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Dr Steve Wright
Senior Lecturer
Phone: +61 3 990 32994
Fax: +61 3 990 31077

Lecturer(s) / Leader(s):

Caulfield

Dr Steve Wright
Senior Lecturer
Phone: +61 3 990 32994
Fax: +61 3 990 31077

Introduction

Welcome to FIT5090 Social Informatics. This 6 point unit is a core unit of the library, archival and recordkeeping professional track of the Masters of Business Information Systems.

Unit synopsis

This unit provides students with a critical understanding of the impact of information technology (IT) within contemporary social relations. Using case studies drawn from different social spheres, the unit explores the ways in which the diffusion of IT has reshaped thinking and practice concerning social collaboration, the production of knowledge and community building. Particular attention is paid to the emerging field of community informatics, and the implications that this field holds for the work of information and knowledge management professionals

Learning outcomes

At the completion of this unit students will be able to:
  • understand the nature and operation of information communities within contemporary society;
  • have an understanding of community informatics as an emerging discipline and professional practice;
  • be familiar with contemporary debates concerning the social impact of information technology use;
  • gain understanding of the collaborative behaviours and interdependencies which contribute to notions of community;
  • demonstrate the ability to analyse and critique cases from the information industry.

Contact hours

2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs tutorial/wk

Workload

For FIT5090 on campus students, weekly workload commitments are:

  • two-hour lecture and
  • two-hour tutorial (requiring advance preparation)
  • a minimum of 3-4 hours of personal study per one hour of contact time inorder to satisfy the reading and assignment expectations.

  • You will need to allocate up to 5 hours per week in some weeks, for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

    For FIT3098 on campus students, weekly workload commitments are:

    • two-hour lecture and
    • one-hour lab (requiring advance preparation)
    • a minimum of 3-4 hours of personal study per one hour of contact time inorder to satisfy the reading and assignment expectations.

    • You will need to allocate up to 5 hours per week in some weeks, for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

Off-campus students generally do not attend lecture and tutorial sessions (although they are welcome). However, you should plan to spend equivalent time working through the relevant resources and participating in discussion groups each week, as well as regular chatroom sessions. Audio recordings of lectures are accessible from the unit MUSO site.

Unit relationships

Prohibitions

IMS5023

Teaching and learning method

Teaching approach

Recorded on-campus lectures will supplement the delivery of the unit to students via the unit homepage on the World Wide Web. Communication between students and teacher will be undertaken face-to-face where possible, as well as through tools such as email, internet conferencing, and telephone. Readings are to be drawn mostly from the World Wide Web as well as printed resources.

Timetable information

For information on timetabling for on-campus classes please refer to MUTTS, http://mutts.monash.edu.au/MUTTS/

Tutorial allocation

On-campus students should register for tutorials/laboratories using the Allocate+ system: http://allocate.its.monash.edu.au/

Unit Schedule

Week Date* Topic Key dates
1 01/03/10 Introduction to social informatics  
2 08/03/10 Communities & networks in society  
3 15/03/10 Agency & structure in society  
4 22/03/10 IT & social relations  
5 29/03/10 The nature of information communities  
Mid semester break
6 12/04/10 Knowledge & knowledge workers  
7 19/04/10 Memory  
8 26/04/10 The challenge of peer-to-peer production  
9 03/05/10 Web 2.0  
10 10/05/10 Social informatics in a global context  
11 17/05/10 Community Informatics Assignment 3
12 24/05/10 Community Informatics/eGovernment  
13 31/05/10 Revision  

*Please note that these dates may only apply to Australian campuses of Monash University. Off-shore students need to check the dates with their unit leader.

Unit Resources

Prescribed text(s) and readings

none required.

Recommended text(s) and readings

Required software and/or hardware

There is no specific software requirement beyond access to word-processing and web browsing facilities.

