Student Originated Studies: Information Gone Wild- Continuities of Knowledge in the Digital Age

This coordinated-studies academic internship provides junior and senior students the opportunity to investigate critical information studies, and to develop related skills. New information technologies, especially those involved in the ongoing and remarkably rapid evolution of the Internet, will be considered, but our investigation of these technologies will be undertaken within a broader epistemological framework. Collectively, we will attempt answers to the questions: How do we come to know what we think we know; how do we know that what we think we know is true; and does technology affect the way that we answer these questions? Students may apply their critical study of information to academic fields of their choice, from traditional disciplines such as history, biology, photography, or art, to newer areas such as digital imaging, digital preservation, computer languages, or computer science.

Each quarter students combine four credits of classwork (primarily seminar) with a four-credit work internship in the college library (or possibly computing services).

The academic component includes a weekly reading seminar on intellectual questions relating to information, knowledge, and the digital age. We are likely to consider technical questions involving the preservation and protection of information, as well as access to that information -- digital object repositories, cloud-based computing, and network security are probable topics. These technical issues are likely to lead us into social questions of censorship, freedom of information, privacy, digital divides, hacktivism, cyberwar, and the open access, open source, and news media reform movements. We may also consider the histories and philosophies of information, information technology, knowledge, and propaganda.

Students are responsible for finding internships in public service and computer operations in the Library and Media Services, or possibly in other campus media centers. Students may pursue their work assignments based on intellectual interest and the types of skills they wish to learn. In the past, students have found internships in Reference, the Sound and Image Library, Assistive Technologies, College Archives, Government Documents, and the campus Photo Center.

Beginning to advanced computer users are encouraged to apply. Admission is by application. Enrollment is limited. To begin the application process, students should contact the faculty by email with a brief statement of interest. Application review will begin September 15, 2009, and continue until the program fills.