Students

INTS1301 – Technology and Society: From Plato to NATO

2026 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convener
Wes Robertson
wes.robertson@mq.edu.au
By appointment
Lecturer
Govand Azeez
govand.azeez@mq.edu.au
Lecturer
Brian Ballsun-Stanton
brian.ballsun-stanton@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
What happens when technology doesn’t just support human life, but reshapes what it means to be human? This unit introduces foundational debates in the human-technology relationship, exploring how communities have imagined, adopted, resisted, and transformed technologies across time. Technologies are never just neutral tools: they reflect cultural values, shape social norms, and operate within systems of power and politics. Through case studies ranging from ancient philosophy to Cold War infrastructures and contemporary artificial intelligence, students examine how technologies influence, and are influenced by, the societies that produce and regulate them. Key themes include technological determinism versus social shaping, innovation and inequality, the influence of technology on human interaction and communication, and the long history of imagined futures. Drawing on insights from culture, politics, history, philosophy, linguistics, anthropology, and media, the unit develops a critical vocabulary for interrogating technology. By the end of the unit, students will be able to interrogate current debates on technology, assessing what a technology does, who it serves, how it evolves, and why it matters.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Trace the evolution of technological thought and practice identifying key philosophical, historical, and cultural shifts.
  • ULO2: Differentiate the societal impacts of major technological innovations across historical periods and cultural settings.
  • ULO3: Construct systems maps to visualise the interconnections between technology, society, and power in selected case studies.
  • ULO4: Articulate complex ideas about technology’s role in society using multimodal communication.

General Assessment Information

Rubrics and indicative samples are provided in iLearn as additional guidance on standards of achievement for different assessment types.

Submission of most tasks is via iLearn. All assessment tasks are compulsory and must be submitted on time. Assignment tasks handed in early will not be marked and returned before the due date.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.

This late penalty will apply to written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Mind Map 40% No Week 11 Individual No Open
Technology Report Presentation 25% No Week 6 Individual No Open
Viva 35% No Week 13 Individual No Observed

Mind Map

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 11
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Using digital resources, think through class content each week, building these reflections into a mind map which links course content and themes together.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Trace the evolution of technological thought and practice identifying key philosophical, historical, and cultural shifts.
  • Differentiate the societal impacts of major technological innovations across historical periods and cultural settings.
  • Construct systems maps to visualise the interconnections between technology, society, and power in selected case studies.
  • Articulate complex ideas about technology’s role in society using multimodal communication.

Technology Report Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 25%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Present findings on how people around you think about and engage with technology, including their concerns. Incorporate evidence from original interviews, self-reflection, and engagement with contemporary media and research.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Differentiate the societal impacts of major technological innovations across historical periods and cultural settings.
  • Construct systems maps to visualise the interconnections between technology, society, and power in selected case studies.

Viva

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 35%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

Respond to a statement about a major course topic or theme live, identifying the veracity of the statement, and explaining your reasoning why.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Trace the evolution of technological thought and practice identifying key philosophical, historical, and cultural shifts.
  • Differentiate the societal impacts of major technological innovations across historical periods and cultural settings.
  • Articulate complex ideas about technology’s role in society using multimodal communication.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Is my unit in iLearn?:https://unitguides.mq.edu.au/ilearn_unit_status/ to check when your online unit will become available.

Technology

Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

For students attending classes on campus we strongly encourage that you bring along your own laptop computer, ready to work with activities in your online unit. The preferred operating system is Windows 10.

Students are required to access the online unit in iLearn by the end of Week 1 and follow any relevant instructions and links for downloads that may be required. If applicable, students are required to download the relevant language package prior to Week 2.

Please contact your course convenor before the end of Week 1 if you do not have a suitable laptop (or tablet) for in-class use.

Unit Schedule

Week 1: Introduction to INTS1301 

Module 1: What is Technology? 

Week 2: Humans & Technology 

Week 3: Philosophies of Technology 

Week 4: Types of Technology 

Module 2: Socialization of Technology 

Week 5: From Grunting to Printing 

Week 6: Standardization, the State, and the Personal Computer 

(Technology Influence Survey Due) 

Semester Break 

Week 7: A History of AI Since the 1950s 

Week 8: Modern Technology & Communication 

Module 3: In & Beyond the Fourth Industrial Revolution 

Week 9: The Shibboleths of Globalization: Are There Stairs in Your House? 

Week 10: Digital Natives and Why You Aren't Them 

Week 11: Words Gooding: The Triumph of the Humanities 

Week 12: Civilization Under the Influence of AI: Five Possible Futures

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2026.03 of the Handbook