3 credits
Spring 2025 Distance Learning Upper Division
Information and information systems shape our beliefs, influence decision-making, define our collective knowledge, and are integral to being an informed, responsible, and engaged citizen in our modern world. This course will examine the intricate relationship between information and society to better understand how information ecosystems, constituted by various technologies and practices, shape and are shaped by individual identities, structures of power, and ethical considerations/human values. Using an interdisciplinary and team-based approach, students will gain essential skills to navigate their information-rich world.
Learning Outcomes1Identify and apply frameworks to critically evaluate the impact of information and technology on cultural norms, values, and societal structures.
2Explore the concept of information identity, including how individuals and communities construct their identities through information consumption and production, and critically analyze the impact of information identity on culture and society.
3Explain the components of information ecosystems, including producers, consumers, intermediaries, and technologies, and how they interact within different cultural and societal contexts.
4Analyze the power structures in information ecosystems, including the privileged access and control of certain individuals or groups, and explain how these power dynamics intersect with social constructs like race, gender, class, and ethnicity to shape cultural and societal dynamics.
5Articulate ethical principles related to information ownership, privacy, censorship, transparency, and research in various contexts.
Attachments
made by Purdue students.