233042 SE Data, data, data: Digital transformation meets environmental challenges (2024S)
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 Th 01.02.2024 09:00 to We 21.02.2024 23:59
- Deregistration possible until Fr 15.03.2024 23:59
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
Thursday
14.03.
14:30 - 17:00
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
(Kickoff Class)
Tuesday
09.04.
14:30 - 18:00
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Tuesday
23.04.
14:30 - 18:00
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
N
Tuesday
07.05.
14:30 - 18:00
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Tuesday
14.05.
14:30 - 18:00
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Tuesday
04.06.
14:30 - 18:00
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
The grading of the course is based on the separate assessment of different tasks on a scale of 1-5. The relative weight of each task in relation to the overall grade is:(1) Read the relevant literature prior to coming to class, and timely hand in written short answers to the reading prompts given for each class. Active participation in class is expected. 20% assessed individually, feedback on request;
(2) As a group work, you will prepare one specific workshop session. In doing you are also expected to perform some background research presenting interesting real-world cases that speak to the reading. 30% assessed collectively, feedback on request;
(3) Write an individual seminar paper of 3000 words that critically engages with the topic of the seminar. This essay should demonstrate a mastery of the readings and show the ability to clearly argue the complexities of the relation between digital transformation and environmental challenges. 50% assessed individually, feedback on request;
(2) As a group work, you will prepare one specific workshop session. In doing you are also expected to perform some background research presenting interesting real-world cases that speak to the reading. 30% assessed collectively, feedback on request;
(3) Write an individual seminar paper of 3000 words that critically engages with the topic of the seminar. This essay should demonstrate a mastery of the readings and show the ability to clearly argue the complexities of the relation between digital transformation and environmental challenges. 50% assessed individually, feedback on request;
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
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.Presence and participation is compulsory. An absence of one workshop at maximum is tolerated, provided that the teaching assistants are informed about the absence. Absences of more than one workshop cannot be compensated. the course cannot 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 to their claims if necessary.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.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.
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.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
Last modified: We 14.02.2024 17:47
In this seminar we will explore what this vision of twin transition actually means in practice. We will specifically explore the environmental impact of digital transformations, balancing the potential and the severe limitations of such an approach.
We will enter the discussion from a data practices perspective and look at what it means to live and work in an increasingly digitalized world.
Specifically, we will ask questions such as
• What kinds of infrastructures are necessary to keep our data alive (accessible for us at any time)? – from data centers, to the cloud, to diverse end-user devices
• What raw materials are needed to actually make digital transformation a reality? – this means discussing topics from mining for the huge amounts of raw materials needed to build and run the infrastructures as well as the end-user devices; the politics of mining and its environmental consequences will be part of this discussion.
• Which data are where, when and by whom regarded as valuable, used and useful? How is this decided? How can we calculate the "environmental costs" related to keeping data available? – e.g. think of streaming data bases, but also facebook, WhatsApp, …)
• How do we assess the environmental impact of artificial intelligence? And in which ways and by whom should this be considered and regulated?
• What happens to the amounts of electronic waste that is being produced and how is it distributed (i.e. waste colonialism)?The seminar is organized in one introductory lecture (2,5h) and five workshops (3,5h each). The introductory lecture will open up the different perspectives touched upon in the seminar. It will also be devoted to group building for those preparing the five workshops.
The five workshops will each open up a specific angle to the question of how digital transformation relates to and comes with environmental challenges.To pass the seminar, students are expected to: Read the literature for the respective workshop (and write short reflections); participate actively in the in-class discussions; prepare and facilitate one workshop with your group; and write a final essay. This course uses the plagiarism-detection service Turnitin for larger assignments.