233044 SE Governance/Imaginaries ICT (2018W)
Exploring the role of sociotechnical imaginaries in the making and governing of digital technology
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 Mo 03.09.2018 08:00 to Mo 24.09.2018 08:00
- Deregistration possible until Tu 23.10.2018 23:59
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Tuesday 02.10. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien (Kickoff Class)
- Tuesday 09.10. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 16.10. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 23.10. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 30.10. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 06.11. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 13.11. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 27.11. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 04.12. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 11.12. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
- Tuesday 08.01. 11:30 - 13:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Digital innovations such as artificial intelligence, blockchain technology or internet of things are driven by imaginaries of future societies. Future imaginaries are enacted to promote digital developments or legitimate certain modes of internet governance. Software providers, technology companies and legislators dig into the rich pool of cultural norms, visions and values to support (or question) digital tools, rules and regulations. Future prospects seem to be central for making decisions in the present. The future, however, is not only imagined, but also constructed, made and unmade in different constellations and contexts.This course will focus on the role of sociotechnical imaginaries in the making and governing of digital technology. We will discuss questions such as: How does science-fiction contribute to the shaping of future technologies? How do images and metaphors influence public and policy debates on digital technologies? What do sociotechnical imaginaries tell us about the co-production of digital technology and political order? How are cultural norms, visions and values embedded in software design and infrastructure? How can we study sociotechnical design practices and modes of internet governance? To answer these questions we will draw on theories and concepts from science and technology studies (STS) and critical new media studies. Theoretical discussions will be mixed with empirical work (e.g. analysis of a small selection of newspaper articles, online materials, interviews (1 or 2), experiments etc), which will lead to a small research project that students will present in class. In the seminar papers students will individually write an exposé for a research project, which can, but must not be related to the group work presented in class.
Assessment and permitted materials
o pass the seminar, students are expected to complete the following tasks:a) Regular attendance;
b) Reading all the obligatory literature and active involvement in discussions;
c) Oral presentation of text critique (approx 20 min per groups, depending on number of participants): read one of the texts of the seminar literature and criticize it. Start with a brief summary of the main arguments of the text, provide arguments why you liked or disliked the text, and make a connection to a recent case/ public debate etc.
d) Oral presentation of research project (approx. 30 min per group, depending on number of participants): Present your research project in groups. Formulate your research questions, use seminar literature to argue why your research questions are important, provide empirical work (e.g. analysis of a small selection of newspaper articles, online materials, interviews (1 or 2), experiments etc) and argue what your research project can contribute to the scientific community and the broader society.
e) Writing of short summary of your research project individually (1-2 pages, handed in via Moodle until 02.12.2018).
f) Writing of seminar paper (exposé of a research project including abstract [this can, but must not build on the project presented in class], 12-15 pages, handed in via Moodle until 15.02.2019).'This course uses the plagiarism-detection service Turnitin for larger assignments.'
b) Reading all the obligatory literature and active involvement in discussions;
c) Oral presentation of text critique (approx 20 min per groups, depending on number of participants): read one of the texts of the seminar literature and criticize it. Start with a brief summary of the main arguments of the text, provide arguments why you liked or disliked the text, and make a connection to a recent case/ public debate etc.
d) Oral presentation of research project (approx. 30 min per group, depending on number of participants): Present your research project in groups. Formulate your research questions, use seminar literature to argue why your research questions are important, provide empirical work (e.g. analysis of a small selection of newspaper articles, online materials, interviews (1 or 2), experiments etc) and argue what your research project can contribute to the scientific community and the broader society.
e) Writing of short summary of your research project individually (1-2 pages, handed in via Moodle until 02.12.2018).
f) Writing of seminar paper (exposé of a research project including abstract [this can, but must not build on the project presented in class], 12-15 pages, handed in via Moodle until 15.02.2019).'This course uses the plagiarism-detection service Turnitin for larger assignments.'
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Grading Scheme
The grading of the course is based on the separate assessment of different tasks on a scale of 1-5.Active contribution and involvement in discussions: 25%, assessed individually, no feedback envisaged;
Oral presentation of text critique and research project : 25%,
assessed as group work (or individually; depending on number of students), feedback by lecturer;
Short project summary & seminar paper/ exposé of research project: 45% , assessed individually, feedback on request;
Delivery of texts on time and formal criteria (citation, layout, ...):
5%, assessed individually, no feedback envisaged;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 also be considered in the course assessment.Attendance
Presence and participation is compulsory. Absences of four hours at maximum are tolerated, provided that the lecturer is informed about the absence. Absences of up to eight hours in total may be compensated by either a deduction of grading points or/and extra work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible is decided by the lecturer.
Absences of more than eight hours in total cannot be compensated. In this case, or if the lecturer does not allow a student to compensate absences of more than four hours, 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. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.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.
The grading of the course is based on the separate assessment of different tasks on a scale of 1-5.Active contribution and involvement in discussions: 25%, assessed individually, no feedback envisaged;
Oral presentation of text critique and research project : 25%,
assessed as group work (or individually; depending on number of students), feedback by lecturer;
Short project summary & seminar paper/ exposé of research project: 45% , assessed individually, feedback on request;
Delivery of texts on time and formal criteria (citation, layout, ...):
5%, assessed individually, no feedback envisaged;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 also be considered in the course assessment.Attendance
Presence and participation is compulsory. Absences of four hours at maximum are tolerated, provided that the lecturer is informed about the absence. Absences of up to eight hours in total may be compensated by either a deduction of grading points or/and extra work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible is decided by the lecturer.
Absences of more than eight hours in total cannot be compensated. In this case, or if the lecturer does not allow a student to compensate absences of more than four hours, 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. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.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
Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:39