[Publib] Community Informatics Courses

[Marianne Steadley]

Apologies for duplicate postings. 

Community informatics (CI) is dedicated to enabling communities through information and communication technologies. Classes in community informatics may be of value to individuals interested in understanding and creating working relationships between communities and their technologies, working collaboratively with community members to address their information needs, promoting the needs of underserved groups in society, and contributing to their communities. 

This fall the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is pleased to offer two CI courses open to non-degree/community credit students. 

LIS 490CE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (course may be taken online, on site in Chicago or on campus in Urbana-Champaign) 

Community engagement refers to the multiple ways that information professionals in libraries and other settings learn about, collaborate with, and provide service and outreach to community members. Typical activities include performing community needs assessments, involving local residents in museum decision-making, offering computer training for seniors at local community centers, partnering with schools on literacy programs, bookmobiles, teen reading clubs, citizen science, using library facilities for local issue forums and art exhibits, homework help programs, and collecting and archiving local history data. This course provides an introduction to, and overview of, community engagement theory and practice. A significant portion of coursework will take the form of service learning or community-based research via approved projects that match students' interests. Course participants will have the opportunity to join ongoing community engagement projects that are led by GSLI!
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faculty and community partners. 

LIS 590COL COMMUNITY INFORMATICS CONCEPTS (online) 

A survey of key concepts in an emerging field that studies how local, historical communities are using information and communications technologies. Covers key principles for work in the non-profit/public sector as people harness new technologies and media as individuals, students, families, community organizations, and so on. Overarching ideas prepare both professionals and researchers to understand and master this environment, whatever their technology background. Especially useful for those interested in public or community libraries, youth services, social work, education, and anyone interested in working with or studying underserved communities. 

If you would like to register for a CI course, please see this page 
http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/cpd/Community_Credit/ for registration information. Formal admission to the University is not necessary, but a bachelor's degree is required. 
Marianne Steadley
Continuing Professional Development Program Director
501 E. Daniel St. Champaign IL 61820
217/244-2751
Fax: 217/244-3302