IB Group 3 · Individuals and Societies
Digital Society
2024 syllabus · First assessment 2024
An inquiry course built on three Cs — seven concepts, seven content topics, seven contexts — and the impacts and implications of digital systems for people and communities. Every card is one of the guide’s prescribed points: each enduring understanding and each area for inquiry, with the guide’s own supporting details beneath. HL adds three challenge topics and the intervention framework that Paper 3 tests.
1. 1 Introduction
What “digital society” names, why the term is contested, and the analogue-to-digital transformation that underlies everything else in the course.
DS1.1 — What is digital society?
DS1.1.1 · A contested term — “Digital society” is a contested term used to describe contemporary life. There may be multiple digital societies rather than just one.
DS1.1.2 · Analogue into digital — Digital society involves the transformation of analogue processes and objects into digital forms.
DS1.1A · Digital society has multiple names — Information age, computer age, post-industrial society, network society, fourth industrial revolution
DS1.1B · Digital society is characterized by uneven access to digital systems — Digital divide(s)
DS1.1C · Milestones in the development of digital society — Integrated circuit, microprocessor, personal computer, the internet, online social networks, mobile and cloud computing
DS1.1D · Digital systems use binary digits to represent data and information — Binary, bits, bytes
DS1.1E · The digital is different from the analogue
DS1.1F · Digitization changes data and information from analogue to digital — Digital preservation, digital archives, digital reformatting
DS1.1G · Digitalization is the use of digital systems to change the structure and/or operation of an organization — Digitalization and disruption in education, businesses and organizations
2. 2 Concepts
Seven concepts: change, expression, identity, power, space, systems, values and ethics, each a lens for inquiry, each borrowed from named disciplines.
DS2.1 — Change
DS2.1.1 · How change is studied — Change in digital society is explored and investigated by diverse subjects, fields and professions, such as history, science and technology studies (STS) and future studies.
DS2.1A · What change is — Change is the evolution, transformation, adaptation or movement from one form, state or value to another.
DS2.1B · Past, present and future — Change involves understanding and evaluating people, ideas, objects and forces that shape the world: past, present and future.
DS2.1C · Change is debated — The nature and importance of change is debated.
DS2.1D · Continuity or discontinuity — Change may indicate continuity or discontinuity with prior established ways of understanding or doing things.
DS2.2 — Expression
DS2.2.1 · How expression is studied — 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.
DS2.2A · What expression is — Expression is the act, process or instance of representing ideas, emotions and/or experiences using different modes and media.
DS2.2B · Functions of expression — Expression serves many functions, including storytelling, world-building, artistic innovation and political activism.
DS2.2C · Togetherness and dilemmas — Expression brings people and communities together while also introducing significant dilemmas.
DS2.3 — Identity
DS2.3.1 · How identity is studied — 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.
DS2.3A · What identity defines — Identity helps define a person, group, social entity and/or community.
DS2.3B · Identity is not static — Identity is not static but changes over time and according to context and the perspectives of others.
DS2.3C · Identities are intersectional — Identities are intersectional and may include aspects related to age, nationality, religion, culture, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity as well as social and economic class.
DS2.4 — Power
DS2.4.1 · How power is studied — 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.
DS2.4A · What power is — 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.
DS2.4B · Power is structural — Power is structural and embedded within institutions, organizations and governments.
DS2.4C · Power is unequal — Power is not equally distributed.
DS2.5 — Space
DS2.5.1 · How space is studied — Space in digital society is explored and investigated by diverse subjects, fields and professions such as mathematics, geography, design, social and cultural anthropology, immersive media, sociology, architecture and urban planning.
DS2.5A · How humans organize space — Humans organize, construct and represent space based on physical, geographic, cultural and/or social features (for example, into locations, regions, borders, zones).
DS2.5B · Spaces serve functions — Different spaces often serve distinct functions for people and communities.
DS2.5C · Access, movement and flows — Access, movement and flows are significant considerations involving space.
