Spring 2022

IMT 589 A: Cloud Computing

• Instructor: Fawad Khan
• 4 credits; standard grading

This course is going to introduce the concept of Cloud Computing and how it is transforming and evolving the IT industry and the developer ecosystem, as we move away from on-premises to Cloud-based infrastructure and app development scenarios. Discussion of Cloud services models including SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS. Review of Cloud services usage and migration scenarios considering business goals and objectives along with developing a Costs/Benefits Analysis model. Understand primary business consideration for migrating to cloud services including cost, security, compliance, fault tolerance, backup, disaster recovery and monitoring. Learn about the most popular and consumed services including deploying, managing and maintaining a VM network infrastructure, developing Cloud-based App solutions, Containers, Serverless and Identity & authentication. Discussion of on the horizon key Cloud services in the new digital transformation age including Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and IoT.

IMT 589 B: Problematic Information

• Instructor: TBD
• 4 credits; standard grading

Addressing the problem of misinformation is among the most pressing challenges of our time — and times to come. Recent decades have seen a profound shift in the ways people, groups and organizations produce and consume information and participate in public discourse. This new paradigm for human interaction and information sharing creates space for diverse voices and enhances collective action in positive ways. Yet these information environments have also opened the door to misinformation, disinformation and other forms of networked manipulation, which function not only to mislead and create divisions, but also to diminish trust in democratic institutions such as science and journalism.

This graduate seminar will introduce students to the lexicon of problematic information, tracing the historical roots and context of this phenomena and exploring the new realm of online information operations employed in today’s socio-technical infrastructure.

IMT 589 C: Advanced Leadership Development Seminar

• Instructor: Sean McGann
• 3 credits; credit/no credit grading
• Prerequisites: IMT 580 and Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) with at least 10 reviewers.
• Application required 

In this seminar, we seek to deepen the skill development started in IMT 580, through continuation of The Leadership Challenge and the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI). As a class, we will dive more deeply into each of the 5 practices, through discussion and reflection exercises. Through individual coaching sessions, the instructor will examine each student’s LPI, and discuss strengths and areas for improvement, working with them to better understand the results and coaching them on how to develop and implement strategies for long-term leadership development. Students will also leverage peer groups to share, reflect and advise each other on LPI results and leadership development lessons learned. 

INFO 498 A: Exploring Information Science through BTS and Kpop

• Instructor: Jin Ha Lee
• 3 credits; standard grading
• Course may be counted toward human-computer interaction (HCI) option

What can BTS teach you about information science? Explore different aspects of information science such as classification, social media, misinformation and disinformation, transmedia storytelling, participatory media, fan wars and fandom gatekeeping through Kpop, in particular, the case of BTS. Design and conduct a research study investigating an information science problem in the domain of popular culture media.

INFO 498 B: Misinformation Studies

• Instructor: TBD
• 3 credits; standard grading

INFO 498 C: Introduction to Search and Recommender Systems

• Instructor: Chirag Shah
• 4 credits; standard grading
• Course counts towards the Data Science and Information Architecture degree options

Search and recommendation systems for organizing and accessing information have become indispensable. It is critical, therefore, to understand their design and operational foundations. In this course students will have an opportunity to learn about search engines, recommendation systems, web crawling, and search interface technologies based on hands-on experience and with a focus on techniques that can be used to access, retrieve, organize, present, and recommend information. Students will work with practical developmental tools and learn relevant concepts through experimentation. For instance, students will employ an open source search engine and learn about indexing, retrieving, and ranking techniques. The course will also introduce some of the latest techniques that various services including e-commerce (Amazon, eBay), social media (Facebook, reddit), and streaming (Netflix, Spotify) use for recommending content and engaging users.

INFO 498 E: Understanding Asian Students’ Experiences in Technology Education

• Instructor: Mina Tari
• 4 credits;standard grading
• Online synchronous

Asian students are often perceived as overrepresented in technology education and industry in the United States. However, we will break down this perception by understanding how intersecting identities, historical context of Asian immigration, and the model minority myth create false narratives around Asians' participation in technology fields. In this class we will discuss the intersection of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, and nationality in how these factors impact Asian students' experiences in higher education, especially in technology courses. We will introduce the lens of feminism, critical race theory, intersectionality, decolonialism, and Indigenous theory. Additionally, we will discuss the lack of attention on international Asian populations, as well as key differences in Asian and Pacific Islander experiences, bringing in the context of colonialism and Indigenous identity.

