LTSN-ICS Conference 2003 How much T with the I? Teaching information technology and information...

LTSN-ICS Conference 2003

How much T with the I? Teaching information technology and

information retrieval to Librarians and Information Scientists

Professor Mary A. Burke Department of Library and Information

Studies, University College Dublin (UCD)

Outline

Introduction Overview of LIS programmes Professional associations – curricula Teaching information technology Teaching information retrieval Conclusions and future

What is Library and Information Science? Many definitions … DepLIS UCD says: The theoretical and experimental

investigation of the interaction between people and recorded knowledge.

Is concerned with the generation, representation, communication, storage, organisation and use of various types of information in a range of formats by individuals, groups, organisations and society as a whole.

Ethos of Library and Information Science

Origins in librarianship … Information content User behaviour Evaluation of information Information structures

Outline – We Are Here


LIS Departments and Schools

BAILER has 18 members http://www.bailer.ac.uk

ALA has about 55 accredited schools http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Our_Association/Offices/Accreditation1/lisdir/LIS_Directory.htm#us

Overview of LIS Programmes Librarianship / Library Science / Studies Electronic Business Systems Electronic Information Management Electronic Publishing Information Analysis Information Management Information Science / Studies Information Systems Knowledge Management Combinations of one or more of above Undergraduate and postgraduate

Typical LIS Dept’s / Schools

DepLIS, UCD http://www.ucd.ie/lis/index.htm

Dept. of Information Studies, University of Sheffield http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/academic/I-M/is/index.html

School of Information Studies, Syracuse University http://istweb.syr.edu/

DepLIS, UCD

Generic programmes in Library and Information Studies

BA, BSocSC, HDipLIS, MLIS, PhD Low staff levels (c. 8) Cooperate with cognate Dept’s e.g. Computer

Science, Management, etc. Focus on user behaviour, metadata, XML,

information policy, theory of information, communication studies

http://www.ucd.ie/lis/index.htm

Dept. of Information Studies, University of Sheffield Specialised programmes in Library and

Information Studies MA Librarianship, MSc Information

Management, MSc Information Systems, MSc Chemoinformatics

Medium staff levels (c. 18) Cooperate with cognate Dept’s for shared

modules, e.g. Computer Science, Chemistry http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/academic/I-M/is/

index.html

School of Information Studies, Syracuse University Specialised programmes MS in Library and Information Science MS in Information Management MS in Telecom and Network Management PhD in Information Transfer Very large staff numbers (c. 40) Staff from School teach IT & IR modules http://istweb.syr.edu/

Professional Associations

cilip (UK) http://www.cilip.org.uk/

ALA (North America)

http://www.ala.org

cilip Accreditation Categories

A. Information Generation, Communication & Utilization

B. Information Management and Organizational Context

C. Information Systems & Information & Communication Technologies

D. Information Environment & Policy E. Management and Transferable Skills

A. Information Generation, Communication & Utilization The processes and techniques whereby

information resources are created, analysed, evaluated, moderated and manipulated in order to meet the requirements of defined user populations.

A. Information Generation, Communication & Utilization A1 Principles of Library and Information Science

A2 Identification & Analysis of Information Flows & Resources

A3 Principles of Collection & Data Management

A4 Knowledge Organization, Recording & Retrieval

A5 Information Evaluation A6 Data Restructuring & Information

Presentation

B. Information Management and Organizational Context The application of techniques for

planning, implementing, evaluating, analysing and developing library and information products and services within the context of the organization's culture, aims and objectives. The impact of information systems on the structures and procedures of organizations.

B. Information Management and Organizational Context B1 Development & Provision of

Information Services & Products B2 Strategic Tactical & Financial

Planning of Information Services B3 Marketing & Business Development

of Information Services B4 Quality Issues & Liability Cont. on next slide …

B. Information Management and Organizational Context … cont. from previous slide B5 Information Service Performance

Assessment B6 Information System / Organization

Analysis B7 Analysis of User Information Needs B8 User Studies & Education

C. Information Systems & Information & Communication Technologies The availability and functionality of

manual and electronic information systems and information and communications technologies insofar as they apply to the principles and practices of information management. The application of techniques to identify, analyse, specify, implement and evaluate appropriate systems.