DS2.5D · Scales and dimensions — Space can be understood using multiple scales and dimensions, including local, regional, national and global as well as virtual.
DS2.6 — Systems
DS2.6.1 · How systems are studied — 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.
DS2.6.2 · Systems thinking as a tool — Systems thinking provides powerful tools for understanding human, natural and built environments, and the role of people and communities within them.
DS2.6A · Structure and order — Systems provide one way to think about structure and order in human, natural and built environments.
DS2.6B · Interacting elements — Systems involve sets of interacting, interdependent and/or interconnected elements.
DS2.6C · Intended and unintended consequences — Changes within a system of interdependent connections may generate intended and unintended consequences.
DS2.6D · Models, maps and visualizations — Models, maps and visualizations can help us understand connections within and between systems.
DS2.7 — Values and ethics
DS2.7.1 · How values and ethics are studied — 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.
DS2.7A · What values and ethics decide — 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.
DS2.7B · Guiding action — Values and ethics guide human action in the world, including individual and group conduct, and decision-making.
DS2.7C · Personal to professional — Values and ethics may be personal, shared, collective and/or professional.
DS2.7D · Frameworks, codes and laws — Values and ethics are expressed through frameworks, codes, rules, policies and laws.
DS2.7E · Shaping ideas, objects and systems — Values and ethics influence and shape ideas, objects, practices, systems and spaces.
3. 3 Content
The digital systems themselves: data, algorithms, computers, networks and the internet, media, AI, robots and autonomous technologies, what each is, how it evolved, and its dilemmas.
DS3.1 — Data
DS3.1.1 · Types, uses and representation of data — There are many types, uses and ways of representing data.
DS3.1.2 · Big data and data analytics — Big data and data analytics involve extracting and processing useful information in ways that are often impossible for humans.
DS3.1.3 · Opportunities and dilemmas of data — There are significant opportunities and dilemmas associated with data in digital society.
DS3.1A · Data as distinct from information, knowledge and wisdom — Data, information, knowledge and wisdom (DIKW) pyramid
DS3.1B · Types of data
DS3.1C · Uses of data
DS3.1D · Data life cycle — Create/collect/extract, store, process, analyse, access, preserve, reuse
DS3.1E · Ways to collect and organize data
DS3.1F · Ways of representing data — Charts, tables, reports, infographics, visualizations
DS3.1G · Data security
DS3.1H · Characteristics and uses of big data and data analytics
DS3.1I · Data dilemmas
DS3.2 — Algorithms
DS3.2.1 · What an algorithm is — Algorithms are defined sequential steps or instructions to solve a specific problem or perform a task.
DS3.2.2 · Efficiency — The effectiveness of an algorithm is often evaluated according to its efficiency.
DS3.2.3 · Opportunities and dilemmas of algorithms — The use of algorithms poses significant opportunities and dilemmas in digital society.
DS3.2A · Characteristics of an algorithm — Unambiguous, finite, well-defined inputs and outputs, feasible
DS3.2B · Components of an algorithm — Instructions, variables, conditionals, loops
DS3.2C · Ways of representing algorithms — Natural language, flow chart, code, programming languages
DS3.2D · Uses of algorithms
DS3.2E · Algorithmic dilemmas
DS3.3 — Computers
DS3.3.1 · What a computer is — A computer is a machine that automatically executes sets of instructions to perform specific tasks.
DS3.3.2 · Evolving and ubiquitous — Computers have evolved over time and are increasingly ubiquitous in the everyday life of people and communities.
DS3.3A · Types of computers — Mainframe, server, personal computer, tablet, smart/ mobile device, wearable computers and devices
DS3.3B · Components of a computer
DS3.3C · Uses and forms of computer coding — Computer coding and programming uses specific languages and rules to communicate instructions to computers.
