturer does not allow a student to compensate absences of more than two hours, the course can not be completed and is graded as a “fail” (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfil the attendance requirements on the student’s side (e.g. a longer illness).
In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence for their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the vice-director of studies responsible for the master programme.Important Grading Information
If not explicitly noted otherwise, all requirements mentioned in the grading scheme and the attendance regulations must be met. If a required task is not fulfilled, e.g. a required assignment is not handed in or if the student does not meet the attendance requirements, this will be considered as a discontinuation of the course. In that case, the course will be graded as ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the task on the student's side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.
If any requirement of the course has been fulfilled by fraudulent means, be it for example by cheating at an exam, plagiarizing parts of a written assignment or by faking signatures on an attendance sheet, the student's participation in the course will be discontinued, the entire course will be graded as ‘not assessed’ and will be entered into the electronic exam record as ‘fraudulently obtained’. Self-plagiarism, particularly re-using own work handed in for other courses, will be treated likewise.
Examination topics
Reading list
Association in the course directory
MA HPS: M 1.1, M 1.2, M 1.3
Last modified: Th 27.04.2023 13:27