May 20, 2010
Class Notes: Fluency in Technology
Class title: Informatics 100 — Fluency in Information Technology, taught by D.A. Clements, lecturer in the Information School.
Description: (from the class syllabus) FIT introduces the basics of information technology: logical reasoning, managing complexity, operation of computers and networks. Instruction also includes ethics, social impacts of technology, effective Web searching and database manipulation.
Instructor’s goals:
Learn the skills that define technical literacy, such as the ability to create databases and Web pages.
Understand the foundations of information technology, including information systems and algorithmic thinking.
Apply information technology in complex situations and understand the consequences.
Assignments:
Readings, but also three projects:
- A storyteller page that allows users to change basics such as main character and story location.
- A database that allows users to search for specific information. The work includes importing an Excel spreadsheet, creating queries and exporting an XML file to Google Maps.
- A website that looks authentic but offers incorrect information.
In Spring 2009, one student created a “Miss Information” site, showing Clements winning the pageant.
Another student filled a post office parking lot with bags of free groceries.
Also, rather interesting news about the Seahawks trading quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to the Sounders.
After putting words and photos onto the page,” said Clements, “students see how easily a website can be faked.”
Unexpected experiences: “I was surprised how quickly I could learn,” said Casey Walker, a senior English major who created the penguin page. “I wasn’t technologically savvy, but the lab instructions have been clear and the CLUE (Center for Learning and Undergraduate Enrichment) sessions with TAs have been good.”
“I’ve been surprised at how much I’ve learned,” said Alex Lee, a sophomore business student. “I thought I knew a lot, but wow, I didn’t know a lot of the technical stuff.”
Additional student opinions:
“FIT 100 isn’t an easy class,” said Christina Pak, who graduated in 2008 as a psychology major but is now working on a nursing degree. “FIT is different from any other class I’ve taken at the UW. Building a website was completely new to me.”
“Learning how to manipulate photos has been interesting. You can put anybody’s face on anybody’s body,” said information systems major Warren Sole.
Class Notes is an occasional column describing interesting or unusual classes at the University.
