Overview

This unit uses a multi-disciplinary lens to explore the relationship between scientific, technological and human development from the industrial revolution to the digital age and beyond. Students will be introduced to key conceptual frameworks that seek to explain how technological disruption transforms societies, simultaneously creating opportunities for incredible human advancement whilst unleashing potentially catastrophic consequences.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Understand and explain competing perspectives concerning the relationship between scientific, technological and human development
  • Critically reflect on the relationship between technology, identity, and self
  • Perform logical analysis and develop well-informed arguments
  • Critically reflect on and evaluate their own learning experience
  • Communicate ideas and critically evaluate arguments advanced by others

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Lecture		1.00 12 weeks 12
On-campus
Class		2.00 12 weeks 24
Specified Activities
Various		2.00 12 weeks 24
Unspecified Activities
Various		7.50 12 weeks 90
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment and Presentation 1Individual/Group 30% 1,2,3,4,5 
EssayIndividual 50% 1,2,3,4,5 
Reflective EssayIndividual 20% 2,3,5 

Content

  • Understanding technological change and social development
  • Technology, Identity and the Self
  • Revolutions: From Agricultural to Industrial to Digital
  • Technology, Risk and Opportunity
  • The ethics of scientific and technological innovation
  • Technological progress and contemporary challenges
  • Robotics, automation and their implications
  • Artificial Intelligence and human futures

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.