<br>

Last revised August 18, 2006

Course Syllabus for Issues in Culture & Information Technology

Course Outline

Fall 2006

 

Instructor: Richard Chabran


COURSE NAME, NUMBER, AND PREREQUISITES

Issues in Culture & Information Technology

IRLS553

No prerequisites are required.

[return to top of page]


COURSE DESCRIPTION

"An examination of the cultural impact of traditional and future information systems on diverse populations."

At the most general level the course will explore how all information systems emerge from traditional and changing cultural practices. This course considers present and historical practices of communication within Chicano and Native American communities. Institutions such as libraries, and museums which seek to selectively capture, organize and make accessible the products of these communications will be surveyed. The challenges and opportunities presented by the rise of advanced technologies will be explored.

This course will seek to establish a dialogue centered on the following major questions.

  • Why consider information systems through a cultural lens?
  • How does traditional definition of the printed word impact what is included in libraries?
  • How do linguistic codes affect subject access in information systems?
  • How do various versions of culture impact what is collected in museums and how it is presented?
  • How does the rise of new information technologies impact low-income communities?
  • What are some of the public policy issues being debated that affect low-income populations’ knowledge and use of advanced information technologies?

Today librarians find themselves working in information environments that they may not have imagined.  This course attempts to selectively present different information ecologies that are impacted by socio-historical events.  The primary focus will be on Native and Latino peoples but will include other groups as well.  The examples used will be illustrative rather than comprehensive.

My own approach has been shaped by anthropology and more recently by cultural studies.  My professional practice has been in developing Latino collections and more recently in fostering the development of new ecologies where communities can access culturally and linguistic relevant information.

[return to top of page]

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Specific Course objectives are as follows:

  • Be able to provide examples of how cultural knowledge is not always included in library collections
  • Provide examples of how linguistic codes can be offensive to information seekers
  • Provide examples of how linguistic codes can obscure cultural information resources
  • Be able to articulate the major challenges impacting diverse cultures in the new information age
  • Be able to identify major policy debates which will shape the future of information systems

 

[return to top of page]


REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

All course material will be available through electronic reserves.

[return totop of page]


COURSE REQUIREMENTS

The approach will be to frame topics, provide a set of reading/web resources, and present questions to be answered in short weekly exercises. The reading will average 75 pages a week. Students will also be required to participate online activities.

[return to top of page]


COURSE POLICIES

Academic Code of Integrity

Students are expected to abide by The University of Arizona Code of Academic Integrity, see . 'The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student's submitted work must be the student's own.' If you have any questions regarding what is acceptable practice under this Code, please ask an Instructor.

Accommodating Disabilities

The University has a Disability Resource Center .If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the Disability Resource Center and request that the DRC send me, the Instructor, official notification of your accommodation needs as soon as possible. Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate.

Assignment Policies

It is mandatory for all students to complete the weekly exercises on time. Late assignments will be penalized and not accepted if they are more than a week late. All exercise and exams must be email to the address provided below. The final exam will be a reflection of how the topics covered might impact an information ecology where you might work in the future.

Incompletes

The 1997-8 University of Arizona General Academic Manual, p.23 reads

The grade of I may be awarded only at the end of a semester, when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. The grade of I is not to be awarded when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a case the grade of E must be assigned. Students should make arrangements with the instructor to receive an incomplete grade before the end of the semester ...

If the incomplete is not removed by the instructor within one year the I grade will revert to a failing grade.

[return to top of page]


GRADING

You will be expected to do graduate level work.  I will be looking for thoughtful answers that demonstrate that you have engaged to readings and the questions they respond to.  This means more than just summarizing the article.  It goes to why the readings are relevant to either traditional or emerging information technologies.

 

Feedback on assignments and exams will be provided within a week of time submitted by email. Questions concerning grades must be raised within a week of the time you receive a grade.

 

Assignments:  50%

Participation:  20%

Final Exam:    30%

 

Students begin with 100 points.  Students lose points for late assignments, incomplete assignments, poorly written assignments, lack of participation, inaccurate information, etc.  At the end of the semester the points will be converted to a letter grade as follows:

 

A=90-100 points for Superior Work: highest quality, ideas are discussed thoughtfully and well formulated; demonstration of a thorough understanding of the content and an openness to diverse perspectives. All assignments submitted on time with excellent written expression and grammatically correct.         

 

B=80-89 points for Very Good Work: discussions indicate a good or very good understanding of content.  Must complete assignments on time and be well written with few grammatical errors.

 

C=70-79 points for Marginally Satisfactory Work: meets minimum requirement; discussions reflect limited understanding or      interest. Written work contains errors, needs editing, and not submitted in a timely manner.      

 

F=0-69 Failed to meet the requirements

 

[return to top of page]


CONTACTING ME

chabran@cctpg.org

 

(909) 234-1768

[return to top of page]