NET204 (Communities, Networks and Online Social Interaction)
C2010 Information (March 2009)
Syllabus Statement
The Internet offers many opportunities for people to share their lives with others and engage in social interaction and dialogue. Initially the Internet seemed to be about ‘virtual’ community; but these days, online and offline networking and community practices merge. The Internet now plays a major role in ‘being together’ – whether to maintain relations with friends and family, to advance political causes, to escape into fantasy worlds, or to strengthen communal belonging. In this unit, you will investigate the excitement, the scepticism, the possibilities and the pitfalls of communities, networks and online social interaction and become more effective in managing and facilitating it.
Outcomes
At the end of this unit, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of the origin, nature, purpose and operation of Internet-mediated communities and online networks of social interaction
- Analyse specific examples of Internet-mediated communities and networks in terms of theories of broader interaction and identity within society
- Demonstrate an understanding of the complex relationship between technological forms of connectivity and social practices of connectivity
- Use conceptual knowledge of Internet-mediated communities and networks to be an effective participant in diverse forms of online interaction
Tuition Pattern
1hr lecture/whole-group activity; 1hr f2f tute; 1 hr online
Assignments
- Essay 20% Week 6 ULO 1,3
- Essay 40% Week 10 ULO 1,2,3
- Knowledge Networking, Learning Tasks and Discussion 40% Week 15, ULO 3,4
Pre-requisites
NIL - but note, will have NET102 as OUA pre-requisite. At Curtin can assume other 1st year units are sufficient (since this allows entry into units from students not having done our 1st year units).