INFO 498 F: AI, Robots, and Transcending Religion

• Instructor: W.E. King
• 4 credits; standard grading
• Online asynchronous

Can a Robot Be Divine? Will humans merge with technologies that enable them to transcend current reality? This course will engage with these questions and others as we survey philosophical concepts, ethical principles, and popular culture connecting AI and religion.

This course aims to:

• Introduce students to theories about the influence of religion on technological innovation.
• Explore development of religious robots.
• Develop students’ critical and analytical skills for examining ethical debates about AI.

By the end of the course, successful students will be able to:

• Recognize key religious concepts and theories of technology.
• Describe ways religions use robots and imagine technological futures.
• Engage with religious worldviews and ethical principles that influence the development, content, form, and use of AI.

INSC 598 A: Indigenous Research Methods

• Instructor: Clarita Lefthand-Begay
• 3 credits; credit/no credit grading

Historically research conducted on Indigenous peoples in North America and around the globe was done using biased, dehumanizing and unethical approaches. In the 21^st Century, it is now our responsibility to reject those egregious approaches in order to repair research relationships with Sovereign Tribal Nations and their citizens. When done with respect, reciprocity, relationality and rigor, research outcomes have the potential to inform decision-making and policy among tribal leaders and their counterparts in federal agencies and tribal organizations. In this advanced graduate class, students will engage with foundational reading at the intersection of Indigenous studies, information sciences, environmental and wellbeing. Students will lead class discussions, present published works by prominent scholars, and engage with tribal leaders and citizens to gain a broader understanding about the implications of research within these societies. Lastly, because of the emerging threat from COVID-19 and its toll on tribal communities, students will be encouraged to design a project that will be meaningful to these groups.  

LIS 598 A: Indigenous Art is Indigenous Knowledge

• Instructor: Miranda Belarde-Lewis
• 4 credits; standard grading

This course examines the relationship between Indigenous art and Indigenous Knowledge (IK) with an emphasis on tribal groups in North America. How have Native artists documented oral history, cosmologies, maps and plant knowledge through art? How are the customary forms of art evolving to keep up with the needs of contemporary Native peoples? This course draws on theory from Indigenous Studies, Information Science, Art History and, visual and museum studies to unpack the intention, purpose and interpretation of Indigenous art and artifacts. 

In this course, students will be asked to explore: the concept of Indigenous Knowledge; the role of the arts in Native communities in ancient times and in the present-day; the complicated colonial legacy between museums and Indigenous peoples; and, the push by Native peoples to be consulted with and their views respected about objects from their home communities that reside in museum collections. In addition to engaging with research, theory and the practices related to the study of Native art, Native history and IK, students will be asked to complete an in-depth research project about a particular group of art works, a community-based effort to maintain the transfer of IK through Indigenous art, or, the presentation and incorporation of IK through a museum exhibit.

LIS 598 C: Designing User-Centered Learning Environments in Information Settings

• Instructor: Helene Williams
• 3 credits; standard grading
• Online asynchronous 

No matter what type of library or information organization you work in, part of your job will be instruction-based: whether that’s in one-on-one reference interactions, one-shot sessions for classes, credit-bearing courses, or justifying your budget request to a supervisor, you’re going to be teaching people. In this course we will explore current methods of designing effective and inclusive learning opportunities for diverse users in your desired library or organization type. We’ll examine what teaching looks like in different information environments, with the focus on school, public, and academic libraries; these concepts readily translate into non-profit and corporate settings as well. Critical pedagogy, universal design for learning, and accessibility are the lenses you’ll use to meet the applied course outcomes as you create and reflect on instructional styles and formats as well as outcomes-oriented curriculum and assessment tools. 

LIS 598 E: Introduction to Information Architecture

• Instructor: Mike Doane
• 5 credits; standard grading
• Online asynchronous

This course Introduces concepts and methods of front- and back-end information architecture. Includes hands-on teamwork using the latest software tools for data and content modeling, taxonomy development, controlled vocabulary creation and SEO considerations. The course also covers traditional user experience design topics such as inclusive design processes, design patterns, navigation, workflow, labeling, diverse user research and user flow diagrams. Teams produce a series of project deliverables suitable for building a professional portfolio.

