ATS3415 Innovation and social change: The history of technology
Faculty of Arts
ATS3415 Innovation and social change: The history of technology is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts. It isn't offered in 2026. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Not offered
- Assessment
- No exam
- 5 tasks
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review ATS3415.
Requisites
Before ATS3415
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After ATS3415
No unit lists ATS3415 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Pre-requisite: 12 credit points level 2 Arts units
Overview
In this unit, you will be introduced to humanistic and social scientific concepts that can help you evaluate the role that technological objects, systems, and processes play in social change as well as in shaping politics and the experience of everyday life. You will begin by investigating the relationship between technology and history, exploring notions of progress and technological determinism. You will then evaluate the connections between technology, politics, and society through case studies of different technological objects and systems in a variety of locations and time periods. Through readings, in-class discussions, and an independent research project that you design, you will apply appropriate theories and methods from the field of history of technology, science and technology studies, and material culture studies to the analysis of a specific technological artefact, system, process, or practice.
Offerings in 2026
The 2026 handbook lists no offerings for ATS3415.
Assessment
- Weekly Moodle ForumExercise10%
- Research ProposalWritten15%
- Literature ReviewWritten25%
- Research ProjectWritten35%
- Concept AnalysisExercise15%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
evaluate and apply key concepts (e.g., technological determinism, agency, socio-technical systems) from a variety of scholarly texts related to the humanistic study of technology;
- 2
explain the complex relationships between technology and society, politics, and economics in different time periods and locations;
- 3
critically analyse contemporary issues related to the effects of technological change on social and cultural life;
- 4
design and complete an analytical research project on a topic relevant to the course, critically integrating primary and secondary sources;
- 5
develop and communicate ideas and arguments orally and in writing about technological and social change.
Workload and teaching
- Lectures12 hours
- Tutorials24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
This unit engages you in enquiry-based learning as you will be asked evaluate a technological issue or challenge and apply the appropriate concepts for their analysis. This open-ended assessment will allow you to follow your interests related to the course’s general themes.
Where it fits
ATS3415 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Samson Lim
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Samson Lim
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS3415?
ATS3415 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ATS3415 offered?
ATS3415 has no offerings listed in the 2026 handbook.
Does ATS3415 have an exam?
No. ATS3415 has 5 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS3415?
ATS3415 is part of History.