To succeed in IB exams, Digital Society students must have a good understanding of CONCEPTS. This is a guide to help IB DP DigiSoc students prepare for their external exams and get TOP MARKS.
IB DP: Digital Society: Concepts
2.1 Change
2.2 Expression
2.3 Identity
2.4 Power
2.5 Space
2.6 Systems
2.7 Values & Ethics
Why study Digital Society Concepts?
External Assessment [8 mark] and [12 mark] questions will ask you to respond to a question with a clear reference to one concept. The question may identify a specific concept or they may ask you to choose one yourself.
Internal Assessment, for Criterion A, you will be asked to make a clear connection with one concept and your IA research question.
Self-Study Guide to Digital Society Concepts
Grasp each concept and create your own working definition of each of the seven
Memorize the seven Digital Society concepts so when you are in the exam room you can recall the seven and know what each one is about
Research theories, frameworks and findings for one of each of the concepts (if you have lots of time and a great memory you can research all theories, frameworks and findings... but I'd suggest a better approach is to be more focussed and become an expert on one) then create a half-page explanation about a specific theories, frameworks and findings that you can recall an use in the exam room
Identify a real-life example that clearly illustrates your specific theories, frameworks and findings and create a neat and concise way of explaining the specific theories, frameworks and findings and your chosen real-world example (half a page)
EXAM PRACTICE - read tech news then aim to be able to answer this type of question "Identify the digital technology (content) involved in this story AND discuss the impacts of this tech on various stakeholders (balanced perspectives) AND examine in relation to one concept and connect to another real-world-example" + a bonus point if you can also clearly link to one context.
Example of what to create to help you ACE the IB DS Exams, with a focus on Concepts!
Video Guide to help you ACE your IB DigiSoc Exams: Concepts
Details about the IB Digital Society: Concepts
2.1 Change
Change in DIGITAL SOCIETY is explored and investigated by diverse subjects, fields and professions, such as history, science and technology studies and future studies.
Change ~ areas to study:
2.1A Change is the evolution, transformation, adaptation or movement from one form, state or value to another.
2.1B Change involves understanding and evaluating people, ideas, objects and forces that shape the world: past, present and future.
2.1C The nature and importance of change is debated.
2.1D Change may indicate continuity or discontinuity with prior established ways of understanding or doing things.
Change ~ theories and frameworks that may be used to support conceptual understanding:
Models of technological change—for example, those that explore stages of research, invention, innovation and diffusion
Teleological and cyclical theories of change and history
Types of history, including cultural, economic, social, feminist, and so on
2.2 Expression
Expression in digital society is explored and investigated by diverse subjects, fields and professions, such as media studies, digital humanities, communications, languages and literature, the arts, film and art history.
Expression ~ areas to study:
2.2A Expression is the act, process or instance of representing ideas, emotions and/or experiences using different modes and media.
2.2B Expression serves many functions, including storytelling, world-building, artistic innovation and political activism.
2.2C Expression brings people and communities together while also introducing significant dilemmas.
Expression ~ theories and frameworks that may be used to support conceptual understanding:
Semiotic and structuralist theories and frameworks
Post-modernism and cultural studies
Performativity and performance theory
Media, reception and film theories
2.3 Identity
Identity in digital society is explored and investigated by diverse subjects, fields and professions, such as psychology, cultural studies, political science, social and cultural anthropology, sociology and philosophy.
Identity ~ areas to study:
2.3A Identity helps define a person, group, social entity and/or community.
2.3B Identity is not static but changes over time and according to context and the perspectives of others.
2.3C Identities are intersectional and may include aspects related to age, nationality, religion, culture, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity as well as social and economic class.
