Module Details

Module Code: MMED9015
Title: Cybercultures
Long Title: Cybercultures
NFQ Level: Expert
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2017/18 ( September 2017 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 2130 - Multimedia
Module Delivered in: 3 programme(s)
Module Description: This module draws on a number of research traditions and frameworks, new and old, to facilitate the student’s own analysis of contemporary cyberculture under a range of themes including those of identity, work, everyday life, learning, entertainment, research, property etc. The module will offer students the chance to make use of a range of new web- and network-based technologies and observe a range of extant virtual communities to investigate these themes and appreciate the continuities and discontinuities between, inter alia, the new media and the old, the new generation (variously called “Generation Y”, NetGen etc) and those generations preceding it, as well as emerging versus traditional conceptions of “community”, “culture”, "technology", etc
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Critically analyse manifestations of the “cyberculture” through an integrative application of a range of theories and frameworks relating to contemporary society, new media, and cyber or Internet psychology
LO2 Critically evaluate the role of various web- or network-based technologies and services in the development and evolution of key or representative virtual communities
LO3 Postulate probable futures for the relationship between science/technology and future generations in terms of themes such as identity, work, lifestyle, learning, stratification etc
LO4 Investigate key differences in theory and practice between traditional and new media through the implementation of a representative social web platform
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
 
Indicative Content
Theories of Contemporary Society
Postmodernism, globalisation, late capitalism, the information society, the knowledge-based economy, the digital divide
Theories of the New Generation
Generation X, Y and Z; the “Net Gen”/the “i Generation”/The Gaming Generation; key characteristics and proclivities; online demographics etc
The Cyber-culture
Key themes, e.g. virtuality, simulation, technology, literacy; Media cultures (visual cultures, music cultures, gaming cultures etc); living online, everyday cybercultures; participatory and open source cultures; pop cosmopolitanism.
Contemporary Cyberspaces
The Social Web and Web.2.0; virtual and mixed reality spaces; Massive Multiplayer Online Games and Virtual Worlds
Cyberculture and Psychology
The psychology of HIC; Cognition in virtual spaces; Issues in Cyber-/Internet psychology (e.g. online disinhibition effect, identity in cyberspace, cyberspace immersion)
Predicting the Future
Web 3.0, the Semantic Web, the data web, web3D, ubiquitous/ambient computing; AI; post/trans-humanism; technology as concept and philosophy; Futurology; possible, probable and preferable futures
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Essay % of Total Mark 30
Timing Week 8 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3
Assessment Description
"Future Trends" Essay re probable futures for the relationship between some key aspect of the science/technology complex and a key societal topic or theme of student's choice (e.g. “the everyday”, personal identity, work, lifestyle, education, social stratification etc)
Assessment Type Essay % of Total Mark 70
Timing Week 13 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4
Assessment Description
Critically analyse the way in which cyberspace and digital artefacts are a product of and producer of culture (e.g. social media, online gaming, mobile technology, etc.)
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Theorical and Historical Frameworks Every Week 1.50 1.5
Lab Contact Practical Sessions based around specific technologies and services Every Week 1.00 1
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Range of readings, practical ICT-based tasks and other formative assessment tasks Every Week 4.50 4.5
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 2.50
This module has no Part Time workload.
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Sherry Turkle,. (2012), Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other, [ISBN: 1459609026].
  • Clay Shirky,. (2011), Cognitive Surplus: How Technology Makes Consumers into Collaborators, [ISBN: 0143119583].
  • Henry Jenkins. (2008), Convergence culture, New York University Press, New York, [ISBN: 0814742955].
  • Martin Lister... [et al.]. (2009), New media: a critical introduction, [ISBN: 0415431611].
  • edited by David Silver and Adrienne Massanari; with a foreword by Steve Jones. (2006), Critical cyberculture studies, New York University Press, New York, [ISBN: 0814740243].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Susan Greenfield,. (2011), ID: The Quest for Identity in the 21st Century, [ISBN: 0340936010].
  • Eli Pariser,. (2011), The Filter Bubble: What the Internet Is Hiding from You, [ISBN: 978-0670920389].
  • James Paul Gee,. (2007), What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. Second Edition, [ISBN: 1403984530].
  • Suler, John (n.d.). Psychology of Cyberspace., Available from http://www-usr.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/psycyber.html.
  • Don Tapscott. (2008), Grown up digital, [ISBN: 0071508635].
  • Edward Castronova. (2006), Synthetic worlds, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, [ISBN: 0226096270].
  • Valerie Belair-Gagnon. (2015), Social Media at BBC News: The Remaking of Crisis Reporting, [ISBN: 978-1-315-742].
  • Gabriella Coleman. (2014), Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy: The Many faces of Anonymous, [ISBN: 13: 978-1-781].
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • Squire, K.D. & Steinkuehler, C.A.. (2005), Meet the Gamers, Library Journal, April 15.
Supplementary Article/Paper Resources
  • (2008), Critical Perspectives on Web 2.0 Special issue of First Monday Volume 13, Number 3 - 3 March 2008. Available from http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs /index.php/fm/issue/view/263/showToc.
  • David Silver. (2000), Looking Backwards, Looking Forward: Cyberculture Studies 1990-2000,
    http://rccs.usfca.edu/intro.asp
Other Resources
  • Online Article, Steinkuehler, C. (2007), Massively multiplayer online gaming as a constellation of literacy practices, eLearning, 4(3) 297-318.
  • Journal, Cyberpsychology and Behavior : http://www.liebertpub.com/publication.as px?pub_id=10.
  • Journal, Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace : http://www.cyberpsychology.eu/.
  • Blog, Offical Weblog of Henry Jenkins,
    http://www.henryjenkins.org/
  • Journal, New Media and Society,
    http://newmediaandsociety.com/
  • Website, Wearesocial. (2008), We are Social,
    http://wearesocial.com/
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_HJDCC_9 Master of Arts in Journalism and Digital Content Creation 2 Mandatory
CR_GMUTE_9 Master of Arts in Music and Technology 2 Elective
CR_BPRNM_9 Master of Arts in Public Relations with New Media 2 Mandatory