LET-CIWB158-IBC
Information Science
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleLET-CIWB158-IBC
Credits (ECTS)5
CategoryB1 (First year bachelor)
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Faculty of Arts; Communication and Information Studies;
Lecturer(s)
Coordinator
dr. B.J.M. van Halteren
Other course modules lecturer
Examiner
dr. B.J.M. van Halteren
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
dr. B.J.M. van Halteren
Other course modules lecturer
Contactperson for the course
dr. B.J.M. van Halteren
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
prof. dr. M.A. Larson
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2020
Period
PER 3-PER 4  (25/01/2021 to 31/08/2021)
Starting block
PER 3
Course mode
full-time
RemarksAccessible to minor students from the Faculty of Arts, 25 students from other faculties and to 30 exchange students.
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesYes
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listNo
Placement procedure-
Aims
At the end of the course the student can:
  • Appraise whether information, as needed for some goal, can be found on the internet.
  • Appraise if and how the desired information can be located on the internet.
  • Judge critically whether information found on the internet is useable for a specific goal, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
  • Against the background of the previous points, appraise how computers process information, how language technology and artificial intelligence play a role in this, and how well such technology works.
  • Be aware which activities on the internet can pose a threat and how one can arm oneself against such threats.
  • Appraise whether specific behavior during the compilation of information is (un)ethical.
Content
Whenever we feel like a shot of information, we go to the bar called Internet. And unless we really feel like something different, we let bartender Google mix us a nice cocktail. Up to now, we could be content with that, because we always got something appealing put in front of us. However, it is high time to step into the bar a bit more aware and to ask ourselves what exactly is in those bottles, how it was made, if it is proper and safe, and if the bartender really gives us what we want. In this course, we investigate all these questions. What exactly is “the internet”, what kind of information is present there and where does it come from? What do we actually mean by the word “information” anyway? How do search engines choose what they offer us and are they doing their job well? How can we, as users, get what we want, avoid what we don’t want, and furthermore behave ethically in our internet-based activities.  
Level

Presumed foreknowledge

Test information

Specifics

Assumed previous knowledge
Accessible to minor students from the Faculty of Arts. Accessible to students from other faculties (Max. 25 students) and to exchange students (Max. 30 students).

Note for exchange students: you cannot take this course if your English proficiency level is not at least B2 (TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC or Cambridge). A statement from your home university won't be accepted.

Required materials
Literature
Will be provided during the course.
Title:Will be provided during the course.

Instructional modes
Seminar

Working group
Attendance MandatoryYes

Tests
Written exam 1
Test weight50
Test typeDigital exam with CIRRUS
OpportunitiesBlock PER 3, Block PER 4

Minimum grade
5,5

Remark
Note to exchange students: it is not possible to take the written exam at a different time or place.

Written exam 2
Test weight50
Test typeDigital exam with CIRRUS
OpportunitiesBlock PER 4, Block PER 4

Minimum grade
5,5

Remark
Note to exchange students: it is not possible to take the written exam at a different time or place.

Assignments
Test weight0
Test typeProject
OpportunitiesBlock PER 4, Block PER 4

Minimum grade
V

Remark
Note to exchange students: it is not possible to take the written exam at a different time or place.