Identity ~ theories and frameworks that may be used to support conceptual understanding:
Theories involving identity formation and the social construction of identity
Multiple waves of identity-centred scholarship such as feminist and/or LGBTQ perspectives
Conformity, stereotype and deviance theories
Transhumanism and post-humanism frameworks
Self-concept, social status and identity formation models
2.4 Power
Power in digital society is explored and investigated by diverse subjects, fields and professions such as global politics, social and cultural anthropology. political science, public policy, philosophy, sociology and law.
Power ~ areas to study:
2.4A Power is a feature of all social relations that involves a person’s or group’s capacity to influence or control the actions of others.
2.4B Power is structural and embedded within institutions, organizations and governments.
2.4C Power is not equally distributed.
Power ~ theories and frameworks that may be used to support conceptual understanding:
The major power perspectives: realism, liberalism, critical theories, relativism, universalism
Frameworks and approaches to power/knowledge
Theories about social control, hegemonic power, hard and soft power
2.5 Space
Space in digital society is explored and investigated by diverse subjects, fields and professions suchas mathematics, geography, design, social and architecture and urban planning.
Space ~ areas to study:
2.5A Humans organize, construct and represent space based on physical, geographic, cultural and/or social features (for example, into locations, regions, borders, zones).
2.5B Different Spaces often serve distinct functions for people and communities.
2.5C Access, movement and flows are significant considerations involving Space.
2.5D Space can be understood using multiple scales and dimensions, including local, regional, national and global as well as virtual.
Space ~ theories and frameworks that may be used to support conceptual understanding:
Theories and frameworks exploring the spatial turn in social science
Theories about social space, hybrid space and third space/place
Multiple waves of post-colonial scholarship
2.6 Systems
Systems in digital society is explored and investigated by diverse subjects, fields and professions such as sociology, environmental systems and societies (ESS), science and technology studies (STS), information science, computer science and design. Systems thinking provides powerful tools for understanding human, natural and built environments, and the role of people and communities within them.
Systems ~ areas to study:
2.6A Systems provide one way to think about structure and order in human, natural and built environments.
2.6B Systems involve sets of interacting, interdependent and/or interconnected elements.
2.6C Changes within a System of interdependent connections maygenerate intended and unintended consequences.
2.6D Models, maps and visualizations can help us understand connections within and between Systems.
Systems ~ theories and frameworks that may be used to support conceptual understanding:
Systems thinking and complexity
Sociological theories involving structural functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism
Actor-network and rhizomatic frameworks
2.7 Values & Ethics
Values and ethics in digital society are explored and investigated by diverse subjects, fields and professions such as ethics, philosophy, world religions, law and public policy.
Values & Ethics ~ areas to study:
2.7A Values and ethics are ways to determine possible distinctions between right and wrong, fair and unfair, just and unjust, legal and illegal, proper and improper.
2.7B Values and ethics guide human action in the world, including individual and group conduct, and decision-making.
2.7C Values and ethics may be personal, shared, collective and/or professional.
2.7D Values and ethics are expressed through frameworks, codes, rules, policies and laws.
2.7E Values and ethics influence and shape ideas, objects, practices, systems and spaces.
Values & Ethics ~ theories and frameworks that may be used to support conceptual understanding:
The major ethical perspectives—including utilitarianism, deontological ethics, feminist ethics/ethics of care, virtue ethics, Confucian ethics, African ethics, ethical relativism, ethical pluralism
Ethical decision-making models
Real-Life Example for Digital Society: Concepts
BBC Click: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS3XGZxi7cBWzc-7QR0NSyLtqlYaH4tbP&si=ce3MpIKAbjMB6q_S
BBC Click Twitter Feed: https://twitter.com/bbcclick
Luke Watson's Twitter Feed: https://twitter.com/lukewatsonteach
Reuters Technology: https://www.reuters.com/technology/
Wired: https://www.wired.com/
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/uk/technology
The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/
The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/international/section/technology
Digital Society Textbook: Earl, Ben, Sarah Fitzpatrick, and Mariam Bomfim. Digital Society for the IB Diploma. Cambridge University Press, 2021.
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