BR3009 - Exploring the Digital Society

At The Bridge you learn through a blended approach where short, focused and interactive face-to-face sessions are underpinned by guided and independent online learning. Your attendance for scheduled activities is monitored regardless of whether you are on campus or joining the session remotely. This ensures you access all of the learning opportunities which have been purposefully designed for your success.

A range of teaching and learning approaches are adopted to accelerate your learning in this module.

During the first week of this module, you will receive information about the module and Teaching & Learning Plan. The teaching and learning plan (TLP) sets out
• Learning outcomes and overall module and programme aims
• Teaching, learning and assessment strategy
• Teaching schedule
• Directed reading references (text and journals) and core texts for the module
• References to data sources and details of lab activities

You will also receive the assessment brief which sets out the formative and summative assessments throughout the module.

There are three key sources of academic support available to you during your time at the Bridge in addition to Ask4Help who are available 24/7 for general queries related to your studies.

Your Module Tutor
Your module tutor is responsible for your learning outcomes on the module. They deliver the workshops and provide guidance in relation to learning and assignments. They develop all of the key resources and make them available through the eLP (electronic learning portal module) Blackboard, which is used to provide support materials, interactive learning tasks and give you regular opportunities to test and get feedback on your learning. You will be given both written and verbal feedback and guidance on your work and progress during the semester by your module tutor.

Your Learning Mentor
On programme, you will have your in-person and online engagement activity tracked against the learning plan with key check-in points built into the academic calendar to ensure you maximise your learning potential. Engagement with formative assessments will also be used by the learning mentor to discuss any action planning required to ensure success.

Academic Skills Team
The Bridge aspires to build a range of student skillsets, including digital skills, academic writing and discourse, working alone and in teams. Your learning mentor may refer you a dedicated academic skills team which is based in the centre. Here you can attend drop-ins or schedule 1-1 sessions on issues which have been identified at the diagnostic stages of the programme however you may also have self-identified areas for your own growth and self-refer yourself for support.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
MLO1 Identify the key technologies and systems used within a particular industry area
MLO2 Explain the benefits these technologies bring to the organisation

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
On completion of the module you will be able to
MLO3 Identify the most appropriate sources for research
MLO4 Communicate findings appropriately using written and verbal methods

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

MLO5 Developed a questioning approach to knowledge and awareness of issues regarding research and investigation

You will receive formative feedback throughout the module including at the following checkpoints:-

•Week 2: Navigating the course materials
•Week 4: Completing the in-module reflective tasks
•Week 6: Completing the in-module knowledge checks and tasks

Thsi module is assesed in two parts.

The first is a poster addressing a key theme from the module. This first Component is worth 35% and should be presented as an engaging poster using photoshop/ Canva or a similar visual tool. (MLOs1,2 and4).

This poster can then be used to either inform a 1,000 word reflective study on your research process or be used in a 2 Hour open notes exam which will assess MLOs 3 and 5 (65%)

Universal Design for Learning
The choice of second assessment component will be made in week 4 in discussion with your Learning Mentor.

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The module focuses on the development of your understanding of a broad range of Information Technology (IT) and Information Systems (IS) issues in industry and society as well as developing your research skills, including learning on techniques and methods used in academic and/or professional research. You will also develop an understanding of the research process, as well as how to design research in an applied context. This will focus on the problems and issues that occur in establishing empirical knowledge in the IT and IS area.