SOC4060 New Communication Technology and SocietyBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs NEW MEDIAGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
NEW MEDIA
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
SOC4060 New Communication Technology and Society Spring 3 0 3 6
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Non-Departmental Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Prof. Dr. AYŞE NİLÜFER NARLI
Recommended Optional Program Components: None
Course Objectives: This course explores the past, present and future of communication technologies and their impact on the society and media. It covers analytical perspectives, concepts and theories to understand communication technologies historically and conceptually and to examine radical changes in organization of society, labor and politics, brought about by the recent development in communication technologies and diffusion of digital technologies. It provides various perspectives on the co-construction of society and communication technology, with a recognition that communication technology represents a complex set of practices, norms, and values that both reflect and shape our convictions about personhood, identity, time, class, gender, space, labor, and politics. It also covers the social dynamics and the use of communication technologies.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
(1) Demonstrate the knowledge of the history of communication technologies
(2) Understand the general relationship between technology, communication, society, and culture
(3)Demonstrate the knowledge of the major conceptual and research issues related to communication technology
(4)Analyze and discuss contemporary key social issues (identity, politics, human rights) related communication technology
(5)Understand the internal and external dynamics that affect the use of communication technology
(6) Demonstrate the ability to understand virtual space and society
(7) Analyze communication technology in the Turkish context
(8) Develop a research proposal and design research project to study communication technology and society

Course Content

Week 1, September 18th: Introduction
Meeting with the class, introduction of the course syllabus and course material.
Week 2, September 25h: Early History of Communication Technologies
Discuss about the earliest communication technology and invention of writing
Printing, Sounds that Travel: Telegraphy and Telephone
“The Optical Telegraph”, Daniel Headrick, “Time, Space and the Telegraph” by James W.Carey, in Communication in history: Technology, culture, society. Routledge. Crowley, D., & Heyer, P. (2015).
Week 3, October 2th: Mass Communication Technologies and Social Construction of Technology
Wireless Communication, Radio and Televison
Robert S. Fortner and Darya Yanitskaya,, (2014) “Theoretical Perspectives on the Social Construction of Technology “ in the Handbook of Media and Mass Communication Technology, John Wiley&Sons
Week 4, October 9th : Advent of Communication Technologies
Digital Communication, Computer and Internet
Documentary film : Lo and Behold : Reveries of the Connected World by Werner Herzog
Week 5, October 16th: The Mobile Phone and…
Smartphone, identity, democracy
Sherry Turkle, “Always-On/Always-On-You: The Tethered Self” in Handbook of Mobile Communication Studies 2008
Week 6, October 23th: Political actions and Media
Howard Rheingold, “Mobile Media and Political Collective Action” in Handbook of Mobile Communication Studies 2008
Netflix Follow this: Fake news episode
Week 7, October 30th: Communication Technology, Innovation, Social Change and Future
Ingeborg Astrid Kleppe and James Hosea, “Connecting local food to global consumers via the Internet” in Information and Communication Technologies in Rural Society. Being Rural in a Digital Age.
Marsaili Macleod, “Revitalising rural Europe’s indigenous languages” in Information and Communication Technologies in Rural Society. Being Rural in a Digital Age.

Week 8, November 6th: Midterm Exam
Week 9: November 13nd: Theories of Communication Technologies: Network Society and Global Village
Castells, M. (2007). Communication, power and counter-power in the network society. International journal of communication, 1(1), 29.
Mcluhan, M.(1964) Understanding Media, the extensions of man, Newyork: McGraw-Hill
Week 10, November 20th: Communication Technology and Digital Divide
Submit research proposal
Antonelli, C. (2003). The digital divide: understanding the economics of new information and communication technology in the global economy. Information Economics and Policy, 15(2), 173-199..
Viviana Rojas, Joseph Straubhaar, Debasmita Roychowdhury, and Ozlem Okur (2004)“Communities, Cultural Capital, and the Digital Divide” in Media Access. Social and Psychological Dimensions of New Technology Use
Additional Readings: Linda A. Jackson Gretchen Barbatsis Frank A. Biocca Alexander von Eye Yong Zhao Hiram E. Fitzgerald ,(2004) “Home Internet Use in Low-Income Families: Is Access Enough to Eliminate the Digital Divide? In in Media Access. Social and Psychological Dimensions of New Technology Use

Week 11, November 27th: Living a Virtual Life and Games-
Kolo, C., & Baur, T. (2004). Living a virtual life: Social dynamics of online gaming. Game studies, 4(1), 1-31.
Additional Reading: T.L. Taylor(2006) , Play between Worlds. Exploring Online Game Culture, the MIT Press
Terms and Conditions May Apply- Netflix documentary
Week 12, December 4th: Oral Presentation of Project
Each student has 15 minutes to present research project
Week 13 December 11th Oral Presentation of Project Continued
Each student has 15 minutes to present research project
Week 14, December 18th : Oral Presentation of Project Continued and Final Concluding Remarks

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: Bu derste her hafta farklı makaleler okunacaktır. Makaleleri Fotokopi Merkezi'nden edinebilirsiniz. Lütfen okumaları dersten önce zamanında yapınız. / We will go through different articles throughout the course. I will leave the articles for each class one week before the class to Copy Center at school. Please read the articles before you come to class.
References: Yok / None

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 14 % 15
Homework Assignments 1 % 5
Presentation 1 % 15
Midterms 1 % 30
Final 1 % 35
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 65
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 35
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 14 42
Study Hours Out of Class 14 28
Presentations / Seminar 3 9
Project 4 12
Homework Assignments 1 3
Midterms 1 3
Final 1 3
Total Workload 100

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) To be able to critically interpret and discuss the theories, the concepts, the traditions, and the developments in the history of thought which are fundamental for the field of new media, journalism and communication.
2) To be able to attain written, oral and visual knowledge about technical equipment and software used in the process of news and the content production in new media, and to be able to acquire effective abilities to use them on a professional level.
3) To be able to get information about the institutional agents and generally about the sector operating in the field of new media, journalism and communication, and to be able to critically evaluate them.
4) To be able to comprehend the reactions of the readers, the listeners, the audiences and the users to the changing roles of media environments, and to be able to provide and circulate an original contents for them and to predict future trends.
5) To be able to apprehend the basic theories, the concepts and the thoughts related to neighbouring fields of new media and journalism in a critical manner.
6) To be able to grasp global and technological changes in the field of communication, and the relations due to with their effects on the local agents.
7) To be able to develop skills on gathering necessary data by using scientific methods, analyzing and circulating them in order to produce content.
8) To be able to develop acquired knowledge, skills and competence upon social aims by being legally and ethically responsible for a lifetime, and to be able to use them in order to provide social benefit.
9) To be able to operate collaborative projects with national/international colleagues in the field of new media, journalism and communication.
10) To be able to improve skills on creating works in various formats and which are qualified to be published on the prestigious national and international channels.