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Course description

INFO 525 is designed as an introduction to Information Technology considered essential to effective information management. It studies some of the latest technologies used for creating, storing, and disseminating information, including hardware, software, and virtual and physical environments. The student will use and evaluate new technologies for information management.

Introduction to INFO 525

In INFO 525 you will examine a variety of information technologies that are currently being adopted in library and information management (LIM) contexts. The intention is that students who complete the course will be familiar with new technologies being used in information management, and will be able to assess the value and impact of new technologies on a designated information service. The student will also learn some of the practical IT skills necessary to be an information manager in an increasingly digital environment.

One course cannot cover all aspects of the applications of information technology, and you will find that other courses also cover aspects of IT and its use in information management, sometimes going beyond the basic introduction provided here.

You are a diverse group with a wide range of previous experience with information technology, and some of you may already have considerable experience in this area. Others may regard themselves as novices. The goal is to make this course interesting and rewarding for both groups; those of you with experience using a range of computer technologies are encouraged to share your knowledge with the rest of the group.

You should raise issues relating to the course by email, phone calls, letter, etc. You should also feel free to discuss the course work with the lecturer and your fellow students on the Blackboard discussion forum associated with the course.

Learning objectives

By the end of the INFO 525 course, students should be able to:

1. Discuss common methods of computer networking; identify the main components of a computer system, and describe their functions; explain how data are represented in a computer system.
2. Demonstrate basic competency in a range of computer-based applications commonly used in LIM work, including using electronic mail, spreadsheets, file transfer protocol, presentation packages, selected applications software, file formatting and editing; and create a simple Web page using basic HTML.
3. Explain the technical aspects of significant new information technologies that are being used in information management; assess their value and impact on specific information services.
4. Recognise trends in the ICT industry that will make a significant impact on LIM work, and be able to elucidate relevant opinions to colleagues.
5. Discuss key issues in systems maintenance for information management, including system security.

Special requirements

As part of this course you will need to use resources on the Internet, as well as selected databases and online services. Access to these services is possible from the School's computer laboratories and from the Victoria Library. Distance students will require Internet access in order to use these databases, and will need to authenticate some databases using their Student username and password.

The first area of assessment consists of a number of practical exercises, which require access to an Internet-enabled personal computer with standard email and Web browser software. You will also require access to:

• presentation software such as PowerPoint
• FTP software
• image editing software
• audio editing software

Schedule (TBC)

INFO 525 will be held in the second trimester (July-October) of the 2012 academic year. There will be no sessions for two weeks during the mid-trimester break (27 August-9 September).

• Internal students
  There will be a seminar on Mondays (from 2.40-4.30 p.m.) in Rutherford House, RH GO3.
• Distance students
  The weekly conference sessions will be held on Mondays from 6.45-8.15 p.m.
• Auckland-based students
  Sessions for Auckland students will be delivered by a mixture of audioconferencing on Tuesdays, 5.00-6.30 p.m. and two face-to-face sessions.

Week	Topic
1	Information technology
2	Representing data in computer systems
3	Computer networks
4	Aspects of website management
5	Social media
6	Social networking
7	Wireless and mobile networking
8	RFID
9	Digitisation
10	Data collections
11	Adaptive technologies
12	Computer security

Assessment (taken from 2011)

INFO 525 is internally assessed, with the following assignments to be completed in order to satisfy the mandatory course requirements. Full details, including submission instructions, explanatory notes, and criteria, are available under "Asessment" on Blackboard.

Assignment	Date due	Length	Value
1. Exercises 1-6	Various, see Blackboard	n/a	60%
2. Report	see Blackboard	2000 words max.	40%

Recommended text

Please note there will be no prescribed text for INFO 525, but the following text is recommended:

Courtney, N. (2005). Technology for the Rest of Us: A Primer on Computer Technologies for the Low-Tech Librarian. Libraries Unlimited.