Q. Critically examine the roles of science and technology in social change. What is your opinion on their increasing trend in ‘online’ education an teaching?

Model Answer:

Thorstein Veblen’s “Technological Determinism” views science and technology (S&T) as prime movers of change. Karl Marx noted technology alters the forces of production, while Max Weber linked S&T to rationalization. Conversely, William F. Ogburn warns of a “Cultural Lag” when non-material culture fails to adapt.

S&T and Social Change

While driving progress, S&T also generates systemic modern hazards, creating what Ulrich Beck terms a “Risk Society” (e.g., algorithmic surveillance, cyber-threats).

Sociological View on Online Education

The trend toward online teaching is a double-edged sword:

• Democratization: It mirrors Ivan Illich’s Deschooling Society by offering decentralized learning webs outside rigid schooling.
• Class Reproduction: Per Pierre Bourdieu, the digital divide leverages existing Cultural Capital, heavily favoring elites and reproducing inequality.
• Socialization Deficit: Emile Durkheim saw schools driving secondary socialization. Virtual platforms risk an anomic environment lacking moral peer-group development.

Post-pandemic EdTech and AI (ChatGPT) expand global access but threaten “digital Taylorism”, deskilling traditional educators.

Conclusion

While online learning democratizes education, unmitigated digital divides risk making S&T a tool for class reproduction rather than upward social mobility.