Cybersociety

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Standard

An average of 8.5 hours each week.

None.

None.

Knowledge gained in the completion of 75 points of first year subjects from any area.

Students who have completed 'Cybersociety' under the codes 136-205, 136-305, 672-325 or HPSC30001 are not permitted to enrol in this subject.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

In this subject students will engage in a study of high-technology in a social and cultural context, and will examine critical issues which lie at the intersection of the social and the technical. Topics covered include cybernetics, cyberspace, cyborgs and other "cybers", social networking systems, virtual lives and virtual communities, the information economy, privacy and surveillance, digital convergence, multimedia and hypermedia, and techno-utopian and dystopian visions. Students will participate in theoretical work and "hands-on" experience. Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to critically analyse and evaluate controversial issues relating to technology in the social context, argue credible positions in relation to these controversies, and be able to identify and draw upon the major theoretical and methodological discourses through which the relationship between technology and society might be understood.

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

• critically analyse and evaluate controversial issues relating to information systems in a social context, and argue credible positions in relation to these controversies.
• identify and draw upon the major theoretical and methodological discourses through which the relationship between information systems and society might be understood.
• form judgements based on a critical evaluation of conflicting arguments.
• develop skills in both written and oral communication.

An essay of 2000 words 50% (due at the end of semester), an essay of 1000 words 25% (due in week 4), a seminar presentation of 800 words 20% (due throughout the semester) and contribution to an online discussion 5% (due throughout the semester).

Hurdle requirement: students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject. Regular participation in tutorials is required.Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day; after five working days late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

A subject reader will be available for purchase from the University Book Shop, readings will also be available on-line.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• conduct independent research.
• make appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an argument.

This subject is available for 2nd year science credit for students enrolled in the BSc (pre-2008 degree only), or a combined BSc course (except for the BA/BSc). For Science third year, see HPSC30001 (Cybersociety (Science 3)). HPSC30001 is not available as breadth and is for Pre 2008 Science students only see: https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2012/755-BB