STKD6600 Technology and Society I Emneplan

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 specialty. In this course, students will acquire the basic knowledge required to harness the potential of technology and identify the opportunities to use technology to foster inclusion and participation in an increasingly diverse and multicultural society. They will also learn to recognize its limitations and potentially harmful consequences on work and society, and grapple with the social, ethical and moral issues that arise as technology becomes both increasingly complex and integral to the way our society functions.

The master’s thesis is a major independent piece of work where the student chooses a research question to explore within the framework of the programme. The master's thesis must contain both a written and practical-aesthetic part, but may place different emphasis on the respective parts. In theses with a practical-aesthetic focus, emphasis can be given to a practical-aesthetic approach and an explanation of the thesis’s form, theoretical backdrop, method and result. In theses with particular emphasis on a theoretical approach, the practical-aesthetic component may help to elucidate the research question that is subject to theoretical discussion

All previous courses must be passed before students can take the exam in MEST5900.

The course uses a blended learning approach, with a combination of attendance-based teaching or guidance, and use of online material. The students will be working on interdisciplinary cases of direct relevance to their field of study.

There are weekly seminars throughout the semester, in addition to the online material.

Knowledge

The student has

• advanced knowledge of the programme option and the aesthetic field
• is knowledgeable about the programme option’s and the aesthetic field’s history, traditions, distinctive nature and place in society
• knowledge of and perspectives on multicultural and global issues, as well as ethical issues in the programme option and in the aesthetic field
• knowledge of the aesthetic field's scientific theories and methods
• knowledge of the aesthetic field’s theory and development potential in a societal and ethical perspective

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Skills

The student is capable of

• analysing existing theories, methods and interpretations in the professional and aesthetic field
• using his/her experience, practical aesthetic knowledge and theory in new areas
• working independently on resolving practical and theoretical problems
• using relevant methods for independent research and professional and/or artistic research
• analysing and taking a critical approach to different sources of information and using them to structure and formulate arguments in the field
• carrying out an independent, limited research or development project in accordance with applicable research ethical standards and arguments
• communicating independent work and mastering the aesthetic field's forms of expression

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General competence

The student is capable of

• analysing relevant academic, professional and research ethical issues in the professional and aesthetic field
• applying knowledge and skills to new areas
• communicating with both specialists and the general public about issues, analyses and conclusions in the aesthetic field
• contributing to fresh thinking and innovation processes in the aesthetic field

Students work individually on the master’s thesis in dialogue with supervisors. Students are encouraged to establish study groups. Workshops and R&D seminars may be organised.

The following coursework is compulsory and must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• Participation and presentation of master project in at least two seminars during the year
• Participation in planning and carrying out of the public presentation of the master’s Project.

The final assessment will be graded on a grading scale from A to E (A is the highest grade and E the lowest) and F for fail.

The exam in the course is threefold:

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1. Written master’s thesis - individual

The thesis shall document the student's research and development work. The documentation shall contain one theoretical and one practical-aesthetic part linked to the research question discussed.

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The master’s thesis is assessed by one external and one internal examiner on the basis of the following criteria:

• the overall discussion of a limited research question in the programme's main areas
• the research discussion of the elements included in the work: research question(s), data, method, presentation, interpretation and angles of discussion
• the connection between theory and the relevant practical-aesthetic work
• clear form of presentation
• correct use of references
• independent reflection and use of theory
• analytical and ethical use of source material

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The thesis must have a scope of 80 pages (+/- 10%).

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The master’s thesis counts for 50% of the final master’s project grade.

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1. Public presentation/production/performance - individual

The public presentation shall give an overall presentation of the material. It is based on the master's thesis' practical aesthetic part and artistic research.

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The public presentation/production/performance is assessed by one external and one internal examiner on the basis of the following criteria:

• overall aesthetic presentation
• clear form of communication, qualified and conscious choices and relevant content

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The public presentation/production/performance counts for 25% of the final master’s project grade.

1. Oral exam - individual

The oral exam is based on a discussion of the master’s thesis and relevant literature (common syllabus and literature selected by the student).

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The oral exam is assessed by one external and one internal examiner on the basis of the following criteria:

• the student’s ability to discuss and assess
• the student’s use and understanding of the literature used
• the student's reflection on his/her own master’s project

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The oral exam counts for 25% of the final master’s project grade.

Students who due to valid absence do not take one or several exam parts that make up the ordinary exam, or who are given an F in one or more of the exam parts that make up the exam, can register for a resit/rescheduled exam.

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Students who take the resit exam in MEST5900 must take all parts of the exam. Students who do not take one or more parts of the exam in the course due to valid absence, or who are awarded an F grade for such an exam, can register for a resit/rescheduled exam. Resit/rescheduled exams are organised early in the following semester.

Del 1. Skriftlig masteroppgave: Alle hjelpemidler er tillatt så lenge regler for kildehenvisning følges.

Del3. På muntlig eksamen skal studenten ha med egen masteroppgave.