Information Systems and Literacy

Catalog description

Information technology literacy deals with an understanding of the technology infrastructure that underpins much of today’s life; an understanding of the tools technology provides and their interaction with this infrastructure; and an understanding of the legal, social, economic and public policy issues that shape the development of the infrastructure and the applications and use of the technologies. Information literacy deals with content and communication: it encompasses authoring, information finding and organization, the research process, and information analysis, assessment and evaluation. The content can take many forms: text, images, video, computer simulations, multimedia interactive works. Content can also serve many purposes: news, art, entertainment, education, research and scholarship, advertising, politics, commerce, and documents and records that structure activities of everyday business and personal life. Both forms of literacy are essential for individuals to function and succeed in today’s society; they are distinct but interrelated.