LAR4001

The information continuum

D Schauder and S McKemmish

6 points
* 3 hours per week
* First semester
* Clayton and distance
* Prohibition: LAR3001

Objectives At the completion of this subject students should be able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the notion of theories and models, and their contribution to the development of knowledge; the relationship of theory-building to research generally, and the discipline of information science in particular; information continuum theory and models, including the relationships between information and communication and data, action and structure in society and business, technology, categorisation and metadata, and individual and collective memory; the relationship of information science theory generally, and continuum theory in particular, to the practice of information management, and specialised professional roles in the information management field; the legal, cultural and technological environment in which information is created, stored, recalled and disseminated; the relationship between information management and other professions concerned with communication and information.

Synopsis This subject seeks to lay a broad conceptual foundation for the practice of information management. It examines how human knowledge and skills are developed through the building of theories and models, and the relationship between theorising, research and action. It considers the relationships between the theoretical discipline of information science and information management, which applies insights from information science in society and business. Particular attention is given to information continuum theory (which seeks to provide a unified account of information in terms of social action, memory, technology and the categorisation of knowlege) and models which relate to it. Information management is examined both as a professional field in itself and as part of the skill set required by other professions and occupations. Consideration is given to relationships between the generalist profession of information manager and specialist occupations in the information management field, notably recordkeeping, librarianship, publishing - all covering both analogue and digital media. The relationships between information management and other information-related disciplines both technical (eg computer science, engineering) and social (eg law, education) are explored in terms of interdependencies and potentialities for creative collaboration.

Assessment Project report: 25%
* Practical assignment: 25%
* Class or discussion group presentation tasks: 25%
* Written test: 25%

Recommended texts

Journal of the American Society of Information Scientists
Kaufer D S and Carley K M Communication at a distance: The influence of print on sociocultural organization and change LEA, 1993