Social Change in a Digital Age

5 ECTS | 50€ | On-site in Turku | 1-30 August 2023 with contact teaching 7-18 August 2023

Digital media effects how we communicate, organize and act in society, and this mediatization of society relates closely to social change, i.e. changes in social forms, processes, and structures, is the starting point for this course in media sociology. We will focus on how this affects society through everyday communication, social movements, activism, e-governance and participation. The aim of the course is to give insight into the interrelation between the use of digital media and social change, and give the students tools to understand and engage to change 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 publication about one case study. All course material will be provided.

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.