Winter 2022

IMT 589 A: Internet of Things

• Instructor: Nick Hernandez
• 3 credits; standard grading

IMT 598 B: Blockchain

• Instructor: Jochen Scholl
• 3 credits; standard grading

Blockchain technology has once been labeled a game changer in information management. Since then it has gradually become integral to and important in developing organizations' information management strategies and architecture options. Blockchain is one particular instantiation of the group of so-called Distributed Ledger Technologies (or, DLTs), which provide another unique way in how companies and individuals can share important data. Blockchain/DLT has become known and visible to a broader audience as the underlying technology that enables cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Meanwhile Blockchain and other DLTs have expanded into broader uses and forms of data storing and tracking in areas such as smart contracts, deed and property registries, intellectual property, music, aircraft assemblies, medical records, agriculture and more. This course is non-technical in nature and not designed to cover the technical nuts and bolts of DLTs and Blockchain; however, it provides a general understanding of how DLT/Blockchain works, how its various uses have been evolving, and what its current and future challenges are, all of which also includes regulatory and governance aspects. Understanding Blockchain/DLT and its uses is an asset to and provides career opportunities for information professionals of all designations.

INFO 198 A: Computational & Ethical Literacy In a Social Media Age

• Instructor: Kyle Thayer
• 5 credits; standard grading

We live in a world where social media influence our lives in direct and indirect ways: from snapchat and youtube to twitter bots and cyber-bullying. In order to fully engage in this new reality, you need a level of digital literacy that most college graduates don’t receive. In this course you will learn the fundamentals of programming (we assume no prior experience) and use writing code to explore the ethical issues involving social media design and use.

INFO 498 B:  Indigenous Ways of Knowing in the Digital World

• Instructor: Sandy Littletree
• 4 credits; standard grading

Indigenous people are using a variety of digital tools such as video games, virtual reality, language apps, and digital heritage sites to maintain their relationships to place, language, history, and culture. In this course, we will explore the respectful use and development of these tools with an emphasis on Native North American Indigenous approaches to knowledge. By the end of this course, students will understand how relationality can inform thoughtful, respectful and appropriate uses of information technology that is designed by and for Indigenous people.

INFO 498 C: Games and Information

• Instructor: Marc Schmalz
• 4 credits; standard grading
• Course may be counted towards human-computer interaction (HCI) option

This course explores games from the perspective of information. As media artefacts, both digital and non-digital games are increasingly utilized not just for entertainment and expression, but also for learning, training, persuasion, data collection, therapy, and community building. This course examines games and information from four perspectives including i) the form and elements of games as designed interactive media artefacts, ii) existing and emerging game functions across multiple domains of human activity, iii) learning and rhetoric in games, and iv) games as information objects. Students will build a solid understanding of the informational aspects of games, the breadth of their use, their potential and limitations, and their place in modern society as an increasingly important media format. In addition to course readings, interactive lectures, and guest speakers, students will engage in a range of in-class gameplay to actively experience concepts.

INFO 498 D: Learning Sciences for Informatics

• Instructor: Caroline Pitt
• 3 credits; standard grading

Over the past year or so, online and hybrid learning have been an essential part of our educational experiences. Additionally, everyone from tech giants to rural school districts to global nonprofits has been discussing, debating, designing, and envisioning the role of technology in learning, in current and future iterations. But, before we get to creating those technologies, we should (and need to) understand the theoretical and practical perspectives on learning and how to combine those theories and concepts into functional lessons, curricula, and, eventually, applications and systems. In this course, we’ll explore the relationship between education and technology, drawing on learning sciences theories and concepts; education history; and current events, research, and experiences. The course will touch on a variety of topics, such as computer-supported collaborative learning, sociotechnical ecosystems, the process of designing technologies for learning, learning analytics, educational games, and learning management tools. Students will have the opportunity to investigate the foundations of specific learning technologies, critique and improve current systems, and propose future designs.

LIS 598 A: Future of Libraries

• Instructor: Chance Hunt
• 3 credits; standard grading
• Online course

Students completing this course will realize a heightened sense of optimism for creating our future libraries. They will have developed a deeper understanding of themselves as leaders and change agents, equipped with the confidence that they can forecast, contribute to and mitigate towards a desired future.

