ERGOB1070 Technology and Society Course description

The language is normally English.

Technologies, from the stone axe to the computer, have been integral in shaping how we live, think, interact, and work. Advances in digitalization have made digital competences a significant factor in ensuring the employability of candidates in all professions vital to our society. Understanding the benefits, the limitations, and the transformative power of technologies on public and private life as well as professional practice is crucial.

In this course, students will acquire the basic knowledge needed to harness the potential of digital technologies and identify opportunities to use technology to foster inclusion, active participation, and sustainability in society and the workplace. Through individual reflection, shared exploration and group discussions, students will gain awareness of how technological developments might impact their future professions, and their role as citizens in an increasingly digitalized society.

This course will provide students with the foundational knowledge and means to become a responsible agent of change in their own profession and field of study. Students will learn to recognise limitations, strengths and potentially disruptive consequences of technological innovation and grapple with the social, ethical, and political issues that arise as technology becomes both increasingly complex and essential to the function of society.

No additional course-specific requirements.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge 

Upion successful completion of this course the student understands: 

• basic concepts, mechanisms, and tools behind digitalization
• how digitalization shapes public and private life
• the role of technological innovation and development in equity and justice, sustainable development, and civic engagement
• how technological infrastructures shape and support society and the welfare state.

Skills 

Upon successful completion of this course the student can: 

• apply critical and analytical strategies to evaluate and critically discuss the possibilities and challenges of existing and potential technologies 
• reflect on social, ethical, and political consequences of technological change
• provide examples of local and global technological disparity, both in general terms, and in relation to their field of study
• analyse and interpret the processes by which information and disinformation is distinguished, disseminated and used in different contexts.
• identify and discuss central sustainability challenges with digital technologies

General Competence 

Upon successful completion of this course the student can: 

• discuss ethical, social, and political challenges arising at the intersection of technology and society
• understand how digitalisation and digital technologies facilitate and shape interdisciplinary collaboration
• examine contemporary, real-world cases from multiple perspectives 
• evaluate the potential impact of new technologies and digitalization processes on an individual and societal level
• understand the importance of user-oriented perspectives in the use and development of technology
• communicate concepts and models related to the use of technology in a structured manner.

The course uses a blended learning approach, with a combination of attendance-based seminars and digital learning materials. Students will explore real-world cases emerging at the intersection of society, technology and their future profession.

English will be the primary language of communication.

None

An individual home exam consisting of three exercises.  Each of the exercises are between 800 and 1200 words. The maximum length of the exam submission is 3000 words.  

The submission is assessed as a whole and given one single pass/fail grade, but the three individual assignments that constitute the exam must receive a pass grade in order to pass the exam.

The exam submission must be written in either English or a Scandinavian language.

The exam can be appealed.

New/postponed exam: In case of failed exam or legal absence, the student may apply for a new or postponed exam. Students are required to submit a new exam, not an improved version of their previous exam submission. In case of a second failed exam or legal absence, the third and final exam attempt will be an oral examination.

New or postponed exams are offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam. The student is responsible for applying for a new/postponed exam within the time limits set by OsloMet. The regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are followed.

Passed first and second year of the programme or equivalent.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student is capable of

• describing R&D work in occupational therapy in relation to public health, health-promoting and preventive work
• explaining how national and global health and environmental challenges influence the right to occupation and participation
• describing the role of innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability in occupational therapy to meet the challenges of the future
• describing management in occupational therapy, including planning, coordination, and financial frameworks for the service

Skills

The student is capable of

• demonstrating knowledge of ergonomics and adaptation of health-promoting workplaces
• reflecting on the connection between health, childhood, education, work and living conditions to contribute to the development of good public health and work inclusion for both individuals and groups
• using tools for innovation and entrepreneurship relating to global health and disseminating the results to an audience
• applying instructive, resource-oriented and empowering strategies that promote occupation and participation
• organising supervision and taking leadership responsibility in relation to students and other partners

General competence

The student

• is capable of exchanging points of view and experience on equal services, and in this way contribute to the development of good practice
• is capable of contributing to service innovation, systematic and quality-improving work processes
• is capable of cooperating with volunteers, individuals and organisations, and other relevant parties

Work and teaching methods comprise student-driven teaching, project work, lectures, seminars and group work.

Student-driven teaching

The course focuses on developing different skills in supervision and management. The students must be group leaders for first-year students, and provide supervision and feedback on a written assignment that the first-year students submit in the course ERGOB1200.

Students are to present different global health topics in the field of public health for each other in groups using digital stories or other types of digital dissemination.

Project work

The course comprises a project work related to health-promoting workplaces and preventive work in companies. The students themselves must find a company where they can observe and map needs that have been clarified in consultation with the company.

Furthermore, students will work on innovation and professional development through the development of a project and plan an occupational therapy intervention for people in vulnerable situations, focusing on public health and social inequality in health.