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Diploma Programme — Digital Society
- Standard Level
- Group
- Group 3 — Individuals and Societies
- Level offered
- Standard Level (SL)
- Teaching hours
- SL: 150 hours
- IB syllabus
- Current DP syllabus, first examined 2024
Course description
Digital society is an interdisciplinary course within the individuals and societies group, designed for students interested in the impact and importance of digital systems and technologies in the contemporary world. The course integrates concepts, content and contexts through inquiry, drawing on social studies, media, humanities and IT perspectives.
HL students additionally examine contemporary challenges and digital interventions in areas such as global well-being, governance and human rights, and sustainable development.
Course structure
- Concepts: change, expression, identity, power, space, systems, values and ethics
- Content: data, algorithms, computers, networks and the internet, media, artificial intelligence, robots and autonomous technologies
- Contexts: cultural, economic, environmental, health, human knowledge, political, social
- HL extension: challenges and interventions — global well-being; governance and human rights; sustainable development
Students who should consider this course
This course suits students with an interest in technology, media and its impact on society, and is useful preparation for further study in digital media, information technology, politics, sociology, communications or data-related fields.
Assessment at a glance
| Component | SL % | HL % |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 — Syllabus and real-world examples (external) | 40 | 35 |
| Paper 2 — Source-based questions (external) | 30 | 20 |
| Paper 3 — HL extension intervention, pre-released brief (external, HL only) | — | 25 |
| Inquiry project (internal) | 30 | 20 |
External examinations
External assessment is sat in the November session. HL students complete an additional paper responding to a pre-released brief on a digital intervention. The internally assessed inquiry project investigates the impacts and implications of a chosen digital system.
Subject presentation
Slide 1 of 8Use ← → keys, or click a slide
DP Digital Society — Subject Selection presentation (Technology Department). The course-component, assessment and sample-question slides are image-based and shown in the slide viewer.
Text transcript of the slides (6 slides)
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Course description
- Digital society is an interdisciplinary course within the individuals and societies subject group, designed for young people interested in exploring the impact and importance of digital systems and technologies in the contemporary world.
- The course integrates concepts, content and contexts through inquiry: concepts such as expression, space and identity highlight powerful, pervasive and debatable perspectives; content informs inquiry with details about digital systems including data, algorithms, media, AI, robotics and more; contexts situate inquiry in areas significant to life in digital society, including social, cultural and environmental contexts.
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The inquiry journey
- Focus inquiry using course concepts, content and contexts as well as real-world examples.
- Explore diverse sources relevant to digital society.
- Investigate impacts and implications of digital systems for people and communities.
- Reflect on emerging trends, future developments and further insights.
- Share discoveries about digital society with others.
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Recommended teaching time
- SL: 150 hours.
- Students and teachers enjoy a great deal of freedom to personalise and integrate the required course components.
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Assessment model
- Students are expected to understand, apply, analyse, evaluate and synthesise: course topics, enduring understandings and areas for inquiry; real-world examples involving digital systems; claims and perspectives of diverse sources; impacts and implications of digital systems for people and communities; emerging trends and future developments; challenges and interventions (HL only).
- Students develop and refine digital society skills, including managing inquiry projects through planning, documentation and feedback; researching using diverse and relevant sources; thinking in critical and creative ways; communicating in multiple modes and media.
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Assessments and sample questions
- Paper 1, Paper 2 and the internally assessed inquiry project — see the slide viewer for the assessment outline and sample questions.