Research about sustainability concerns macro-, meso- and micro-phenomena, and many of them are of interdisciplinary interest. While political sciences and sociology focus foremost on the macro- and meso-level, this seminar situated between sociology and psychology aims also for an understanding of issues concerning the meso- and micro level, and this term particularly those emerging in the wake of the digital transformation.
Subject matters of this training seminar are, after an introductory step, interdisciplinary issues in the context of the digital transformation, e.g.: Are there measurable changes of the brain in result of the use of the internet, and in which respect? How does the internet change childhood and adolescence, and how does that impact on developmental areas? Does digitalisation promote equality – more chances for all like? Which work places are currently foremost endangered by the digital transformation, and what kind of new work opportunities are emerging instead? Which laws protect against unwanted side effects of the digitalisation? What is meant by the TESCREAL philosophies which many Silicon Valley managers do promote? And what does “digital literacy” mean in light of the above? With up-to-date interdisciplinary findings, these questions will be explored and possibly answered.
In this training seminar, socially sustainably methods of participation and democratic interaction based on TCI (Cohn) are used while working on selected topics. In an introductory workshop, the modus operandi and basic knowledge is conveyed, and participants choose a topic they would like to work on in teams. Based on that, student’s teams develop a workshop about their topics, so that it can be understood and explored together with all participants. Theoretical as well as practical insights become tangible through the setting. Upfront reading, short inputs and guided activities in small groups interlock beneficially for participants and the group. The lecturer provides methods and literature, offers practice examples, gives counsel to student’s teams in their preparations, and a differentiated feedback.
Requirement: Willingness of active participation, reflection and interaction are important for participation in this training setting over 7 workshops of 3 hours each.
The Module W5 is studied as a stand-alone seminar. It can be complemented with other seminars of the training-format “Sociology meets Psychology”, e.g. with other modules by the lecturer.
Recommended for 3rd semester Bachelor students of Sociology before their internship and thesis, but explicitly open from the 1st semester. As far as capacity allows, open to Master and Erasmus students, and to students from other faculties. The training group is limited to 20 participants.
2 SWS: Fortnightly, starting in the 2nd week of the term, Tuesdays 4-7 pm; 3 hours (s.t.). Please register reliably via Stud.IP for your participation.
Introductory references
Carvalho, Maria da Graca 2020: Report on Closing the Digital Gender Gap: Women’s Participation in the Digital Economy (2019/2168(INI)). Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. European Parliament 2019-2024, plenary sitting 25.11.2020, A9-ß232/2020. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2020-0232_EN.html
First, Joseph et al. (2019). The “online brain”: how the Internet may be changing our cognition. World Psychiatry 2019; 18:119–129. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wps.20617
Haidt, J. 2024. The Anxious Generation. How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Penguin Books.
Requirements for credit points: 6 CP
Active participation, preparation of an interactive workshop part and written documentary in a small group.
