FIT5205 is a unit in the "flexible core" of the Master of Data Science course for postgraduate students and an elective unit in the Master of Business Systems. This unit explores how the big data is impacting on society.

06/08/2015 - Admin: resubmit due to Monatar system failure as old submits are not viewable. Also numbered learning outcomes.

12/10/2016 - Admin: removing co-requisite as approved by CE via email so students from GDIKM can enrol in this unit.

06/01/2017: Admin - revert to originally approved version (Reasons for Introduction/RoleRelationship) as per ADE request. There are no changes to the unit content requiring approval at this time.

17/02/2017 - FIT5205 Data in Society is a new unit and we are busy developing the content. We have realised in doing so that the learning objectives/outcomes for this unit incorporate some of the overall outcomes for the stream of which it is a part. Updated the learning outcomes to focus the scope for this unit. Semester 1,2017 implementation.

20/09/2017 - Added FIT5090 Social informatics as a prohibition as FIT5205 was based on, and has replaced FIT5090. Effective Semester 1, 2018.

16/8/2019 - Contact hours changed to 1 hr lecture/3 hr workshop in unit redevelopment to enhance the student learning and experience for larger cohort the unit is attracting. Effective Semester 1, 2020

18/09/2020 - Admin: Update to include new assessment and teaching approach fields as per Handbook requirements.

19/11/2020 - Change of learning outcomes to reflect ethical design approach (deleted 1 and added a new 3), update of assignments to reflect the learning outcome change, generic name for assignment 4 (Ethical design report) so that can change the content for different offerings without having to update the handbook entry. Required for Summer semester 2021 implementation

15/12/2020 Admin: Added justification/validation of 100% in-semester assessment back in.

11/02/2021 - Unit synopsis revised to better reflect learning outcome changes

23/02/2021 - Changed workshop to tutorials so that our TAs will be paid as a co-teaching team under the new automated timesheet regime. Also updated the synopsis to start with 'In a digital age'

FIT5205 is a unit in the Master of Business Information Systems course for postgraduate students. It is part of the Information and Knowledge Management Specialisation (Archives and Recordkeeping, and Library and Information Science). Its key objectives are to prepare students so that they will:

Have a basic understanding of social, cultural and heritage informatics; Understand digital media/data ecosystems; Understand how to use data technologies to achieve the benefits and mitigate the risks of data, including big data; Understand rights in data, rights to self determination, privacy rights, access rights, discovery rights, IP and copyright; Have the knowledge and skills to develop socio-legal and policy frameworks to ensure transparency, good governance, accountability and ethical practice; Have the knowledge and skills to manage data rights; Have the knowledge and skills to develop systems that use data to support resilient, sustainable communities and cultures.

FIT5205 will also be offered as part of the Digital Society Stream in the Master of Data Science as part of a group of units which focus on data from a socio-technical perspective. Related units include FIT5146 Data curation and management, FIT5204 Heritage informaticss, FIT5206 Digital continuity, and FIT5086 Organisational informatics.

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Describe and analyse digital media/data ecosystems;
2. Analyse issues relating to the benefits and risks of big data in society;
3. Explain key ethical design principles and their relevance to the design and development of data-driven and algorithmic technologies;
4. Investigate how rights in data, rights to self determination, privacy rights, access rights, discovery rights, and intellectual property rights apply in different contexts/scenarios;
5. Develop recommendations for socio-legal and policy frameworks and strategies for transparency, good governance, accountability and ethical practice in data management and use, including data rights management;
6. Analyse needs and issues relating to the use big data to support resilient, sustainable communities and cultures.

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In the digital age, how we communicate, conduct business and socialize is revolutionizing our world. The explosion of data-driven and artificial intelligence technologies are transforming the way we live and work, altering relationships between government and citizens, businesses and consumers, researchers and the researched, public and private sectors, and individuals, communities and societies.

While data driven and algorithmic technologies can potentially help grow the economy, improve health and education, support national security, protect the environment, enable more energy efficiency, drive innovation and progress, and support more resilient, sustainable communities and cultures, there is a growing need to identify and address the risks associated with their design, development and use. In this unit the problems associated with the application of these information technologies in government and big business that leads to greater surveillance of citizens by states and consumers by businesses, disempowerment of individuals and vulnerable communities, increased discrimination, threats to social inclusion, social justice, human and civil rights, self-determination and privacy, and widens the divide between the data haves and have-nots will be explored, alongside the emerging ethical, legislative and strategic frameworks that aim to address these concerns.

Beard, M., & Longstaff, S. (2018). Ethical by Design: Principles for Good Technology. The Ethics Centre. https://ethics.org.au/ethical-by-design/

Farthing, S., Howell, J., Lecchi, K., Paleologos, Z., Saintilan, P., & Santow, E. (2019). Human Rights and Technology Discussion Paper. Australian Human Rights Commission. https://tech.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-12/TechRights2019_DiscussionPaper.pdf

On campus, off campus, online

Active learning

Enquiry-based learning

In-semester assessment: 100%

It is preferred to have the assessment based on assignment work rather than on an exam. Evaluation of a student's knowledge and understanding in the areas covered must be based on being able to apply conceptual knowledge in concrete examples and specific projects in particular contexts. For instance, understanding the nature of socio-legal and policy frameworks for big data, and related data rights, and working with communities to design systems to support their use of big data can only be tested superficially in an examination, and is best done via closely supervised project work and detailed case studies. Close supervision will involve group meetings with lecturer, class presentations, and peer assessment.

1. Assignment 1: Critical Review of a News Article - 20% - ULO: 1, 2, 3
2. Assignment 2: Privacy Impact Assessment Report - 25% - ULO: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
3. Assignment 3: Debate - 15% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
4. Assignment 4: Ethical Design Report - 30% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
5. Assignment 5 Participation - 10% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

FIT