1662 Internet and Social Change
Content
- Description of the main characteristics of information technology revolution
- Globalization and the Information Society
- Review of the development of internet technologies
- Theoretical aspects of the relationship between technology and society
- Interactivity, computer-mediated communication (CMC) and New Media
- New economy – the impact of internet on economy, entrepreneurship and development of new business models
- Internet and institutional aspect of the public administration and public sector performance (e-government, e-health, e-social care, …)
- The impact of the internet on interpersonal relationships and identity of individuals, groups and society
- The security of business, crime and control on the internet (personal data, intellectual property rights, copyright, …)
- The accessibility, digital divide and censorship on the internet
- The formation and development of internet social networks and virtual communities
- Effects of internet on political aspects of social system and development of political activism (e-democracy, e-participation, e-elections etc.).
Objectives
Students:
- Understand the basic characteristics of information technology revolution and its contextual role within the information society and globalization flows.
- Get familiar with a variety of theories, which define the relationship and the correlation between technology and social change and critically evaluate the concept of information society from different perspectives.
- Get familiar with internet technologies and understands concepts such as: social networks, virtual environment, virtual communities, social capital, participation, digital divide, etc.
- Critically evaluate the dynamics of internet-induced social changes in the socio-economic, cultural and political field.
- Critically evaluate the opportunities and threats offered by internet technologies in the context of sustainable social development.
Competences
Students:
- Ability to understand the dimensions of information technology revolution and the concept of information society and their mutual relations.
- Ability to critically assess the effects of information technology factors on social change.
- Ability for critical analysis and evaluation of different theoretical concepts, which define the relationship between technology and society.
- Ability to understand and evaluate the role of internet technologies and New media in the field of local and global social development.
- Ability to critically analyse the changed socio-economic, cultural and political paradigms within the information society and their role in public and private sphere.