Society and Information Technology: Lesson List

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This Society and Information Technology SOSE unit is developed on the basis of four modules, each of which consists of five lessons. Lessons (with the exception of Lesson 1 - Introduction) can be flexibly interposed within a module unless they follow an obvious chronological path.

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Module 1 | Module 2  |  Module 3 | Module 4

Module 1. 

Module 1:  Time, Continuity and Change is explored via analysis of the history of information technology systems.  Interactions between information technology systems, as they relate to economy and business, to decision-making, and citizenship, to government and access to power are investigated through analysis of key areas of information technology use in western society. 

Lesson 1

Introduction to Unit. What is Information Technology? An Introduction to Information Technology from a historical perspective. 

Resources

Resource 1 Timeline PDF File. Information Technology from a historical perspective. 

Resource 1a Computing History Web Links

Lesson 2

Information technology in Industry and Education. Information Technology and government. 

Resources

Resource 2 Government and the Internet Web Links 

Lesson 3

In this and the following lesson students research a system of technology (eg: communications, security, or other electronic networks) in relation to how these systems operate in either a regional, national or international area.

Resources

Resource 3 Systems Web Links 

Lesson 4

Students continue research of system structures for information technology (eg: communication, security, international distribution of information) and begin to develop a written summary (approx 250 words) of how these systems operate in a regional, national or international area.

Resources

Resource 4 Report Proforma 1. 

Lesson 5

Students continue research of system structures for information technology and conclude a written summary (250 words) of how these systems operate in a regional, national or international area.

Resources

Resource 5 Global Region Maps

Nth America  |  Africa and Europe  |  South.America  |  North.Asia.(including.USSR)  |  Asia.Pacific  |  Asia  |  

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Module 2

Module 2: Systems, Resources and Power are explored through investigation of the implications of a threat to information technology systems. While such a scenario may have a global basis, students focus on the implications to their own Asia-Pacific region. 

This section of the course should be conducted in a fashion that allows student access to computers and the Internet. It is possible to undertake this section of the course without internet facilities, but it is not ideal. 

Lesson 6

Students are formed into groups to undertake this next module and will remain in these groups throughout the remainder of the course. Students are introduced to three scenarios and dialogue is encouraged about what possible consequences are likely from each scenario. 

Students need to develop the ability to participate effectively in groups to pursue a generally agreed goal. This will be demonstrated by the ability to develop a creative analysis of the information exchanged within group  collections . 

Resources

Resource 6 At this point video provides a good resource and the array of possibilities is enormous. I have chosen an Odyssey Chronicles film on the 1939 New York World Fair as it addresses futurism in a very interesting light. 

Another strong contender was the Warner Bros video 'The Matrix', directed by The Wachowski Brothers.  There are a number of short clips in this film appropriate to this stage of the unit. Other appropriate videos may include certain scenes from 2001, Blade Runner etc. Many other forms of stimulating material would be appropriate at this point.

Lesson 7

Students (in groups) choose which of the three scenarios they will explore.  

Resources

Resource 7 Three storyline scenarios. 

Lesson 8

Students should begin to develop an outline that can specify the particular complications that will arise within the scenario they have chosen. Students use their own research focus to analyse changes to continuities arising from their chosen scenario as it applies to the Asia-Pacific region. Students begin to make reference to their values and peer-generated visions of preferred futures

Resources

Resource 8a Society and Information Technology Links. 

If students base their response on one web site then they must evaluate the web site Resource 8b (Download PowerPoint Zip File) for biases, content validity and authorís purpose.  

Lesson 9

Students continue to research and begin to compile a written or diagrammatic report in which they outline their research focus, show how they analysed changes to continuities arising from their chosen scenario especially as it applies to the Asia-Pacific region. 

Resources

Resource 9  

Statistics: Australian Business Use of Computers 1997  

Statistics: Australian Business Use of Internet 1997 

Lesson 10

Students finalise their report include the material they have developed as a methodology to best deal with the situation for the future. 

Resources

Resource 10 Report Proforma 2

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Module 3

Module 3: Culture and Identity are explored through consideration of the impact of technological change on different social and  cultural groups. In this module students will brainstorm information technology changes and consider whether or not they represent advances with reference to the social group they are considering. Students will analyse the data they have found and then evaluate the implications these changes will have on daily lives of people (referenced to the social group they have specified). Students will create a 'poster' to convince an audience of the need for continuation or change and specify the what should be continued or changed. In Module 4 this can be (optionally) incorporated into a group project multimedia presentation.

Lesson 11

An overview of difference. The Information Divide. Socio-economic differences. Australia in the 'global village'. At this stage students begin to expand their analysis to determine what differences there may be in this scenario as it affects other cultures. A regional perspective is expanded to a global perspective and analysis of difference begun.

Resources

Resource 11a Culture and Identity Word Search 

Resource 11b Culture and Identity Word Search Solution

Lesson 12

An overview of Australian interdependence with information technology systems. How does the government participate? Rights and Responsibilities through citizenship. 

Resources

Resource 12 Government Web Links B

Lesson 13

Culture and Identity are explored through consideration of the impact of technological change on different social and  cultural groups. Students explore cultural change arising from the advent of information technologies.

Resources

Resource 13 Culture and Identity Web Links  

Lesson 14

Students synthesise quantitative and qualitative data on perceptions of a current cultural issue related to Information Technology to develop a position and a community information strategy.  

Resources

Resource 14a Win As Much As You Can Instructions. 

Resource 14b Win As Much As You Can Proforma. 

Lesson 15

Students prepare a community information poster.

Resources

Resource 15 Community Information Poster proforma 

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Module4

Module 4:  Place and Space are explored through consideration of human-environment relationships, especially as they are impacted upon by information technology. This module forms the final component of the course and leads to a multimedia (or oral) presentation that includes support material in the form of handouts in which students present a summation of all findings developed throughout the course.  

Lesson 16

Students will consider a range of technologies that impact on physical and social environments in order to begin to make links between the values of peace and sustainability and their preferred vision of a place. Particular consideration is given to the impact of information technology on physical and social spaces.

Resources

Resource 16 Images Note: These are very large images and will take approximately one minute each to download. They will open in a new window.

Image: Technological Fix 1  Image: Technological Fix 2 

Proforma

Picture Analysis | Picture Comprehension | Picture Interpretation

Lesson 17

Working in groups, students begin to develop findings for eventual compilation in the form of a project report delivered to their peers. This requires pursuing relevant information; learning how to access information efficiently; evaluating information critically and effectively; and to use information effectively and creatively to develop a report. Student use maps, tables and statistical data to express predictions about the impact of change on environments for inclusion in their report.

Resources

Resource 17 Place and Space Web Links 

Lesson 18

Students will explore and begin to synthesise their group findings, using a range of technologies from word processing to multimedia authoring or through other mechanism as agreed with their teacher to prepare a report that express predictions about the impact of change on environments and makes clear links between their values of peace and sustainability and their preferred vision of a place. 

Resources

Resource 18 Place and Space proforma 3 (suggestions only). 

Lesson 19

Students make clear links between their values of peace and sustainability and their preferred vision of a place and finalise their group presentations.  

Resources

Resource 19 Peace Web Links 

Lesson  20

Students use modes of delivery appropriate for informing and persuading different audiences, to promote ecologically and economically sustainable futures for Information Technology use in their final reports.

Resources

Resource 20a Oral Presentation Proforma 

Resource 20b PowerPoint Proforma (A ready-to-go Power point Template for this module topic)

 

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