6 ECTS credits
168 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1017038ANR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Communication Sciences
Educational team
Laurence Claeys (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
24 contact hours Lecture
12 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
132 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This course aims to familiarize students with, and provide insight into, the most important technologies and innovation theories that make it possible to bridge time and place of communication. This is done by studying theoretical perspectives and historical milestones in the development of communication technologies. This course emphasizes the technological aspects of communication technologies (at the level of artifacts, transmission system, delivery system, software,…) but from a broader perspective: in addition to the technological aspects, social, historical and economic aspects are also studied. The course discusses current technological trends and innovation theoretical frameworks that help to think about the future from a communication science perspective and also pays attention to the historical innovations that have played an important role in social and technological evolutions.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Slides, Canvas
Course text (Required) : Inleiding tot de Communicatietechnologieën, Claeys, VUB, 2220170004891, 2018
Additional info

The lectures are supported by PowerPoint slides that show a structure as well as large parts of the content of the lessons, as well as illustrations and examples. The slides are made available via Canvas. Students are also encouraged to take their own notes in class to complement the slides. Video material is also used during the lesson and students are asked to take quizzes that are presented on Canvas. In addition, Dutch and English articles are also offered to the students, which are also part of the compulsory subject matter. Finally, a concept list is provided explaining definitions of key concepts.

Explanation work form calculation

- Lecture (HOC): collective contact moments at which the lecturer discusses the learning content
- Working methods and practical exercises (WPO): collective and individual contact moments during which the student gets to work with the learning content under supervision
- Independent work and study (SELF): non-contact activities

The method calculation below is indicative and gives an indication of the expected study load

HOC: 24 hours (12 x 2 hours)

WPO: 12 hours (12 x 1 hour)
SELF: 132 hours

  • keep track of course during the semester and follow current events, at the rate of 1 hour per hour HOC: 36 hours
  • completing quizzes (individual preparation for discussion moment): 4 hours
  • reading papers (in addition to teaching material), at a rate of 2 hours per HOC: 24 hours
  • digital portfolio based on weekly exercises during WPO (collecting and processing material): 24 hours
  • exam preparation: 32 hours (4 days of 8 hours)
Learning Outcomes

General competencies

This course contributes to the following general learning results of the bachelor in communication sciences:

  • Students have specific knowledge and understanding of the diverse paradigms, main theoretical currents, concepts and research traditions within communication scientific approaches to media, internet and technology.
  • Students show insight in the position and mutual relations of the diverse paradigms, main theoretical currents, concepts and research traditions within the discipline and in relation to other theories, methods, concepts and models in other disciplines (interdisciplinarity).
  • Students have knowledge and understanding of historical and recent developments in media and communication.
  • Students have knowledge and understanding of the structures, operation and processes of telecommunication and application and regulation and standardization organisations, media and communication practices, and media and communication markets and their relations with media, internet and technology.
  • Students can critically and self-critically, with a long term perspective, from an interdisciplinary angle, and cautious of monocausal interpretations, gauge the impact of social, cultural, economic, ethical, technological, political, legal and other factors to communication processes.
  • Students reflect upon their own position as scientists, construe assumptions and identify and explicitate critically their presuppositions.
  • Students develop an attitude of willingness to listen and respect to one another in order to engage in debates on the basis of scientifically and empirically grounded arguments.
  • Students can – with guidance – learn and act independently, creatively, critically and entrepreneurially.
  • Students demonstrate an interested, studious and inquisitive attitude and have an open attitude to life long and independent learning.

 

Course specific outcomes

At the end of this study course students should :

  • be able to name and distinguish the different theoretical views on the evolution of information technologies and innovations;
  • be able to name and explain the basic concepts of communication technologies (signals, formats , applications, ... );
  • be able to name the history and current developments of the technical, social, economic and historical aspects of the production and use of communication technologies ( from the telegraph to the cloud);
  • be able to independently acquire knowledge and critical reflection on the technical, social, economic and historical aspects of the production and use of communications technologies.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 70% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 30% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written Exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 70% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Portfolio Assignments with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 30% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Important!  A student must have submitted on time at least 75% of the portfolio/assignments to be allowed to participate to the exam.

  • if less then 75% of the assignments submitted on time: not allowed to participate to the exam
  • if 75% of the assignments submitted on time: allowed to participate to exam but minus 1 point (on 20) on the total score.
  • if between 76% and 100% of the assignments submitted on time: allowed to participate to examen and no minus points.

The use of generative AI is not allowed.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Communication Studies: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Psychology: Afstudeerrichting arbeids- en organisatiepsychologie (only offered in Dutch)