CLASS ACTIVITY: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS

CLASS ACTIVITY: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS

• Friday, July 17, 2020

This Activity is in response to Activities in Unit 3 Lecture 4 Part 2 of the ISADT module. Here we're to brainstorm and think about definitions related to Information System and Information technology.

Questions 

1. What is IT and IS and what is the difference?

2. Why do you want to extend your knowledge on IT and IS?

3. What is computer literacy, information literacy and digital literacy?

I would describe Information Systems as the  combination of the hardware and software channels used to spread data and communicate across channels.  (Hollenberg and Dennis,  2000) describe this as a wireless system for rendering services and time critical information among users within enclosed areas or different geographical locations.  

On the other hand, I would describe Information technology as  the use of technology to create, store and exchange information between people. Devices such as computers, software applications, phones, tablets etc have been developed to make this possible.  

The growth of the Internet, the globalization of trade, and the rise of information economies have raised the importance of information systems within organizations. (Halawi and McCarthy, 2006) And as more awareness is being created around the Information system and technology, it has sparked my interest as an entrepreneur. This has brought up the need to extend my knowledge of ISaDT and learn best practices in order to keep up with the fast growing trends of digital transformation through the use of automated processes, cloud computing, blogging and other digital communication channels.  

The use of new technology includes the use of computers and knowing how to convert data into information. The use of computers brings up the need to be computer literate.

I would define Computer literacy as knowing how a computer and its applications, software and hardware work. (Hoffman and Blake, 2003) defined computer literacy as the ability to "comprehend our relationship with computer technology and its uses, possibilities, and meanings."

Meanwhile,  Information literacy is the ability to analyze data from different sources e.g books, television, and transform it into useful information.  (Bruce, 1999) defines it as the ability to recognise information needs and identify, evaluate and use information effectively.

Lastly, Digital Literacy is the ability to transform information  either text or images  into content for digital platforms. E.g blogs, social media applications, online magazines etc.   Digital literacy practices including blogging, reporting, use of social networks, emailing etc. (Alvermann, 2019)

References

Alvermann, D.E. and Sanders, R.K., 2019. Adolescent literacy in a digital world. The international encyclopedia of media literacy, pp.1-6.

Bruce, C.S., 1999. Workplace experiences of information literacy. International journal of information management, 19(1), pp.33-47.

Halawi, L, and R Mccarthy. “Which Theory Applies: An Analysis of Information Systems Research.” Issues in Information Systems, vol. 7, no. 2, 2006, commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1360&context=publication#:~:text=The%20significant%20information%20systems%20theories.

Hoffman, M. and Blake, J., 2003. Computer literacy: Today and tomorrow. Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges, 18(5), pp.221-233.‌

Hollenberg, D.D., Hollenberg and Dennis D., 2000. Situation information system. U.S. Patent 6,091,956.