What You Will Learn

This course will provide students with the insights, strategies and practical techniques needed to gather and understand the role of information in today's society.

You will learn:

• how to conduct searches for various types of information,
• how to evaluate a variety of information sources,
• how to use the Internet as a source of information,
• how to create basic World Wide Web pages, and
• how to gather and disseminate information.

While emphasizing government, social and business information sources, this course will focus on obtaining and analyzing such diverse public databases maintained by the White House and Congress, U.S. Census, independent regulatory agencies, corporations, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Not only will you learn how to find information on various topics of interest, using various sources ranging from a public library to the Internet, but you will also have ample opportunities to analyze the information in oral reports and Treasure Hunt assignments. For example, you can get vital information and current statistics on crime rates, immigration patterns, welfare issues, educational achievement, and health care concerns, using a combination of electronic databases on the Internet and printed government documents.

This is based on the "JOMC 50 Classic" course description from Spring semester. For Bob Stepno's interpretation and more details, please consult the printed syllabus handed out in class, or write to bob@unc.edu