IMS3801 Information Sciencesemester 1, 2001

IMS3801 Information ScienceSemester 1, 2001

MONASH UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND SYSTEMS

IMS3801 Information Science

Semester 1, 2001

Points:8 points, 3 hours per week nominal contact

Time and Location:Lecture Wednesday 9am-12pm R7

Tutorials Wednesday 12pm-1pm S

LecturerTom Denison (subject leader)

Caulfield

Phone: 9903 2208

Email:

On-line assistance

AIM:

This subject will introduce students to an area of information science from the knowledge management perspective. This subject consolidates work undertaken during the earlier years of the Information Management major sequence and related studies. The concept of knowledge management serves as a context for this consolidation.

Skills developed and knowledge acquired in this subject will assist in preparing students for a role of information science professional in a modern organisational context.

OBJECTIVES:

At the completion of this subject students should:

understand the concepts of data, information and knowledge as well as relationships between the three;
understand the relationship between information management as a professional discipline and the broad field of information science;
be able to identify the sources of information, knowledge and data and represent them in ways appropriate for future use in an organisational context;
have skills to apply multiple classification approaches to information collected;
have developed an appreciation of the current issues and opportunities of information management in relation to modern technological environments.

SYLLABUS:

Week 1...Wednesday 28 February

Introduction to the subject.

Science as a human activity; Information Science – a broad perspective

No tutorial this week

Week 2... Wednesday 7 March

Information and knowledge; Information Science in Knowledge Management context

Week 3...Wednesday 14 March

Sources and forms of knowledge; Science and systems thinking

Week 4...Wednesday 21 March

Knowledge Acquisition and Modelling (1)

Week 5...Wednesday 28 March

Knowledge Acquisition and Modelling (2)

Week 6...Wednesday 4 April

Organisational modelling: Soft Systems approach

Week 7...Wednesday 11 April

Organisational memory and learning

Nonteaching week 18 April

No lecture this week; No tutorial this week

Week 8...Wednesday 25 April

Documenting Knowledge: documents in electronic environments; metadata

Week 9...Wednesday 2 May

Classification and business analysis

Week 10...Wednesday 9 May

Intranets as Knowledge Management technology

Week 11...Wednesday 16 May

Knowledge Management environments: intranets and workflow

Week 12...Wednesday 23 May

Information support for decision making

Week 13...Wednesday 30 May

Revision and Review

Please have your questions ready for the review!

TEACHING METHODS:

A variety of teaching methods will be used to achieve course objectives. Lectures will be the primary method of instruction (26 nominal hours) but discussion is encouraged during the tutorial time. Practical sessions will follow the lecture time as indicated above. Students are expected to use the Allocate Plus system to enrol for these tutorials.

The World Wide Web will be used as a channel for communicating course materials and some additional resources to students. Accessing the web is not necessary for success in this course, but web materials such as web links to relevant web sites, PowerPoint lecture outlines, some reference materials, sample answers, and style guides will help those who choose to access them.

Extra reading will be suggested and it is expected that students will make an effort to read the items suggested. Wider reading is strongly encouraged: A capacity to be informed and to have awareness of current technical and social issues is a hallmark of an information professional.

ASSESSMENT:

Practical work50%

Including…Class exercises and participation10%

Examination50%

Total100%

Students will be expected to actively participate in the practical sessions during both lecture and tutorial timeslots.

PASS REQUIREMENTS

In order to pass the subject, you must obtain at least 50% of the available marks for the subject. In addition, you must earn at least 40% of the marks allocated for practical work (at least 5% for tutorial participation) AND at least 40% of the marks allocated for the examination.

NOTES:

1.Grades:

The grades awarded by the Faculty of Information Technology are:

Grade / Code / Marks
High Distinction / HD / 80 and above
Distinction / D / 70 79
Credit / C / 60 69
Pass / P / 50 59
Near Pass (terminating pass -
applied by the Board of Examiners only) / NP / 40 49
Fail (including late withdrawal) / NN / 0 49

The average grade for assessment in this subject is C. Pass (P1) indicates that, while an attempt has been made, the results are below the standard expected. Distinctions are awarded for work which involves a significant demonstration of knowledge, and research depth or scope. High Distinctions are awarded only to work displaying independence of thought and outstanding scholarship.

2.Standards for submission of written work

All assignment work must be word processed and must follow the General Style Guide (available from

3.Acknowledgment of sources:

Students must acknowledge all sources of information, including the contribution of all other members of the group when performing work in teams.

You must acknowledge all sources of information, including:

•the contribution of other members of the group when performing work in teams,

•the source of any direct quote and the extent of that quote (using quotation marks or indented blocks of text),

•the source of any idea which you may have obtained from reading material (the author’s name and date of paper must be cited and the article mentioned in the reference list).

The use of other people's work without acknowledgment is plagiarism and is a serious offence, which will result in failure. University policy on plagiarism and other forms of cheating is described in Part II of Statute 4.1 of the Statutes of the University (Monash University Calendar).

Statement of Originality
For each assignment students submit they must complete and sign a Statement of Originality (attached). Work will not be accepted without this statement. False statements will be referred to the Dean of the Faculty for disciplinary action.

Refer to the University Statute 4.2 for details of the University policy on cheating. This statute is available through the subject web site.

4.Extensions:

Except in exceptional circumstances there will be no extensions granted for the submission of the only assignment for this subject beyond the due date. All applications for extension must be made in writing (email can be used) to the subject leader. Applications for extensions must be made and approved prior to the due date. Work without a formal extension will be accepted up to one week late, with a penalty of 5% per day (including weekends).

Refer to the Monash University Handbook for further details on University rules, regulations and procedures for this subject.

Monash University

School of Information Management and Systems

IMS3801 Information Science

Semester 1 2001

Assignment Title:......

Student Name:...... ID:......

Lecturer:Tom Denison...... Tutor: …………………………………….

Statement of originality

I confirm that

this assignment submission is entirely my own work,

I have not used anyone else’s work in preparing this assignment,
I have not permitted anyone else to use my work in their assignment
I have fully acknowledged all my sources of information, including friends and classmates, texts and references and electronic sources.

I have acknowledged my sources of information in the following ways.

I have indicated where I have used the words of others by enclosing their words in quotation marks

I have acknowledged the ideas of others by appropriate citations

Name ...... ID...... Signed: ...... Date: ......

Complete the identifying details above.
Sign the statement above to indicate that you have read and understood all the points and that you confirm that you have abided by them.
Attach this cover sheet to the front of your assignment folder.
Assignments will not be accepted without a correctly completed cover sheet.