Shaping Digital Life

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

The main goal of the course is to investigate various facets of human interaction with digital technologies in everyday life. In particular, after completing the course, students will be able to critically reflect on the ways in which digital technologies influence various aspects of our lives, both individually and as a society. The course content will be conveyed and illustrated through the following six “lenses”, which represent domains that may be impacted by digital technology:

1. Social digital lives: the role of digital technologies in techno-social life;
2. Hybrid digital lives: organising work, learning, and social life in a blended world transitioning between the physical and digital realms;
3. Young digital lives: considering the ethical aspects of increasingly pervasive digital technologies in the lives of young children;
4. Playful digital lives: the role of digital technologies in the design and development of games and play, and the impact of digital games on other aspects of our lives;
5. Inclusive digital lives: the role of digital technologies in creating a more inclusive society;
6. Sustainable digital lives: the pressing challenges and opportunities that the connected and smart agenda can create concerning environmental issues and sustainability objectives.

The exploration of these topics will be based on research articles and real-world examples, culminating in an individual research report conducted by the students themselves. This report will require students to consider current and predicted changes in digital life and, using one or more of the above lenses, reflect on implications for our future digital lives. 

Study materials

Literature

• Literature: Literature for each of the six “lenses” (as well as relevant introductory readings) will be made available on Canvas.

Objectives

• Articulate ways in which digital technologies impact our societies and individual daily experiences
• Develop a broad understanding of the roots and development of digital technologies
• Learn about and investigate some of the specific domains of social transformation and disruptive technologies through the six course lenses
• Explore the background, context, promises, and pitfalls of a range of specific digital technologies and critically reflect on each
• Discuss and debate topics around digital technologies with peers
• Provide constructive feedback on the views and research of peers and be able to receive and process similar feedback

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Seminar
• Self-study
• Presentation/symposium
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

The format of the course is as follows: in the first half of the block 6 lenses will be introduced in 6 lectures. There are no seminars during those weeks. In the second half of the block, there are no lectures. Instead, students spend time with the TA on instructed research work during the seminar sessions. 

Lecture: During the lectures, we will explore digital technologies through one of the six lenses (above). The lecture will cover the main points from the assigned literature for that week, and give you an opportunity to ask questions you may have about the articles.

Seminar: each week during the seminar, you will work in small groups (approx. 3-5 students) to consider the prediction(s) that you have chosen to explore through the particular lens for that week (e.g. inclusion, sustainability, etc.). For each seminar, there's a specific plan that is detailed on Canvas.

You will also be asked, at certain seminars, to submit a deliverable related to your report so that you can receive feedback from the seminar tutor. You also will be asked to write a short personal reflection on the topic(s) of the week (the lenses).

Learning activities

Attendance

In TER part B of this programme no requirements regarding attendance are mentioned.

Additional requirements for this course:

Attendance at the lectures and seminars is highly recommended and necessary to be able to do the assignments and the project.

Assessment

Research report
This is an individual assignment worth 60% of the total grade. Students submit a report at the end of week 8 (exact data on Canvas) which examines a specific prediction from the PEW report through one (or more) of the course “lenses”. Students need at least 50% of the final report grade to pass the course. In the event that students fail this element of the course, the resit will consist of a resubmission of an improved report (based on tutor feedback). Note that the grade for the resubmitted report will be capped at 7.0.

Research artefact (Video)
This is a group assignment worth 25% of the overall grade. Students will create a video which communicates the content of their research to the general public. The videos will be projected in the final lecture session in week 8 (exact time on Canvas).

Reflection Essays
This is a series of individual assignments worth 15% of the overall grade. For each essay, students will write a short text describing their personal reflections on the topic of the week. There will be guiding questions for each lens (on Canvas) to help students write the essay.

Assignments

see above (under "Assessments").

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. S.J.M. Brooke

Staff

• dr. H. Seiied Alavi PhD
• prof. dr. S. Ben Allouch
• dr. K.S. Rogers
• Mr. Alex Fleck