DATA1100 Technology and Society for Programmers Course description

Digital competence is a key factor in ensuring the employability of candidates in all professions vital to our society. This course will provide a fundamental understanding of our digital world. It gives an overview of how technology affects our lives and the way we work, as well as our social structures, work patterns and individual preferences contributing to shaping technology. Social media, digital governance, and eHealth are all examples of how technology has profoundly changed our everyday lives in the last few decades. An understanding of the benefits and limitations of technology is vital in any profession, regardless of field or speciality. In this course, students will acquire the basic knowledge required to harness the potential of technology and recognise its limitations and potentially harmful consequences on work and society. They will learn to identify the opportunities to use technology to foster inclusion and participation in an increasingly diverse and multicultural society. They will practice communicating orally the concepts they acquire in a structured manner.

This course is given in English.

The student's learning outcome will be assessed on the basis of a seven-day written home exam on a topic given by the course lecturers. The length of one's answers is 10 pages (+/-10%), calibri 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing, tables and referenes not included. 

The essay will be submitted in English. However, Nordic speaking students can choose to write their work requirement and written home examination in their own language (Danish, Swedish or Norwegian).

After completing this course the student should have the following learning outcome:

Knowledge

On successful completion of this course the student understands:

• the role of technological innovation with regards to consumption, economic growth and sustainable development
• the idea of digital citizenship, including digital rights and responsibilities, from a local, national and global perspective
• the democratic principles behind e-inclusion and a universally designed society
• the basics of information security, including precautions to guarantee safety and privacy
• the basic ideas behind of algorithms, and how their use may constrain or enable work processes and other aspects of everyday life

Skills 

On successful completion of this course the student can:

• evaluate and discuss technological and societal aspects of a case in a specific domain
• describe and discuss ethical challenges at the intersection of technology and society, including issues of integration, participation and multiculturalism
• identify, respond to and limit the negative impact of unethical and harmful online behaviour
• evaluate the possibilities and challenges of technological solutions in various professions relevant to their field of study

General Competence 

On successful completion of this course the student can:

• be a valuable contributor to the design, planning and implementation of new technology
• be a positive agent of change in their own profession and field of study with regards to leveraging the potential of technology
• participate in innovative processes involving new and emerging technologies and build skills in anticipating and adapting to technological change
• reflect on technology use both within their field and from an interdisciplinary perspective 

The course will utilize 'blended learning', with a combination of in-person teaching or guidance, and use of online material. The students will be working on interdisciplinary cases focused on critical reflection.

The course provides a deeper insight into how international human rights can become an intrinsic part of the social work profession, social work policy, and social work practice. The course problematizes nation-states' obligations to human rights, and what it entails from the point of view of a minimalist state to a comprehensive welfare state. The nordic welfare states will provide a necessary backdrop as each of these nation-states have committed themselves to abide by and enforce human rights. The course will, in particular, focus on children in risk, migration, and social exclusion/poverty. Empirical challenges facing social work practices will be discussed throughout the course. 

Language of instruction is English.

None.

A student who has completed his or her qualification has the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has extensive knowledge of

• how the principles of human rights are historically rooted in the development of social work and social welfare and human rights from a legal perspective
• how human rights shape how decision-making is conducted through social work discretion
• the issues and ethical dilemmas and trust in social work practices based in human rights
• the safeguarding of children's rights across public administration, and especially child protection services
• children rights to protection from harmful care

Skills

The student can

• analyse the duties of the state in relation to those who apply for economic benefits, and the requirements of applicants when seeking assistance
• analyse children's rights on the basis of the relationship between children, state and family
• analyse how rights-based practices in social work can be designed, with examples from child protection services and poverty 
• assess human rights in relation to other normative and constitutional constraints in democratic rule of law
• discuss implications of how human rights principles are practiced in different countries

General competence

The student can

• discuss and critically evaluate social work practices and human rights perspectives in social work research and policy development 

The course is organised into a series of lectures. Students are expected to play an active role. Lectures are given by the course lecturers. Students will be required to present papers, and discuss course themes during lectures.

Compulsory activities must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam.

A student shall submit a work requirement of 2-3 pages, calibri 12 pt., paragraph 1.5, written individually. The work requirement will be a case/vignette that will be analysed with the basic concepts of the course, and which will be taught during the first week of lectures. The text must reflect the main topic fields within the curriculum. 

The coursework requirement must be approved. Students who do not receive approval will be given another chance to resubmit their paper once. Students who do not complete or do not receive approval for the coursework requirement will be disqualified from sitting the exam.

A grade scale A-F.