DS3.3D · Evolution of computing
DS3.4 — Networks and the internet
DS3.4.1 · What networks do — Networks connect computers, people and communities allowing data and information to be created, accessed and shared in a distributed manner.
DS3.4.2 · Defining features that have evolved — Networks and the internet are defining features of digital society that have evolved over time.
DS3.4.3 · Opportunities and dilemmas of networks — Networks and the internet involve significant opportunities and dilemmas for life in digital society.
DS3.4A · Types of computing networks
DS3.4B · Components of computing networks — Client, server, modem, router, switch, hub, channels, network interface
DS3.4C · Characteristics of computing networks
DS3.4D · Computing network providers and services
DS3.4E · The world wide web
DS3.4F · Evolution of the internet and the web
DS3.4G · Internet dilemmas
DS3.5 — Media
DS3.5.1 · Convergence — Digital media are defined by the convergence of computing, communication and content.
DS3.5.2 · Channels and platforms — Digital media are created and distributed through multiple channels and platforms.
DS3.5.3 · Opportunities and dilemmas of media — Digital media are associated with significant opportunities and dilemmas in digital society.
DS3.5A · Types of digital media
DS3.5B · Characteristics of digital media — Rapid sharing, efficient storage, interactive, linear and non-linear content, convergence (of media forms and layers)
DS3.5C · Immersive digital media — Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR) and X reality (XR) technologies
DS3.5D · Digital media dilemmas
DS3.6 — Artificial intelligence
DS3.6.1 · What AI is — Artificial intelligence (AI) involves agents, devices or systems that adapt to perform tasks (or appear to do so) that once required the cognitive and creative processes of human beings.
DS3.6.2 · Types that overlap and are contested — There are several types of existing, emerging or proposed AI. These categories frequently overlap or are contested.
DS3.6.3 · Evolution, opportunities and dilemmas of AI — AI has evolved over time and introduces significant opportunities and dilemmas in digital society.
DS3.6A · Types of AI
DS3.6B · Types and uses of machine learning
DS3.6C · Uses of artificial neural networks — Learn and model complex and non-linear relationships, generalize from initial inputs
DS3.6D · Evolution of AI
DS3.6E · AI dilemmas
DS3.7 — Robots and autonomous technologies
DS3.7.1 · Sense, think and act — Robots and autonomous technologies demonstrate a capacity to sense, think and/or act with some degree of independence.
DS3.7.2 · Evolving and ubiquitous — Robots and autonomous technologies have evolved over time and are increasingly ubiquitous, pervasive and woven into the everyday lives of people and communities.
DS3.7.3 · Opportunities and dilemmas of robots — Robots and autonomous technologies introduce significant opportunities and dilemmas in digital society.
DS3.7A · Types of robots and autonomous technologies
DS3.7B · Characteristics of robots and autonomous technologies
DS3.7C · Evolution of robots and autonomous technologies
DS3.7D · Robots and autonomous technology dilemmas
4. 4 Contexts
Where inquiry is situated: cultural, economic, environmental, health, human knowledge, political and social contexts, each with its prescribed areas.
DS4.1 — Cultural
DS4.1.1 · The cultural context — The cultural context includes ways that people and communities express themselves as well as how they live, travel and associate together in a digital society.
DS4.1A · Arts, entertainment and popular culture
DS4.1B · Home, leisure and tourism
DS4.1C · Heritage, customs and celebrations
DS4.1D · Subcultures
DS4.2 — Economic
DS4.2.1 · The economic context — The economic context includes ways that people and communities work as well as how they exchange goods and services in a digital society.
DS4.2A · Business
DS4.2B · Employment and labour
DS4.2C · Goods, services and currencies
DS4.2D · Globalization
DS4.3 — Environmental
DS4.3.1 · The environmental context — The environmental context includes ways that people and communities interact with the natural and built worlds around them in a digital society.
