LIS 5063 Information and Communication Technology / Fall 2018
Instructor: Dr. Kun Lu
Course Objectives:
-
Outline the history and current developments in information technology, including hardware, software, and internet-based technologies.
-
Outline the fundamentals of computer networks and the Internet.
-
Identify functions of and utilize current online information tools.
-
Discuss security, privacy, and other social issues inherent in information technology.
-
Identify critical issues involved in managing and implementing information systems including technology, human, social, and organizational issues.
-
Design and implement information technology solutions in networked environments.
My experience:
I am so glad that this class is part of the core class requirements at OU. Although I consider myself fairly knowledgeable when it comes to technology, I later realized that although I am capable, there was still much to learn in terms of history of information technology, matching terminology to the appropriate types of hardware and software, and going beyond just being a user.
My favorite parts of this class included data modeling and working with databases using Excel and Access. I created an Access Database for inventory in a bookstore. The result was being able to retrieve information from any entry whether it be by author, book title, publisher, and location. It allowed me to practice my skills and to really appreciate what our OPACs do.
Especially valuable was learning about networks and the internet and how profoundly they have changed the way we as a society look for information. This was a focal point in the class, and as we worked through the later modules, we were shown how to design websites to be as accessible and easy as possible to navigate and understand. My favorite assignment was the writing and designing of my own website. Using the latest HTML technology and Notepad, I created a fictional Jane Austen webpage that was a tea shop and gift store.
I believe that the most valuable lessons in this class were not so much the technology itself, but learning of the impact of technology in our lives and most especially in our information institutions. We must recognize the information disconnect due to limited or no accessibility to technology and to remedy that, at least in our communities through our libraries. In order to carry that out, we as librarians need to have a foundation of technology skills and knowledge to assist in lessening the disconnect with the people we serve.
