DIGITAL TEACHNOLOGY

AND SOCIAL CHANGE

 OVERVIEW
In the 1990s, the internet and telecommunication industry changed
the way we connect and exchange information.
Digital technology comprises of electronic tools, devices and systems
that generate, store and process data. It enables us to experience the
benefits of advanced information technology systems.
In this lesson, we will discuss the digital age and its effect in society,
the two-essential theory in technology, and how technological change
takes place.
 OBJECTIVES
• Explain the role of ICT in social change.
• Identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and imminent
threats of the digital age.
• Articulate basic, but fundamental definitions of complex issues and
dynamics that humans encounter every day, such as technology,
social progress, development, and digitalization
Introduction to the
Digital Age
5

Digital Age
▸ A period when the computer and internet were
introduced.
▸ It is caused by rapid shift from traditional industry to
computerization all the way to artificial intelligence which
brought by Industrial Revolution.
▸ These technologies enabled people to communicate
information easily and rapidly.
▸ Digital Technology became prevalent and widely used
around the world.
 The ICT (Information
Communications Technology)
 The ICT
▸ has the power to transform society
▸ is defined as a group of interrelated technologies
(electronic devices) for accessing, processing, and
disseminating information
▸ It is a system of electronic network activated through a
complex hardware and software systems linked by a vast
array of technical protocols.
 The ICT
▸ The term ICTs has been used to embrace technological
innovation and merging in information and
communication transforming our world into information
or knowledge societies.
▸ The development of a society mostly depends on the
access to information.
 The ICT
▸ Despite ICT’s massive potential, the current global
information outburst has surprisingly little impact on
development activities and access to practical
information for rural communities, local people, and
forefront development workers in developing countries.
 The ICT
▸ The emergence of Internet, World Wide Web, mobile cell
phones, digital television, and several other new
electronic devices pertaining ICT are opening a fresh
passageways for transforming the way we live, work,
learn, communicate and also provides a strategic
opportunities of diverse and significant social and
economic benefits to people across the globe.
 ICT’s role
in Social Changes
 Social change
▸ refers to a transformation of culture and social
organizations/structures over time.
▸ Strangely, decisions made by organizations and people outside
of our family, many of whom have significant financial power,
political influence, or technical abilities, determine the societal
transformations that may arise from the growing use of ICTs.
 Entertainment
Digital broadcasting has completely changed the way we
experience television and radio.
Cinema can now be found at the comfort of your home
through application such as Netflix, iFlix, etc.
We get entertained by the content that we see in
Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
Computer gaming has also been an important influence in
the development of graphical interfaces.
We can now listen to music and podcast using Spotify.
 Business
It empowers people to share knowledge and advice
instantaneously and set up an online shop or website at a
low cost, dramatically lowering the barriers to starting a
business.
Businesses in today’s life have promoted a lot with the
coming of ICT. Its impact cannot be over emphasized.
The impact of ICT infrastructure on social businesses
cannot be understated. It has made social impact
affordable, social impact scalable, and enables new ways
to connect to and engage with local communities.
 Education
The impact of ICT on teachers, trainers, learners,
researchers and the entire education society is
tremendous. It is changing the way of the education
delivery system in the world by enhancing access to
information for all. It also ensures effective and inclusive
education. ICT supports the concept of open learning
where the thrust is upon enhanced student access and the
development of student autonomy.
 Education
ICT can play varied roles in developing an effective learning
environment. It assists teachers and helps explain core content
concepts and addresses misconceptions. It acts as a stimulant and
fosters analytical thinking and interdisciplinary studies. It
networks a learner with the peers and experts and develops
collaborative atmosphere. It plays the role of a guide and mentor
by providing tailor made instructions to meet individual needs.
 Education
Online learning facilitates learning through digital mode. With the
help of multimedia, it enhances effectiveness of teaching-learning
and hence proves crucial for early learners, slow learners and
differently abled learners. Modern ICT tools not only deliver the
content but also replicate formal learning experience via virtual
learning. The intention of virtual classrooms is to extend the
structure and services that accompany formal education programs
from the physical environment to learners.
 Education
ICT also addresses the need of mobile learning. It offers