DS4.3A · Natural resources and ecosystems
DS4.3B · Pollution and waste
DS4.3C · Cities, infrastructures and built environments
DS4.3D · Agriculture — Agricultural production and distribution
DS4.4 — Health
DS4.4.1 · The health context — The health context encompasses the physical and mental health of people and communities as well as changing understandings of the human body in a digital society.
DS4.4A · Medicine and health
DS4.4B · The human body
DS4.4C · Mental health
DS4.5 — Human knowledge
DS4.5.1 · The human knowledge context — The human knowledge context encompasses ways that people and communities learn and create new knowledge in a digital society.
DS4.5A · Learning and education
DS4.5B · Science and technology innovation — Approaches to scientific and technology research and development
DS4.6 — Political
DS4.6.1 · The political context — The political context encompasses ways that people and communities operate, organize and govern themselves politically in a digital society.
DS4.6A · Political processes
DS4.6B · Governing bodies
DS4.6C · Conflicts and war — Warfare and terrorism
DS4.6D · Laws, regulations and policies
DS4.7 — Social
DS4.7.1 · The social context — The social context encompasses ways that people and communities are grouped as well as how they understand and form relationships with others in a digital society.
DS4.7A · Social components of identity
DS4.7B · Social class
DS4.7C · Families and relationships
5. 5 HL extension
The HL extension: three challenge topics: global well-being, governance and human rights, sustainable development, and the framework for identifying, evaluating and recommending interventions.
DS5.0 — Extended inquiries and interventions
DS5.0.1 · The four steps of an extended inquiry — Extended inquiries align to the inquiry stages and approaches, start from the beginning of the course, and may be standalone or build on an inquiry shared with SL students.
DS5.0.2 · Categories of intervention — Interventions may fall into one or more of four categories. Categories may overlap and inform one another, but each identified intervention must lend itself to sustained investigation involving specific people and/or communities.
DS5.0.3 · Evaluation criterion: Equity — Does the intervention equitably address the needs, claims and interests of specific people and/or communities affected by the challenge? This may involve considerations of fairness, inclusion and reciprocity.
DS5.0.4 · Evaluation criterion: Acceptability — Do specific affected people and/or communities view the intervention as acceptable? This may involve considerations of accountability and transparency for people and communities.
DS5.0.5 · Evaluation criterion: Cost — What are the financial, social, cultural and environmental costs associated with the intervention? Do these costs outweigh the benefits of the intervention?
DS5.0.6 · Evaluation criterion: Feasibility — Is the intervention technically, socially and politically feasible? What are some of the current or emerging barriers to implementing the intervention?
DS5.0.7 · Evaluation criterion: Innovation — Is the intervention innovative in its approach or has this approach been unsuccessfully attempted before? What type of innovation is the intervention, for instance, an incremental, sustaining and/or disruptive innovation?
DS5.0.8 · Evaluation criterion: Ethics — Is the intervention ethically sound? How and who determines the ethical status of the intervention?
DS5.1 — Global well-being
DS5.1.1 · Global well-being as a challenge — Global well-being is a significant challenge involving diverse issues and concerns. Global well-being intersects in important ways with many digital systems.
DS5.1A · Local and global inequalities
DS5.1B · Changing populations
DS5.1C · The future of work
DS5.2 — Governance and human rights
DS5.2.1 · Governance and human rights as a challenge — Governance and human rights are significant challenges in digital society. Governance and human rights intersect in important ways with many digital systems.
DS5.2A · Conflict, peace and security
DS5.2B · Participation and representation
DS5.2C · Diversity and discrimination
DS5.3 — Sustainable development
DS5.3.1 · Sustainable development as a challenge — Sustainable development is a significant challenge in digital society. Sustainable development intersects in important ways with many digital systems.
DS5.3A · Climate change and action
DS5.3B · Responsible use of resources
DS5.3C · Managing pollution and waste
Full notes + a tutor for every subject
Every understanding statement above is written out in full, mapped point by point, with a tutor that answers from the syllabus. One payment — every subject, until your exams.