2024 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Social and Human Sciences Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society S1B
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Toma Kawanishi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Wed
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- SHS.S442
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The goal of this lecture is to deepen understanding of modern and contemporary technology (especially information technology) through reading and discussing some recent works in the History of Technology. This year, the focus will be on maintenance, a topic of recent interest in and outside the Science and Technology Studies, which involves the care and maintenance of systems and objects. We will examine the work of Lee Vinsel and Andrew L. Russell, The Innovation Delusion: How our Obsession with the New has Disrupted the Work that Matters Most (Currency, 2020), which is a representative work in this area. This course aims to achieve the following two points:
(1) Deepen understanding of the history of information technology.
(2) Learn historical modes of thinking and research approaches through examples from the history of technology.
Course description and aims
1. To acquire a comprehensive understanding of information technology from a historical perspective.
2. To develop the ability to think and investigate in a historical manner.
Keywords
History of technology, Information technology, maintenance
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Students are required to give a brief summary of the portion of the book they have read during each class. Each student is expected to make at least one presentation.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction | Reading Chapter 1 |
| Class 2 | Chapters 2 and 3 | Reading Chapters 2 and 3 |
| Class 3 | Chapters 4 and 5 | Reading Chapters 4 and 5 |
| Class 4 | Chapters 6 and 7 | Chapters 6 and 7 |
| Class 5 | Chapters 8 and 9 | Chapters 8 and 9 |
| Class 6 | Chapters 10 and 11 | Chapters 10 and 11 |
| Class 7 | Conclusion | Conclusion |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Lee Vinsel and Andrew L. Russell, The Innovation Delusion: How our Obsession with the New has Disrupted the Work that Matters Most (Currency, 2020)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
References will be given during the lecture.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Class presentation (50%), Final report (50%)
Related courses
- SHS.S441 ： Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society S1A
- SHS.S443 ： Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society F1A
- SHS.S444 ： Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society F1B
Prerequisites
Not required