Introduction to Information Systems and Science

Code:

CINF038

Acronym:

ISCI

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Information Science

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Communication and Information Sciences
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor of Arts in Information Science

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
CINF	57	Study plan	1	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students
Obs.: Português

Objectives

This course aims to introduce the main scientific, technical and professional aspects of Science and Information Systems, providing students with a general overview of the area, and serving as a guide in their academic journey.

Learning outcomes and competences

By the end of the course, the student should have demonstrated the ability to 

• explain the factors that led to IC as a scientific discipline
• situate the science of information in relation to other disciplines that address information as an object of study
• discuss the concept of information and recognize its complexity
• outline the activities carried out in different phases of the work of an IC professional (Information Manager)
• explain the concept of system and apply systemic thinking to simple situations
• describe and relate the main concepts of IS area in Organizations, discussing the various problems and placing them in the context of Information Science
• characterize the evolution of information systems in relation to the evolution of organizations
• describe the relationship between information systems and systems of human activities in various types of organizations, identifying types, and structures
• discuss the current and future role of information systems and technologies in organizations

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

not aplicable

Program

1. What is information science?


2. History of information as an object of study.


3. Information Science and its operative concepts: Data, information, and knowledge in the organizational context


4. Systemic thinking in science and information systems.


5. Information - from system to systemic thinking: origins and evolution in organizations


6. The Information System as a socio-technical system.


7. Evolution of information systems and technologies in organizations.


8. The current and future role of information systems and technologies in organizations.

Mandatory literature

DAVID BAWDEN e LYN ROBINSON; Introduction to Information Science, Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2012. ISBN: 978-1555708610
Alistair Mutch; Managing Information and Knowledge in Organizations: a Literacy Approach, Routledge, 2008

Complementary Bibliography

Gleick, James; Informação. ISBN: 978-989-644-172-2
Armando Malheiro da Silva; A Informação: da compreensão do fenómeno e construção do objecto., Afrontamento, 2006
Floridi, Luciano; Information: a very short introduction., Oxford University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-15-955137-8
Armando Malheiro da Silva; DeltCI - Dicionário Eletrónico de Terminologia em Ciência da Informação (https://paginas.fe.up.pt/~lci/index.php/1668)

Teaching methods and learning activities

• 
  

  Thematic classroom classes. Interventions and interaction in moodle around specific topics.

  
  

• Students will carry out 4-5 group assignments involving fieldwork and bibliographical research and an individual essay to be delivered at the end of the semester.

keywords

Humanities > Information science

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	20,00
Trabalho de campo	30,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	52,00
Estudo autónomo	28,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho de campo	40,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Required minimum mark of 40% on any of the evaluation components.

Calculation formula of final grade

Fieldwork (group) - 40%

Final test (individual) - 50%

Comments and interventions in Moodle and during classes - 10%

Examinations or Special Assignments

not applicable

Internship work/project

not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The TE, AD, etc. must carry out all the work planned.

Classification improvement

It is only possible to improve the final test.