Existing Course Number/Title:
Tech 114-3 - History and Theory of Technology and Culture
(B Designation – Social Science)
Please check appropriate revision(s) being recommended:
Course Number: _x_ Credit Hour: __ Title: _x_
Description: _x_ Prerequisite: __ Vector: _x_
FROM
Number: TECH 114-3
Title: History and Theory of Technology and Culture
Course Description:
An examination of the historical development of technologies of writing, visualization and computing and their impacts on cultural development. Milestones in writing from phonetic and pictographic systems through the printing press and modern hypertext are examined. Optical technologies and how they have shaped the process of seeing itself will be explored, including the camera obscura, linear perspective, panoramas and stereoscopes. Changes in the methods of computation and how those changes affect cultures and subcultures will be explored, including the role of time, mathematics, memes, and networks in shaping cultural evolution.
Vector: 0-0-0-5
TO
Number: INTD 110-3 (B Designation – Social Science)
Title: Technology in Everyday Contexts
Course Description:
An introduction to the role of technologies in an increasingly complex world. Through a contextual examination, students explore the nature and evolution of technology. They gain first-hand experience with a variety of computer, communication and engineering technologies and engage in assessing the impact and consequences of technology on both the individual and societal levels. Themes examined in this course focus on the use of technologies in situated applications and everyday contexts, giving students experience in relating the affordances of technology with real human needs. Activity-based projects that require students to work individually, in social networks, and in the larger community provide the basis for evaluating key learning experiences in this course.
Vector: 1-0-0-3
RATIONALE
The title and description are made to be more inclusive of school interests within FAS with respect to the topics covered in the course. This will benefit students when selecting courses and provide complementary content to existing first and second level FAS courses. This is a foundation course for FAS students and is open to all Surrey students. The INTD prefix more appropriately labels this as an interdisciplinary course.
The vector was revised to move the course into alignment with other TechOne offerings. Vector: 1-0-0-3 (lecture-laboratory)
New Course Text: Norman, D. (2002). The Design of Everyday Things. Harper Collins ISBN 0465067107 (approx. $15 Cdn.)
Does this course duplicate the content of a previously approved course to such an extent that students should not receive credit for both courses?
Yes, Tech 114 - History and Theory of Technology and Culture
Effective date: 07-08 Calendar