Content: Information Processes and Technology – Preliminary Course

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8.1 Introduction to Information Skills and Systems

An information system has a purpose in that it addresses the need(s) of a group or an individual. It performs the information processes of collecting, organising, analysing, storing/retrieving, processing, transmitting/receiving and displaying. Information processes involve computer and non-computer activities. For the processes to occur, participants (people), data/information and information technologies (hardware and software) are required. The purpose for an information system defines who it is for and what they need. Information systems give rise to ethical issues for people directly and indirectly involved with them. They have a social impact on the environment in which they operate.

Outcomes

A student:

P1.1 describes the nature of information processes and information technology

P1.2 classifies the functions and operations of information processes and information technology

P2.1 identifies and describes the information processes within an information system

P2.2 recognises and explains the interdependence between each of the information processes

P3.1 identifies and describes social and ethical issues

P4.1 describes the historical developments of information systems and relates these to current and emerging technologies.

Students learn about:	Students learn to:
information systems in context • diagrammatic representation of an information system in context	• diagrammatically represent a given scenario that involves an information system
• the environment – everything that influences and is influenced by the information system • the purpose – a statement identifying who the information system is for and what it needs to achieve • who the information system is for includes individuals and organisations • the information system – a set of information processes requiring participants, data/information and information technology built to satisfy a purpose • information processes – computer based and non-computer based activities • information technology – hardware and software used in information processes • data – the raw material used by information processes • information – the output displayed by an information system • user – a person who views or uses the information output from an information system • participant – a special class of user who carries out the information processes within an information system	• explain how an information system impacts on its environment and how it in turn impacts on the information system • describe the environment and purpose of an information system for a given context • explain how a given need can be supported by an information system • describe an information system in terms of its purpose • for a given scenario, identify the people who are: – in the environment – users of the information system – participants in the information system
information processes • collecting – the process by which data is entered into or captured by a computer system, including: – deciding what data is required – how it is sourced – how it is encoded for entry into the system • organising – the process by which data is structured into a form appropriate for the use of other information processes such as the format in which data will be represented • analysing – the process by which data is interpreted, transforming it into information • storing and retrieving – the process by which data and information is saved and accessed later • processing – a procedure that manipulates data and information	• distinguish between, and categorise, the activities within an information system in terms of the seven information processes • use an existing information system to meet a simple need • manually step through a given information system identifying the information process • for a given information system, describe how the following relate to the information processes: – participants – data/information – information technology • schematically represent the flow of data and information through a given information system, identifying the information processes
• transmitting and receiving – the process that sends and receives data and information within and beyond information systems • displaying – the process that controls the format of information presented to the participant or user the nature of data and information • data – the input to an information system • data representation – the different types of media, namely: – images – audio – video – text – numbers • information – the output which has been processed by an information system for human understanding • the generation of information from data via the information processes • how information from one information system can be data for another information system reasons for digital data representation • the need for quality data, including: – accuracy – timeliness – accessibility • current data digitising trends, for example: – newspapers on the Internet – telephone system – video on DVD – facsimile – media retrieval management	• distinguish between data and information in a given context • categorise data as image, audio, video, text and/or numbers • identify the data and the information into which it is transformed, for a given scenario • identify examples of information systems that use information from another information system as data • explain why information technology uses digital data • describe advantages and disadvantages for the digital representation of data
social and ethical issues · social and ethical issues arising from the processing of information, including: – privacy of the individual – security of data and information – accuracy of data and information – data quality – changing nature of work – appropriate information use – health and safety – copyright laws • the people affected by social and ethical issues, including: – participants within the information system – users of the information system – those in the environment • the ethical and social responsibility of developers • current government legislation to protect the individual and organisations • the use of information systems in fields such as manufacturing as well as the traditional fields of observation and recording • global information systems: – where the purpose involves international organisations, or – where the data and processes are distributed across national boundaries	• describe social and ethical issues that relate to: – information system users – participants • ensure that relevant social and ethical issues are addressed • identify and explain reasons for the expansion of information systems, including: – advances in technology – suitability of information technology for repetitive tasks