This unit provides students with a critical understanding of the impact of information technology (IT) within contemporary social relations. Using case studies drawn from different social spheres, the unit explores the ways in which the diffusion of IT has reshaped thinking and practice concerning social collaboration, the production of knowledge and community building. Particular attention is paid to the emerging field of community informatics, and the implications that this field holds for the work of information and knowledge management professionals
2 hrs lectures/wk, 1 hr laboratory/wk
This unit encompasses two cohorts:
While lectures are held in common, each cohort will have its own tutorials and face different expectations in terms of performance in assessment tasks.
For FIT5090 on campus students, weekly workload commitments are:
You will need to allocate up to 5 hours per week in some weeks, for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.
Off-campus students generally do not attend lecture and tutorial sessions (although they are welcome). However, you should plan to spend equivalent time working through the relevant resources and participating in discussion groups each week, as well as regular chatroom sessions. Audio recordings of lectures are accessible from the unit MUSO site.
For FIT3098 on campus students, weekly workload commitments are:
You will need to allocate up to 5 hours per week in some weeks, for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.
FIT5090, IMS3010, IMS3810, IMS5023
Completion of 36 points of study
Steve Wright
Jacques Steyn
Sheelagh Walton
Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | 5% | Each Monday of weeks 2-11 |
| Assignment 2 | 25% | weeks 3-12 |
| Assignment 3 | 20% | week 11 |
| Examination 1 | 50% | To be advised |
Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp
Please check with your lecturer before purchasing any Required Resources. Prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library, and prescribed software is available in student labs.
There is no textbook for this unit
There is no specific software requirement beyond access to word-processing and web browsing facilities.
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Students will need to familiarise themselves with the information contained in this unit guide as well as materials on the unit website (eg lecture notes and tutorial activities) | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 |
| 1 | Introduction to social informatics | |
| 2 | Communities & networks in society | Assignment 1 - due each Monday of weeks 2 to 11 |
| 3 | Agency & structure in society | Assignment 2 - due weeks 3 to 12 |
| 4 | IT & social relations | |
| 5 | The nature of information communities | |
| 6 | Knowledge & knowledge workers | |
| 7 | Memory | |
| 8 | The challenge of peer-to-peer production | |
| 9 | Web 2.0 | |
| 10 | Community informatics | |
| 11 | Social informatics in a global context | Assignment 3 |
| 12 | Emerging issues | |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC | |
| Examination period | LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/ academic/education/assessment/ assessment-in-coursework-policy.html |
*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)
The criteria used to assess submissions are:
Specific tasks and marking criteria will be distributed at the appropriate time during the semester.
The criteria used to assess submissions are:
Specific tasks and marking criteria will be distributed at the appropriate time during the semester.
The criteria used to assess submissions are:
Specific tasks and marking criteria will be distributed at the appropriate time during the semester.
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.
Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later.
see http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/tutorials/citing/infotech.html
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them.
You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html
Key educational policies include:
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students. For Sunway see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/
The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Sunway, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.
Academic support services may be available for students who have a disability or medical condition. Registration with the Disability Liaison Unit is required. Further information is available as follows: