Sociotechnical Learning Environments

Overview

This 8-week Sociotechnical Learning Environments short course from the University of Birmingham online looks at how technology influences society and conversely how society influences technology, applying these pespectives in learning environments helps us to understand technology in use and its impact on learning.

Throughout the course, students will consider how the introduction of technology into learning environments impacts upon the very idea of education. You will analyse learning environments from the perspective of connecting the social, physical and digital in networks of the human and non-human to challenge perspectives of online and offline learning.

Using classic and contemporary philosophies of technology and education, students will critically engage in questioning why technologies are used and the actors involved in design, implementation and use.

Why study Sociotechnical Learning Environments at Birmingham?

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Examine empirical and theoretical research literature on the affordances of technology in learning and teaching environments.

• Identify key learning environments in your own context and explore how the physical, social and digital environment connect.

• Evaluate ethical and equality issues involved with adoption of technology in networked learning environments.