This module explores the emerging field of digital environmental studies. The core theme represents an investigation into how our everyday lives are mediated and influenced by technology. Technology is becoming ubiquitous to our engagements with the world around us and increasingly as we move around and experience places we do so equipped with sophisticated digital equipment. Changes in personal mobile technologies, such as GPS enabled smart phones and activity tracking apps often lead to changes in our culture and practices as we undertaken our everyday lives. For example, recent research on smart technology, illustrates how devices can be used to modify behaviour to facilitate low carbon transitions.

This module will explore how technology becomes interwoven and embedded into lives and practices as well as investigating the intended and unintended consequences that result from such technologization. This module will have a strong theoretical component which will explore how scholars investigate and model our interactions with technology and place. This will focus upon new materialist thinkers such as Latour and Michael and theories such as practice theory and actor network theory. These approaches have contributed to our understanding complex issues, which will be illustrated via academic case studies of specific technologies which have altered societal practices in some way.

Summative Assessment:
1 x 2500-word essay based upon identifying how a specific technology has re-shaped a practice/behaviour, including an account of the dynamics of the change [Learning outcomes 1 - 5].

Formative Assessment: Opportunities for ongoing formative feedback will be provided during class sessions via strategies such as discussion of key issues and formative feedback on in-class and field worksheets. Students will also be provided with the opportunity to receive feedback on their essay plans as well as formatively presenting their ideas to the group.

This module will be delivered through a combination of independent and online learning, scheduled class sessions, and planning, researching and producing the module assessments.

Materials and resources that introduce the main themes and key concepts covered in the module, as well as supporting the development of the key skills required to complete the assessment will be made available via the VLE. These may be on the form of pre-recorded lectures, a set of directed readings, links to videos or appropriate micro-certification packages, or a mixture.

Workshops and seminars will provide students with the opportunity to: (i) debate and further explore the ideas introduced in the learning materials; (ii) discuss how they will use them to address the module assessment; and (iii) receive guidance on completing the assessment.

Students should spend the independent learning hours working through the learning resources and self-instructional materials provided in the VLE, completing preparatory and follow-up activities for the class sessions, and completing the module assessments.

Module Learning Outcome
1. Demonstrate a critical understanding the issues associated with our increasing involvement with, and reliance upon, technology.

University Learning Outcome
Knowledge and Understanding

Module Learning Outcome
2. Critically explore how specific technologies have influenced and changed practices and lifestyles.

University Learning Outcome
Enquiry, Knowledge and Understanding

Module Learning Outcome
3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the concepts and theories and how they apply to the technologisation of space.

University Learning Outcome
Application, Knowledge and Understanding

Module Learning Outcome
4. Critically evaluate the role of technology in shaping everyday practices by applying the appropriate theory and concepts.

University Learning Outcome
Communication, Enquiry

Module Learning Outcome
5. Consider the potential value and uses of technology and how these may be applied in terms of health and sustainability policy.

University Learning Outcome
Analysis, Application, Reflection.

University Library, internet and email facilities, Blackboard or equivalent VLE, Microsoft Teams. Workshops will require individual access to a laptop or tablet, probably through BYOD (Bring Your Own Device).

Kitchin, R., Dodge, M. (2011) Code/Space: Software and Everyday Life. MIT Press, Cambridge MA.
Lupton, D. (2016) The Quantified Self, Polity Press, New York.
Michael, M. (2017) Actor-Network Theory: Trials, Trails and Translations. Sage, London.
Shove, E., Pantzar, M., Watson, M. (2012) The Dynamics of Social Practice: Everyday Life and how it Changes. Sage, London.
Turkle, S. (2017) Alone Together: Why we expect more from technology but less from each other. Basic Books, New York.
White, D., Wilbert, C. (Eds)(2009) Technonatures: Environments, Technologies, Spaces, and Places in the Twenty-First Century. Wilfrid Laurier University Press, Waterloo.

None

This module will explore how technology becomes interwoven and embedded into lives and practices as well as investigating the intended and unintended consequences that result from such technologization. People, technology and place will have a strong theoretical component which will explore how scholars investigate and model our interactions with technology and place.