Introduction to
LIS 386.13
Information Technologies and the Information Professions
Philip Doty and R. E. Wyllys

Information Technologies and the Information Professions (LIS 386.13) is intended to allow you, as a student, to accomplish a number of goals.  The course description notes that, in pursuing the general theme of learning about the impact of information on society and the impact of society on information, you will become acquainted with:

·         The history of and meanings ascribed to computing and telecommunications, especially from the perspective of science and technology studies

·         The roles of IT in the history of the information professions

·         Information application skills, including HTML, use of the TCP/IP protocol, fundamentals of information architecture, and introduction to the use of multiple operating systems, e.g., Mac, Windows, and Linux as well as other "flavors" of UNIX. For some students, some of these skills will be a refresher of what they already know, but in this course the development and exercise of these skills takes place in an environment of group work via the Internet that will be new to most students.

To further the goal of providing you with experience in Internet-based interaction and learning, we have made all of the course materials available on the World-Wide Web, and have provided tools for you to interact with other students and to learn using the Internet. You will have the opportunity to use some of the most powerful and commonly used Internet and Web tools, such as email, coding and display of Web pages, and to learn about UNIX commands, cryptography, and other applications.

This course was new to the iSchool master's curriculum in Fall 2000, serving as the second of two introductory courses in the curriculum for the degree of Master of Science in Information Studies (the other introductory course being 180J). In this Spring 2003 offering of LIS 386., we will continue to build on the experience of the previous semesters of offering it; and we will continue to welcome your comments and guidance on how we can improve the course in future offerings.

As with every course, your active engagement with the material, your participation in shared learning, and your contribution to the class as a whole are essential. Please be assured that the LIS 386.13 Instructional Team—the instructor, the TA, and the staff of the iSchool Information Technology Laboratory—are committed to your individual and group success. We will do everything in our power to help you make the most of your experience in the course this semester.

On behalf of the LIS 386.13 Team, I welcome you to the course.

Ronald E. Wyllys