Equipment and consumables required or provided

Students studying off-campus are required to have the minimum system configuration specified by the faculty as a condition of accepting admission, and regular Internet access. On-campus students, and those studying at supported study locations may use the facilities available in the computing labs. Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook. You will need to allocate up to 10 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

Study resources

Study resources we will provide for your study are:

made available through MUSO. These include lecture notes and tutorial exercises.

Assessment

Overview

Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%;

Faculty assessment policy

To pass a unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:

  • 40% or more in the unit's examination, and
  • 40% or more in the unit's total non-examination assessment, and
  • an overall unit mark of 50% or more.

If a student does not achieve 40% or more in the unit examination or the unit non-examination total assessment, and the total mark for the unit is greater than 50% then a mark of no greater than 49-N will be recorded for the unit.

In order to pass this unit, a student needs to  

1. gain at least 40% of the marks available for the examination component

2. gain at least 40% of the marks available for the total non-examination component taken as a whole

3. gain at least 50% of the total marks for the unit.


Where a student gains less than 40% for either the examination or assignment component, the final result for the unit will be no greater than '44-N'.

Assignment tasks

Assignment coversheets

Assignment coversheets are available via "Student Forms" on the Faculty website: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/
You MUST submit a completed coversheet with all assignments, ensuring that the plagiarism declaration section is signed.

Assignment submission and return procedures, and assessment criteria will be specified with each assignment.

  • Assignment task 1
    Title:
    Assignment 1 (all students)
    Description:
    Assignment 1 consists of 10 short reflective pieces.

    For 10 successive semester weeks, starting in Week 2, you will be required to address a question posed at the end of that week’s lecture.

    Your weekly answer of 150-200 of your own words is due no later than noon AEST each Tuesday of the following week (Weeks 3 to 12).

    Upload each of your reflective pieces to the folder for your tutorial group.

    Label each piece ‘Exercise Week X’, and don’t forget to include your name.
    Weighting:
    5%
    Due date:
    weeks 3-12
  • Assignment task 2
    Title:
    Assignment 2 (FIT3098 only)
    Description:
    Individual students are required to provide a critical survey of a community-based website.
    Weighting:
    25%
    Due date:
    week 6
  • Assignment task 3
    Title:
    Assignment 3 (all students)
    Description:
    Working in groups, students will survey the information needs of an organisation or community.
    Weighting:
    20%
    Due date:
    week 11
  • Assignment task 4
    Title:
    Assignment 2 (FT5090 only)
    Description:
    Students will write a critical assessment of a text relevant to the field of social informatics. In the case of on-campus students, this exercise will include a class presentation worth 5%.
    Weighting:
    25%
    Due date:
    weeks 3-12

Examination

  • Weighting: 50%
    Length: 3 hours
    Type (open/closed book): Closed book

See Appendix for End of semester special consideration / deferred exams process.

Due dates and extensions

Please make every effort to submit work by the due dates. It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are not regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions. Students are advised to NOT assume that granting of an extension is a matter of course.

Students requesting an extension for any assessment during semester (eg. Assignments, tests or presentations) are required to submit a Special Consideration application form (in-semester exam/assessment task), along with original copies of supporting documentation, directly to their lecturer within two working days before the assessment submission deadline. Lecturers will provide specific outcomes directly to students via email within 2 working days. The lecturer reserves the right to refuse late applications.

A copy of the email or other written communication of an extension must be attached to the assignment submission.

Refer to the Faculty Special consideration webpage or further details and to access application forms: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html

Late assignment

Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty of 5% per day up to 5 business days, after which the assignment will not be accepted.

Return dates

Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later.

Appendix

Please visit the following URL: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/units/appendix.html for further information about:

  • Continuous improvement
  • Unit evaluations
  • Communication, participation and feedback
  • Library access
  • Monash University Studies Online (MUSO)
  • Plagiarism, cheating and collusion
  • Register of counselling about plagiarism
  • Non-discriminatory language
  • Students with disability
  • End of semester special consideration / deferred exams
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