Informational Technology in a Global Society (ITGS)
The Informational Technology in a Global Society (ITGS) course delves into the study and evaluation of the impact of information technology on individuals and society. It explores the advantages and disadvantages of the current and potential use of digitized information on a local and global level. ITGS provides a framework for the student to make informed judgments and decisions about the use of IT within social contexts thus improving key research and analytical skills required for post-graduate studies.
Ethical and Social Issues
Although ITGS shares methods of critical investigation and analysis with other social sciences, it also considers ethical questions found in the study of philosophy. Students come into contact with IT on a daily basis because it is so pervasive in the world in which we live. This widespread use of IT inevitably raises important questions about social and ethical issues that shape our society today. ITGS offers an opportunity for a systematic study of these issues, whose range is such that they fall outside the scope of any other single discipline. (ITGS Guide, 2008)
Aims of the ITGS Course
The aims of the course are:
- develop an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of new technologies as methods of expanding our knowledge of the world at the local and global level
- promote an understanding of the social significance of information technology for individuals,
communities and organizations
- analyse and evaluate the ethical considerations arising from the widespread use of information
technology at the local and global level
- recognize that people can hold diverse opinions about the impact of information technology on
individuals and societies.
Fundamental Terms
The nature of the subject is defined by the use of fundamental ITGS terms. For the purpose of the ITGS syllabus the following definitions apply.
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage, manipulation and dissemination of digital information by computing or telecommunications or a combination of both.
Social impact includes the economic, political, cultural, legal, environmental, ergonomic, health and psychological effects of IT on human life.
Ethical considerations refer to the responsibility and accountability of those involved in the design, implementation and use of IT.
An information system is a collection of people, information technologies, data, methods and policies organized to accomplish specific functions and solve specific problems.
Syllabus Outline
Section One:
The Social and Ethical Issues Considered when working with ICT
| 1.1 |
Reliability |
| 1.2 | Integrity |
| 1.3 | Security |
| 1.4 | Privacy and anonymity |
| 1.5 | Authenticity |
| 1.6 | Intellectual property |
| 1.7 | Equality of access |
| 1.8 | Control |
| 1.9 | Globalization and cultural diversity |
| 1.10 | Policies and standards |
| 1.11 | People and machines |
Section Two:
ICT Systems in Context
| 2.1 | Basics: hardware and networks |
| 2.1.1 | Systems fundamentals |
| 2.1.2 | Networks |
| 2.2 | Applications |
| 2.2.1 | Software fundamentals |
| 2.2.2 | Databases and spreadsheets |
| 2.2.3 | Word processing and desktop publishing |
| 2.2.4 | Images, sound and presentations |
| 2.2.5 | Modeling and simulations |
| 2.2.6 | Tutorials, training and wizards (assistants) |
| 2.3 | Communication systems |
| 2.3.1 | The Internet |
| 2.3.2 | Personal and public communications |
| 2.4 | Integrated systems |
| 2.4.1 | Robotics |
| 2.4.2 | Artificial intelligence and expert systems |
Section Three:
Areas of Impact
| 3.2 | Education |
| 3.3 | Health |
| 3.4 | Arts, entertainment and leisure |
| 3.5 | Science and the environment |
| 3.6 | Politics and government |
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Assessment
Paper 2 (2 hours)
35%
Three structured questions from a choice of four on areas of impact.
Paper 1 (1 hour)
20%
Four compulsory short-answer questions that assess in an integrated way sections 1 and 2 of the syllabus: social and ethical issues and IT systems in a social context.
Paper 2 (2 hours)
35%
Three structured questions from a choice of four on areas of impact.
Paper 3 (1 hour)
25%
Three questions based on a case study.
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Portfolio and extension
20%
Students must produce:
Three pieces of written work on social and ethical issues based on three different areas of impact, each 800 - 1,000 words
An extension to one of the portfolio pieces, 800 - 1,000 words
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Future Occupational Directions and Further Studies
- Future Social Science studies (University level)
- Gains solid core ICT skills in order to work within the field of ICT
- Pedagogy (Education and Teaching)