LIS 598 B: Teaching Practicum

• Instructor: Carla Wale
• 3 credits; standard grading

Under the supervision of a faculty member, students in the Master of Library & Information Science Law Librarianship Specialization, who already hold a JD, take primary responsibility for team teaching an online section of Legal Research Methods (for non-JD MLIS students) with other MLIS Law students.

Autumn 2021

IMT 589 A: Information Systems Governance

• Instructor: Jochen Scholl
• 4 credits; standard grading

Governance refers to a set of value systems, rules (including laws and regulations), principles, and core processes, by which an organization governs itself and makes strategic decisions. However, systems of governance may differ between public and private organizations. In either case, a range of stakeholders needs to be actively involved and considered in the governance of organizations. An increasingly important subset of organizational governance are Information governance and Information Technology (IT) governance, both of which need to be integral parts of the overall organizational system of governance. While IT governance and resulting IT strategy generally follow organizational governance and organizational strategy, they also might drive and shape the latter two. Information governance and IT governance, and their match with organizational requirements, can be evaluated along various performance measures. Frameworks of information governance and IT governance help advance good governance and are indispensable for overall organizational success, both in the public and private sectors.

IMT 598 A: Digital Transformations

• Instructor: Fawad Khan
• 3 credits; standard grading

This course is going to introduce the concept of Digital Transformation and Cloud's key emerging technologies and how they are forcing companies to review and formulate a digital strategy which affects the bottom line of any company. We will review the key digital transformation strategy pillars and use Cloud's key emerging technologies, including Cognitive Computing, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and IoT to build solutions and applications to help the organizations along this digital journey.

INFO 498 A: Introduction to Cultural Analytics: Data, Computation, and Culture

• Instructor: Melanie Walsh
• 4 credits; standard grading

This course will prepare students to analyze cultural data — such as books, songs, Reddit posts, and film screenplays — with computational methods. After a basic introduction to the programming language Python, we will cover topics including web scraping, data analysis, text mining, and network analysis. We will survey and discuss how these computational tools are applied in humanistic and social scientific research. We will also reflect on the specific problems, challenges, and ethical dilemmas posed by the computational study of culture. This course is designed for students with humanistic and/or social scientific interests who have no previous programming background.

INFO 498 B: Information Security Analysis & Policy

• Instructor: William Li
• 3 credits; standard grading

This course examines ethical, legal policy, and business strategy issues which arise in information security professional practice. Both real-world case study and hands-on exercises are used to explore information security concepts, models, and methods. By the conclusion of the course, through opportunities to work both individually and with their professional peers, students will hone their ability to address the challenges of information security through critical analysis and effective communication.

INSC 598 B: Critical and Ethical Perspectives on Data Algorithms

• Instructor: Anna Lauren Hoffmann
• 4 credits; standard grading

This graduate seminar will ground students in critical social and theoretical concepts for evaluating—and normatively assessing—the data scientific practices and algorithmic processes that pervade our lives. The seminar’s frame is three-fold: biopolitics, power, and forms of administrative violence; historical perspectives on the rise and role of data-based and statistical knowledge in shaping lives and life chances; current perspectives on the role of big data and algorithms in the normative construction of bodies and identities.

LIS 598 A: Computing Cultural Heritage

• Instructor: Ben Lee
• 2 credits; credit/no credit grading
• Online Synchronous 

From large-scale systems for searching the web to the datasets that machine learning practitioners utilize to train their models, our collective cultural heritage is in many ways the substrate of computer science. Indeed, cultural heritage practitioners including humanists, librarians, and archivists have been influential in shaping the discourse surrounding the sociotechnical implications of computing. This course explores various topics within computer science through the lens of cultural heritage: data visualization, human-AI interaction, search & discovery, crowdsourcing, web archiving, design & UX, and classification. The goals of this course are two-fold: first, to survey these topics in computer science, and second, to explore how they manifest within the context of cultural heritage. We will cover one topic every week, with the first meeting devoted to the CS-oriented literature for the topic, and the second meeting devoted to the sociotechnical implications of the topic in practice. During these second meetings, we will speak with cultural heritage practitioners at institutions across the country to learn about the roles of computing in their work, research, and stewardship.