C. Information Systems & Information & Communication Technologies C1 Specification, identification,

analysis, implementation, valuation & utilization of manual & electronic systems & tools.

D. Information Environment & Policy The dynamics of information flow in society,

in (and between) nations, governments and the information and media industries

D1 Legal and Regulatory Issues D2 Professional & Ethical Issues D3 International & Transborder Information

transfer D4 Regional, National and International

Information Policies & Issues

E Management and Transferable Skills Principles and techniques associated

with business and institutional management, together with transferable skills of literacy and numeracy.

E Management and Transferable Skills E1 Human Resource Management E2 Training & Development E3 Financial & Budgetary Management E4 Statistical Analysis E5 Research Methods E6 Project Management E7 Native and foreign language skills E8 Communication and other interpersonal

skills

ALA Accreditation

The curriculum is concerned with recordable information and knowledge, and the services and technologies to facilitate their management and use. The curriculum of library and information studies encompasses information and knowledge creation, communication, identification, selection, acquisition, organization and description, storage and retrieval, preservation, analysis, interpretation, evaluation, synthesis, dissemination, and management.

ALA Standards for Curriculum Fosters development of library and information

professionals who will assume an assertive role in providing services

Emphasizes an evolving body of knowledge that reflects the findings of basic and applied research from relevant fields

Integrates the theory, application, and use of technology Responds to the needs of a rapidly changing

multicultural, multiethnic, multilingual society including the needs of underserved groups

Responds to the needs of a rapidly changing technological and global society

Comparison with other Professions Accountancy, Medicine, Architecture All teach basic computer literacy Symbiotic relationship between content

and medium in Information Studies requires a higher level of expertise for some information professionals

Teaching Information Technology (IT) - Levels1. User of computer technology & applications;2. Participant in a team designing, planning

and implementing CT & A;3. Significant in depth knowledge of computer

architectures & programming. Level 1 is achieved in all “LIS” curricula;

Level 2 to some extent; Level 3 in a very small number of schools & always with Computer Scientists

Computer Literacy Skills

Expectations at entry for LIS programmes – huge variation (see papers by Lowell & Tsai)

Require skills at entry: UCD, some UK & many US schools, e.g. Syracuse http://istweb.syr.edu/prospective/graduate/literacyreq.asp

Students must acquire skills during programme – non-credit, e.g. Sheffield

Students acquire skills in core or optional modules, many UK schools, e.g. Strathclyde

ALA 1995 Survey of Computer Literacy in LIS EducationALA accredited schools in North America 33.3% have a computer literacy admission

prerequisite 55.6% require computer literacy for graduation 11.1% have no formal computer literacy

requirementSource: Lowell K, JELIS, 38 (3) 1997, p.191-9Informal web search shows much greater

emphasis on computer literacy in 2003

Practical Computing (Sheffield) INF6901 - Practical Computing 1 (0 credits) Practical

Computing introduces students to practical techniques of information management, including: email; word processing; web searching; presentation software; spreadsheets; databases and web page authoring.

INF6902 - Practical Computing 2 (0 credits) Practical Computing introduces students to practical skills in web-based information presentation that are more advanced than those introduced in Practical Computing 1.

http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/academic/I-M/is/courses/pg_mod.html#INF6901

Information Literacy

Information Literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information."

http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ACRL/Standards_and_Guidelines/Information_Literacy_Competency_Standards_for_Higher_Education.htm#ildef

Information Literacy <-> Computer Literacy

An information literate individual is able to: Determine the extent of information needed Access the needed information effectively and efficiently Evaluate information and its sources critically Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding

the use of information Access / use information ethically and legallySource:

http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ACRL/Standards_and_Guidelines/Information_Literacy_Competency_Standards_for_Higher_Education.htm#ildef

Core IT Areas for LIS

Computer architecture Digitisation Human – computer interaction JAVA programming Multimedia Network architecture Systems analysis Object-oriented programming XML & HTML

MSc Information Management The effective management of information is vital to the

success of both public and private sector organisations.