independent space and flexibility that comes from working away
from the learning institute or tutor. It makes education accessible
to all, irrespective of geographical barriers or resource
constraints. Learners from remote areas, working people who
want to learn further and update their knowledge and differently
abled students who find travelling an issue of concern – benefit
from the mobile learning mode.
 Education
Digital technologies can unlock new learning opportunities in the
classroom by giving students access to a wider range of resources,
by complementing the teacher in learning processes (computer-
assisted learning) and by providing other advantages to students,
such as access to motivational and informational resources
associated with access to tertiary education programs.
 Education
Access to technology is quite certainly beneficial to students’
digital skills and provide a clear advantage to students in that
area. But the effects on other learning outcomes are generally
considered limited or potentially negative. Some studies find that
computer-assisted learning has some positive effects, especially in
science and mathematics, because it provides students with
personalized learning modules that are adapted to their level.
 Jobs and Earnings
Access to technology is quite certainly beneficial to students’
digital skills and provide a clear advantage to students in that
area. But the effects on other learning outcomes are generally
considered limited or potentially negative. Some studies find that
computer-assisted learning has some positive effects, especially in
science and mathematics, because it provides students with
personalized learning modules that are adapted to their level.
 Health
Digitalization can affect people’s health status through the
emergence of new physical and mental health risks and through
its impact on the health-care delivery system. Health risks
associated with the digital transformations include mental health
problems associated with the extreme use of digital technologies,
especially among children and teenagers and the crowding out of
other activities such as physical exercise. Health-care delivery is
also affected by new digital technologies, such as electronic
records, new treatment options, telecare, and teleconsultation.
An important aspect of digitalization concerns the production and
use of medical data to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of
health systems.
 Health
Research suggests that the Internet triggers neurological processes
similar to other addictive substances and activities, i.e. experiences of
short-term pleasure in the brain’s “reward center”. This area releases
a combination of dopamine, opiates and other neurochemicals when
activated, a mechanism that can be compromised over time due to the
deterioration of associated receptors, requiring even more stimulation
to get a similar response. Children and teenagers, for biological
reasons, are more susceptible to addiction because their brain is still in
development. For example, a study among 14-year-olds in Belgium
found that frequent gamers had brain abnormalities compared to other
teens, potentially resulting from dopamine releases associated with
video games.
Theories in Technology
1. Technological Determinism
 It is the theory which strongly believe that technology
shapes the culture, values, social structures of a society
 The main reason why society progresses is because of the
kind technology the society has Technological innovation is
the cause of the social progress.
 The technology has the control over the society --- over
human actions, culture and values.
 In other words the society is changing because of
technology.
 2. Social Constructivism
 is the opposite of the Technological Determinism.
 believes that humans play a main role in shaping
technology rather than technology shaping society
 It believes that technology does not determine human
action, but rather, human action shapes the technology
 Our curiosity, the hunger to expand, and the need to do
things efficiently drive us to create these technologies.
3. Technological Change
 The various changes in technology leads to an increase in
the productivity of labor, capital and other production
factors.
 The technology is the most powerful means of wresting
power from nature in all possible ways.
 Technological changes devise new goods and techniques
of production.
 The development of new technical knowledge can be
defined as the growth of the new technique that can
produce goods and services at lesser cost of production.
The process of growth of technical knowledge
can be divided into following stages:

Formulation of Application of these Development of

scientific principles principles to give technical inventions to
technical problems the point of commercial
exploitation.
It may be called commercialization that originates from
scientific advancement. Invention is scientific fact while
innovation is economic fact. Inventions are carried on by
the inventors large capital investments at every stage as it
needs not only a scientific attitude but an attitude of the
community and an entrepreneurial skill of high order with
the ability to understand the possibilities of employing
scientific incentives for commercial purposes