SEB420 Technological Frontiers
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | SEB420 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,118 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,680 |
| International unit fee | $5,244 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | SEB420 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinator: | Lalehvash Moghaddam | l.moghaddam@qut.edu.au |
Overview
The nature of scientific knowledge and understanding is inextricably linked to advances in technology. In this unit, you will explore how technology guides and shapes science, and how this contributes to the advancement of knowledge and ways of thinking within both science and society.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe the role that technology has played in historical scientific advances within a disciplinary context.
- Discuss the societal context for technological innovation and how this has impacted progress across different fields of science.
- Critically analyse the influence of emerging technology on a scientific field.
- Translate concepts in science and technology into educational and science communication contexts using audience-appropriate communication approaches.
Content
Drawing on technical, historical, and socio-cultural accounts of technology and science, this unit will offer an opportunity to both deepen your discipline knowledge and expand your understanding of the key role played by technology across the scientific disciplines. You will examine the role that technology has played in historical scientific advances, as well as looking at how societal influences direct the trajectory of both technology and science. You will also analyse how emerging technologies may contribute to advancing modern scientific understanding, potentially reshaping our collective future.
Learning Approaches
This unit will use an inquiry-based approach to allow you to pursue deeper understanding of topics of interest within your discipline area. Using a blended approach to teaching and learning, this unit will combine independent study activities with face-to-face workshops to enable collaboration. You can expect to commit on average 12 hours per week to the study of this unit including readings, video lectures, in-person workshops, and undertaking assessment and independent learning. Specifically this will consist of:
- Guided self-paced learning: Pre-class activities will be provided through Canvas each week to provide the foundational knowledge required for effective participation in the workshops. This will include background readings, video lectures and other targeted content.
- Workshops: In these workshops you will work collaboratively in small groups, supported by the guidance of our experienced teaching staff to engage with relevant concepts.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Assessment is designed progressively across the semester to provide multiple opportunities for feedback and improvement. This includes a mix of oral and written feedback from peers and/or teachers.
Assessment
Overview
The assessment in this unit will help develop valuable skills in critical analysis, collaboration, and effective oral and written communication within and across disciplines and for different audiences.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Case Study
You will present a case study of a technology of your choice within a particular field of science. Your case study should investigate the role of the technology in producing scientific data and contributing to contemporary scientific knowledge. You should also investigate the historical development of the technology, what technologies preceded it and how scientific knowledge has changed over time through these technology developments. Your case study data will draw on analysis of scientific literature, popular press and other sources of valid and reliable information that may support your narrative.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Translation Project
You will apply historical, social, technical and scientific knowledge gained in this unit into an educational or science communication project that may be adopted as a resource to support your future career in science education. This should focus on a particular technology for a particular area of science and should aim to support communication of a concept in science, technology and society from the past to the present and into the future.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Presentation
With a focus on one currently advancing scientific concept or discipline, you will evaluate how technology influences the creation of data and how it contributes to scientific knowledge. You will look to the future and predict the influence of technological innovations on society, and how this innovation may create value with social, cultural and/or economic dimensions. This presentation will incorporate descriptions of science and technology presented in formats intended for both technical and lay audiences.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Library and web-based information
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the ordinary risks associated with the general conduct of this unit. Workplace health and safety protocols in relation to computer and/or laboratory use will apply.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in unit outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.