Building a Sustainable Future with Technology
Explore climate equity, technology, and the relationship between organisations and individuals in building a sustainable future.
540 enrolled on this course
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
4 hours100% online
How it works
Building a Sustainable Future with Technology
Understand the impacts of technology on the environment
The climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues we face, with technologies playing a huge part in the destruction of our natural environment. We need to take action and move towards more sustainable models for technology.
On this three-week course, you’ll discover critical approaches to technology and sustainability, understanding the role that technologies play within our lives and how it affects our natural environment.
By the end, you’ll learn to view technologies as part of a broader ecosystem of organic life – as tools with life cycles of their own that have a direct impact on our environment.
Explore feminist and decolonial practices
You’ll start by defining sustainability as you explore how community, government, and corporations take different approaches to sustainability.
Next, you’ll unpack exploitation and climate equity as you look to feminist and decolonial practices. Hearing from a variety of experts, you’ll gain a critical lens to explore the problems we face.
Investigate which sustainable practices meet your needs
To help implement sustainability in your everyday life, you’ll delve into different sustainability practices to explore which ones meet your needs.
Next, you’ll consider how you live with technology and experiment with a creative repurposing project of your own.
Explore sustainable investing
Finally, you’ll explore how the tech industry can manage production processes to work towards circular economies. You’ll also explore sustainable investing including within indigenous communities and using alternative materials.
Guided by the experts at UAL’s Creative Computing Institute and across industry, you’ll finish the course with the knowledge of the impacts of technology on the environment and how we can work together for a sustainable future.
Syllabus
Week 1
Approaching technology and sustainability
Welcome to the course
In this introductory activity you’ll be introduced to the experts who will be guiding you through the course as well as having the opportunity to meet other learners and share your thoughts and perspectives.
Defining technologies
During this activity you’ll be looking at definitions of technology as well as some of the broader impacts technologies have on our environment.
Defining sustainability
During this activity you’ll be looking at defining sustainability within the context of the course as well as looking at a variety of approaches.
Technologies and ecosystems
In this activity discover the ways in which technologies intersect with the planets ecosystems.
Looking at the impacts
In the final activity of week 1 we will be looking at the impacts of technologies on both the planet and people.
Wrapping up Week 1
You’ve reached the end of the first week of the course! In this activity, we’ll sum up what you’ve learned, and look ahead to Week 2.
Week 2
Being critical and taking action
Current Initiatives
In the first activity of week 2 we will be looking at current initiatives in place to tackle climate change.
Responsibility, accountability, action
In this activity explore the relationship between responsibility and accountability and how we can take action.
Critical Approaches
In this activity explore a range of different critical approaches to technology that build towards more sustainable futures.
Alternative Practices
In this activity explore a variety of alternative practices for approaching technology and sustainability.
Wrapping up week 2
In this activity read about what you have learnt during week 2 and what you will focus on in the final week of the course.
Week 3
Living differently with technologies
Redefining expectations
In the first activity of week 3 we will be considering how we can redefine our expectations of technologies.
Rethinking materials
In this activity will be re-thinking our relationship to materials, considering waste as a solution and discussing how we can build cultures of repair.
The role of economies
In this activity learn about the role changing our economic systems could play in building towards more sustainable futures.
Living with technologies
in this activity you will take part in your independent learning task, thinking about how you want to live with technologies now and in the future.
Final reflections
In this activity reflect back on the learning of the course and discuss how you will take it forwards.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Identify a meaningful approach to technology and sustainability
- Discuss the relationship between technologies and the planet
- Evaluate the problems present in technology production
- Reflect on the outcomes and impacts of varying climate agreements
- Assess a variety of different critical approaches to sustainability
- Discuss the benefits of moving toward circular and redistributive economies
- Assess sustainable approaches to waste materials and repair
- Reflect on our problematic expectations of technology
- Demonstrate how you can put the learning from the course into practice
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in the impact technologies are having on the planet, and what changes you can make as consumers or creators of technology.
It will be particularly useful for those in the creative industries, architecture and design agencies, the technology sector, small business owners, and students.
Who developed the course?
UAL Creative Computing Institute
The UAL Creative Computing Institute (CCI) offers innovative new courses, research opportunities and a public platform to explore computer science and creative practice.
Feminist Internet
Feminist Internet is a collective of designers, academics and activists that aims to disrupt inequalities in internet products and services by educating and equipping the people who build them and use them. They do this by bringing together technology, intersectional feminism and creative practice to make tools that provide real solutions.
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Limited access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $109/one-off payment | $244.99 for a whole year Automatically renews | Free |
| Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Sample the course materials | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 9 Oct 2024 |
| Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$244.99 for a whole year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$109/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 9 Oct 2024
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 31 October 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 31 October 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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