Social Change in a Digital Age

5 ECTS | On-site in Turku | 1-30 August 2024 with contact teaching 5-16 August 2024

Digital media has revolutionized how we communicate, organize, and act in society. This mediatization of society, and how it relates to social change, is the starting point for this course in media sociology. Social change refers to changes in social forms, processes, and structures, and it relates for example to everyday communication, social movements, activism, e-governance and participation. The aim of the course is thus to give insight into the interrelation between the use of digital media and social change, and give the participants tools to understand and engage in changing society. The course will include lectures by guest speakers, peer-to-peer learning through dialogue, and other interactive teaching methods. Instead of a test, students will work in groups to produce an online anthology publication, consisting of individual papers linked by a common theme.

Learning outcomes

The student will be able to:

  • Understand contemporary theories about social change, digital media and mediatization
  • Learn to use different methods and tools for researching societal issues online
  • Use these theories to analyze a current phenomena
  • Produce an online publication as a group project
Methods

Lectures, independent research, peer to peer learning, dialogues, project work in groups, presentation of online publication.

Contact teaching in Turku 5 August – 16 August. The start and/or finish of the course is completed online.

Åbo Akademi University

Robin Lybeck

Place: Mainly in Turku, but includes also online studying.

Undergraduate students with at least two years completed of Bachelor’s studies in social sciences, humanities, or related subjects. If you do not fill these requirements but feel that you have a basic understanding of theories about society and/or media and an interest to learn more, please contact the teacher to discuss the possibility to participate in the course.

Pre-task 35 h, lectures and mentoring 30 h, project work in groups 70 h = 135 h

Literature:

Selected chapters from:

  • Lindgren, Simon. 2021. Digital Media and Society. SAGE Publications Ltd.
  • Marres, Noortje. 2017. Digital Sociology. 1st ed. Wiley.

Lecture materials, webpages, videos

Grading 1-5

Max. 25 students