ObjectivesUpon completion of this certificate program, students will have enhanced knowledge of technology and its impact on children and families and the importance of science and technology in everyday lives.
Entry requirementsThis program will be of interest to service providers who currently work with children and their families as well as to those considering such work in the future.
Academic titleTechnology, Children and the Family Certificate
Course descriptionHSF1010 The Role of Child and Family-Focused Service Providers
Description: Today’s technologies have also affected the roles of service providers who work with children and their families. Computers have altered past practices and introduced new assessment and risk management tools resulting in more public accountability and demand for transparency. Child and family-focused professionals need to closely examine what has happened, what the role of the service provider has become, what has changed, what has stayed the same and what needs to be done differently.
Hours: 36
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites: SOC1080
SCIE1250 Technology as a Medium
Description: With the use of computers 21st Century technologies have revolutionized human communications within a few short years. In today’s world, it is important to be able to decode language, symbols and images in order to understand the message. Modern technologies have provided powerful new tools to manipulate and massage information. It has become increasingly important to deconstruct information. Students will examine technology as a medium, the role that it plays in human communication and the impact that it has had on human meaning, understanding and behaviour.
Hours: 36
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites: SOC1080
SCIE1260 Preparing Children for the Future
Description: The information and educational needs of children and youth have changed dramatically over the past 20 years. As more user-centered technologies are developed and filter down to the general population, more sophisticated demands are placed on our ability to gather, analyze, format and present information to obtain meaning. Today skills once seen as belonging to the managerial class or expert class are now expected from most if not all workers. The definition, purpose and importance of education will be closely examined in relationship to current and emerging technologies.
Hours: 36
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites: SOC1080
SOC1080 The History and Nature of Technology: Benefits and Challenges
Description: This course provides an introduction to, and historical overview of, technology and its impact on family, work and leisure, and the environment. The course content will familiarize students with the work of such authors as Jacques Ellul, John Ralston-Saul, Nicholas Negroponte and Seymour Papert. The use of technique and theory will also be examined.
Hours: 36
Credits: 3
SOC1090 Technology as an Economic, Social and Political Change Agent
Description: This course will examine the influence of technology on the economy, society and politics. Students will explore several key institutions, examine the role of technology as a change agent, review the concept of "what's out there will be in here" and apply their findings to their own organization.
Hours: 36
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites: SOC1080
SOC1100 Technology within the Context of the Canadian Family
Description: Current and emerging technologies continue to affect the structure, composition and tasks of the Canadian family. Using an intergenerational approach students will closely examine where the roles of reproduction, parenting, human development, identity and human/machine interaction intersect. The role of children’s play will one focus of this course of study.
Hours: 36
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites: SOC1080