HISA1013 History of Technology (5 cr)

Study level:
Intermediate studies
Grading scale:
0-5
Language:
English, Finnish
Responsible organisation:
Department of History and Ethnology
Coordinating organisation:
Open University, Department of History and Ethnology
Curriculum periods:
2024-2025, 2025-2026, 2026-2027, 2027-2028

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The course introduces the development of technology as a historical process

Description

Themes covered in the course include:

  • The significance of technology in the development of societies, economies, and businesses

  • Key approaches to the history of technology

  • Technological path dependencies

  • Technology transfer/migration 

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course, the student:  

  • Can position technology as part of the development of societies, economies, and business

  • Understands the key approaches to the history of technology

  • Has become acquainted with the history of technology in a specific industry

  • Has developed the ability to manage extensive subject matters 

Study materials

  • Edgerton, D. (2007). The Shock of the Old: Technology and Global History Since 1900. Oxford University Press. (2 op)
  • Johnson, S., & Acemoglu, D. (2023). Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity. Hachette. (3 op)
  • Levinson, M. (2016). The Box – How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger. Princeton University Press. (2 op)
  • Mokyr, J. (1992). The Lever of Riches: Technological Creativity and Economic Progress. Oxford University Press. (3 op)
  • Särkkä, T., & Gutiérrez-Poch, M., & Kuhlberg, M. (toim.) (2018). Technological Transformation in the Global Pulp and Paper Industry 1800–2018. Springer. (2 op) 

Completion methods

Method 1

Description:
Participation in contact teaching (+ learning tasks and/or lecture exam)
Evaluation criteria:
In all modes of completion, a numerical grade is given on a scale of 0-5. The grade is based on the evaluation of performances measuring the achievement of learning objectives.
Select all marked parts

Method 2

Description:
Independent work (book exam, essay, or reading circle related learning tasks)
Evaluation criteria:
In all modes of completion, a numerical grade is given on a scale of 0-5. The grade is based on the evaluation of performances measuring the achievement of learning objectives.
Select all marked parts
Parts of the completion methods
x

Participation in teaching (5 cr)

Type:
Participation in teaching
Grading scale:
0-5
Language:
Finnish
No published teaching
x

Independent study (5 cr)

Type:
Independent study
Grading scale:
0-5
Language:
Finnish

Teaching