Information and Society INFOST5034

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Humanities
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

The course will explore the range of models that exist related to information use in society and reflect on the debates that take place within and between the models and theories, including areas such as information behaviour, information practices, and information needs analysis. The increasing importance of pedagogy in the professional practice of information literacy will also be explored, with a view to allowing students to be able to design and deliver their own information literacy instruction to users and groups in libraries of different kinds.

Timetable

10x2hr lecture per week, over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus

Requirements of Entry

Standard entry to Masters at College level.

Excluded Courses

N/A

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Essay (50%) - 2500 words

Report (50%) - 5000 words. Design and develop an information literacy session for a specific sector (school, academic, public, or workplace) and reflect on the design of the session (Group assessment)

Course Aims

This course aims to:

 

■ Present for critical analysis a range of theories related to information use within society, including information behaviour, information practices, and information literacy

■ Introduce the concept of information needs analysis and its role within professional practice

■ Explore the importance of an information literate society in meeting significant societal needs and challenges, especially around disinformation and misinformation

■ Provide an understanding of information literacy pedagogy and delivery

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

- Articulate the differing theories and models of information use within society and critically evaluate them and their role in professional library and information work.

- Critically examine the importance of information needs of individuals, groups, and organisations, and be able to undertake an information needs analysis.

- Critically explore the importance of information literacy skills to wider society.

- Design and deliver an information literacy programme for a specified group.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.