DIST 2000: Introduction to Information Science

(CRN 17583)
Instructor: Paul Munro
Time: Wednesday 6PM-8:50PM
Place: Langley Hall A224
Textbooks
Introduction to Information Theory, John Pierce, Dover Books
Invisible Computer : Why Good Products Can Fail, the Personal Computer Is So Complex and Information Applicances Are the Solution,Donald A. Norman

Course Description
The goal of IS2000 is explore the scope of the field of information science.  The course is thematically divided into three parts that reflect the three components of the department's curriculum: Foundations, Cognition, and Systems & Technology.  Each week will consist of a lecture on a topic in information science and a discussion session that will focus around an issue or issues drawn from the press.

In the first half of the course, we will explore theoretical principles and concepts that underly information processing, including information theory, models of information storage and retrieval, and human cognition. The rest of the course will concern itself with application of the theory to the design of information systems, from database applications to telecommunications to GIS systems.

Assignments
0.  One page essay (What is Information Science?)
1.  Probability Homework
2.  Create a web page
3.  Three Essays (to be assigned)
4.  News Synopsis
5. Final Class -- essay: What is Information Science?

Schedule (subject to change)
 
Area 
Date
Speaker
Topics
Readings
Assignments
Foundations August 29 Paul Munro Welcome
The UNIX operating system		 UNIX tutorial
In-class essay
Read As we may Think
September 5 Paul Munro Math Foundations: Probability, Logic
Making a web page		 Probability Handout Postscript Word
HTML tutorial
September 12 Paul Munro Information Theory
Coding		 Powerpoint Handout
September 19 Paul Munro Classification of Information
Information Retrieval		 Powerpoint Handout
Web Page Due
Cognitive September 26 Paul Munro Language
October 3 TBA Spatial Information Processing
October 10 TBA Decisions and Decision Support
October 17 Paul Munro Neural Network Models
Genetic Algorithms		 Handout
October 24 Paul Munro Human Computer Interaction Handout
Systems &
Technology		 October 31 TBA Telecommunications
November 7 TBA WWW
November 14 TBA more WWW
November 21 Paul Munro Computer Security & Information Privacy Cuckoo's Egg
PKA Handout
November 28
NO CLASS  --  THANKSGIVING BREAK
December 5 TBA Integrated System Design
December 12 Hassan Karimi GIS

  News synopsis schedule