Course details

8.3400

Study Project: Data Ethics III

 SP
SS 2020 Priv.Doz. Dr. phil. Uwe Meyer HYBRID
6h/wk
12 ECTS 		M.Sc modules:
CC-MP-SP - Study Project
CS-MP-SP - Study Project
 Tue: 8-12

Formalities: This is the 3rd part of an ongoing study project. New members are welcome; the project will have a 4th part in the next winter term. The course can also be taken as an interdisciplinary seminar (one semester). Content: By now, it is a truism that enormous amounts of data about practically all aspects of life are stored, processed, and used for a wide variety of purposes. For modern individuals, deeply engaged in online worlds of social networks, google searches, online business, google maps, messenger apps … it is practically impossible to avoid the disclosure of data which are then processed in a way that is difficult to control. It seems that a new branch of applied ethics is called for – data ethics, with recommendations for users and rules for institutions collecting and processing data. Aim of the project: In this study project, we want to explore this new field. More specifically, we want to do research work and at the same time make our results accessible by developing teaching units / parts of a (online) seminar for other students. We would like to use e-learning techniques for this purpose (e.g. combinations of videos, texts, questionnaires, blogs, wikis etc.). Since e-learning techniques themselves pose their own problems about data protection and privacy, there will be a certain (“reflexive”) focus on that. In fact, this study project is part of the much larger project “SIDDATA”, in which an individualized e-learning assistant is being developed. In the first parts of the project, some learning units have already been developed. New members can use them as models for own units. These units may be about theoretical questions or more applied case studies, like problems with data protection in certain social networks, actual use of personal data for influencing political processes, etc.