Description:
Through the lens of different media such as newspaper articles, blogs, Wikipedia entries, social media posts, and news programs, students examine and judge the quality of information presented, analyze the economic and cultural factors that affect the availability and reliability of electronic information, and compare and contrast with other sources. After this exploration of information searching and evaluation, the class will address how information is organized and attributed.
Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain the differences among varying theoretical concepts and philosophical views of information creation, distribution, organization, search behaviors, and impact.
- Analyze and describe the function of societal institutions for creation, distribution, and management of information and their impact on use of information in society.
- Evaluate the effect of information, information technologies, information systems and media on cultures and societies.
- Interpret information and its delivery in an economic framework.
- Identify and explain key information policy issues and institutions of the past and present.
- Compare, contrast, and critique various media coverage of the same event such as in newspapers, television, and on the Internet.
- Discuss the ethical uses of information through an analysis of decision models.
- Search effectively in a variety of information environments.
RU Core Learning Goal met by this course:
ITR-z: Students will be able to analyze and critically assess information from traditional and emergent technologies.
WCd: Communicate effectively in modes appropriate to a discipline or area of inquiry; evaluate and critically assess sources and use the conventions of attribution and citation correctly; and analyze and synthesize information and ideas from multiple sources to generate new insights.