The rise of computer networks, electronic publishing and the Internet have made the skills of the information manager indispensable for the creation, retrieval, organisation and dissemination of information and data.

The information manager's job is distinctive in that it focuses on the way in which information can be managed to satisfy the needs of its users rather than on the technology itself.

MSc Information Management (Sheffield) Core Modules INF6002

Information Management in Organisations INF6060Information Searching and Retrieval INF6110Information Systems Modelling INF6320

Organisation, Management and Information Systems

INF6340Research Methods and Dissertation Preparation

INF6000Dissertation

MSc Information Management (Sheffield) Elective Modules INF6001Information Systems Project Management INF6003E-Business and E-Commerce INF6010e-Government Information INF6011Education Informatics INF6050

Database Design INF6090

Information Storage and Retrieval Research INF6170

Management II: Human Resource Management Cont. on next slide …

MSc Information Management (Sheffield) Elective Modules … cont. from previous slide INF6190

LIS II: Public and Voluntary Sector Services INF6200

LIS II: Academic and Research Libraries INF6230Information Resources (Humanities) INF6420Collection Management INF6440Electronic Publishing

MSc Information Systems (Sheffield) Is offered jointly by the Department of

Information Studies and the Department of Computer Science

It provides students with practical knowledge in the field of information systems in order to apply it effectively and confidently in organisations of all kinds.

It places information systems within their organisational context, emphasising issues related to information, people, IT and the business environment.

MSc Information Systems - Modules by Computer Science COM6030 - Software Analysis and Design COM6050 - Java and UML for Programmers COM6061 - Computer and Network Architecture COM6470 - Foundations of Object-Oriented Programming COM6540 - Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Graphics COM6650 - Professional Issues COM6710 - Computer Architectures COM6720 - Network Architectures COM6880 - Java E-Commerce http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/academic/I-M/is/courses/

pg_mod.html#COM6030

Teaching Information Retrieval (IR) Information retrieval is historical domain of

LIS Departments Traditional metadata skills, e.g. cataloguing,

classification and indexing, complement IT expertise

Applications in web-site design, creation of metadata for digital collections, etc.

Contribution to groups such as SIGIR http://www.acm.org/sigir/

Core IR Areas for LIS

Metadata http://www.ifla.org/II/metadata.htm http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/metadata/ http://dublincore.org/

Unique identifiers & distinguishing between multiple electronic versions of items

Classification & taxonomies Indexing & thesauri Document structuring and text mark-up languages

http://www.ucd.ie/wusteman/ Information architecture

http://web.simmons.edu/~schwartz/520x.html

Conclusions and Future Requiring basic computer literacy skills at entry enables

LIS graduates to acquire real IT skills during an LIS programme

It also brings all students to same minimum level of competency

LIS departments and graduates should promote their expertise in Information Retrieval more forcefully

Programmes in both LIS & Computer Science are enriched by cooperation between LIS & Comp. Science departments

Smaller decrease in demand for Information Science that Computer Science graduates

References

Bawden, D “Information and digital literacies: a review of concepts” Journal of Documentation; 57 (2) Mar 2001, p.218-59

Lowell, K E “Computer literacy as a formal requirement in library science education” Journal of Education for Library and Information Science; 38 (3) Summer 97, p.191-99

Tsai, B “Technology gateway examination: computer competency test at the Pratt-SILS” Journal of Education for Library and Information Science; 40 (3) Summer 99, p.161-73

Contact Details

Professor Mary A. Burke Dept. of Library and Information Studies

(DepLIS), University College Dublin (UCD), Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

Tel. +353 1 716 7799 Fax +353 1 716 1161 Email: [email protected]

The End!

Introduction Overview of LIS programmes Professional associations – curricula Teaching information technology Teaching information retrieval Conclusions and future Questions ???

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