84705 - Information Society

Learning outcomes

Changes in social relations, political participation and social innovation are key features in understanding contemporary societies. The course focuses on these topics with specific reference to the most recent and salient events. At the end of the course the student a) has acquired the tools for reading and interpreting the ‘Information society’ , its own dynamics and current transformations; b) is capable of evaluating the social, political and economic implications of Information and Communication technologies.

Course contents

This course foresees a very active involvement on the participants.

There are mandatory readings for each weeks that will set the base for debate and discussion in class. A brief written essay (4000 spaces maximum) should be sent to the professor each week.

On IOL you'll find a constantly updated syllabus with assignments and readings week per week.

All articles are available as electronic resource in the Unibo online repository (ACNP).

 

1st week: History and theories of the information society

2nd week: Digital divides and digital inequalities

3rd week: Smart cities 

4th week: The age of Surveillance capitalism

5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th week:

Artificial intelligence and its social and political implications (core theme of the course). Weeks 6 and 7 will concentrate on the foreseen research activity.

10th week: Public presentation of individual and group works.

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

See IOL 

Teaching methods

In person classes plus collective research activity.

Assessment methods

40%: Attendance, active participation and written weekly assignments

60%: A final report based on focus groups' analysis

Office hours

See the website of Laura Sartori