Course syllabus for Emerging technology ethics through fiction

The course syllabus contains changes
See changes

Course syllabus adopted 2023-10-11 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameNy tekniks etik genom fiktion
  • CodeTRA215
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTRACKS
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • ThemeMTS 7.5 c
  • DepartmentTRACKS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

The course round is cancelled. For further questions, please contact the director of studies
  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 97146
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0123 Project 7.5 c
Grading: TH		 3.7 c3.8 c

    Examiner

    Information missingGo to coursepage (Opens in new tab)

    Eligibility

    General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
    Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

    Specific entry requirements

    English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
    Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

    Course specific prerequisites

    In addition to the general requirements to study at advanced level at Chalmers, necessary subject or project specific prerequisite competences (if any) must be fulfilled. Alternatively, the student must obtain the necessary competences during the course. The examiner will formulate and check these prerequisite competences.

    The student will only be admitted in agreement with the examiner.

    Aim

    The aim of the course is to provide a platform to work and solve challenging cross-disciplinary authentic problems from different stakeholders in society such as the academy, industry or public institutions. Additionally, the aim is that students from different educational programs practice working efficiently in global multidisciplinary development teams.

    This course provides a framework that uses fiction specifically for its distance from reality as a way to open up discussion and reflection about the ethical implications of emerging technologies. That distance is then discussed through referring to the latest developments in real-world technologies, as found in current news, as well as professional codes of ethics, to extend the classroom debates begun about fictional worlds and the potential as well as risks of emergent technologies. In this way, students will probe their thinking to establish a coherent and consistent set of ethical reflections about emerging technologies.

    Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)


    Valid for all Tracks courses:
    • critically and creatively identify and/or formulate advanced architectural or engineering problems
    • master problems with open solutions spaces which includes to be able to handle uncertainties and limited information.
    • lead and participate in the development of new products, processes and systems using a holistic approach by following a design process and/or a systematic development process.
    • work in multidisciplinary teams and collaborate in teams with different compositions
    • show insights about cultural differences and to be able to work sensitively with them.
    • show insights about and deal with the impact of architecture and/or engineering solutions in a global, economic, environment and societal context.
    • identify ethical aspects and discuss and judge their consequences in relation to the specific problem
    • orally and in writing explain and discuss information, problems, methods, design/development processes and solutions
    • fulfill project specific learning outcomes
    Course specific:
    • demonstrate awareness of a range of ethical issues regarding emerging technologies.
    • show through writing assignments an engagement with ethical ideas about emerging technologies that appear in assigned fictional texts.
    • create texts that guide others through one or more complex ethical/social issues regarding emerging technologies.
    • demonstrate engagement with current ideas or problems within industry regarding the ethics of emerging technologies.
    • articulate in writing and/or presentations what the student adjudicates as important in emerging technology ethics, and also demonstrate the ability to defend his or her position.

    Organisation

    The course is run by a teaching team.
    The main part of the course is a challenge driven project. The challenge may range from being broad societal to profound research driven. The project task is solved in a group. The course is supplemented by on-demand teaching and learning of the skills necessary for the project. The project team will have one university examiner, one or a pole of university supervisors and one or a pole of external co-supervisors if applicable.

    Tracks-theme: Emerging technologies - from science to innovation

    In addition to reading and discussing a pertinent selection of fiction, including some viewing of televisual and filmic fictions, participants will construct a text or other project that analyzes ethical dilemmas concerning their choice of different emerging technologies, including AI, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and more.

    Literature

    Relevant literature is retrieved and acquired by the students as a part of the project.
    Will be provided or procured as part of the course project

    Examination including compulsory elements

    Written report and presentation and a portfolio of items selected from the learning journal.

    The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.

    The course syllabus contains changes

    • Changes to course rounds:
      • 2023-10-09: Cancelled Changed to cancelled by UOL
        [Course round 1] Cancelled
    • Change made on course round in programme overview:
      • 2023-10-09: Removed [TRACKS, Year 1 rule V] Course round 1 removed by UOL
    Emerging technology ethics through fiction | Chalmers