MIDS 301. Introduction to Information: A Systems and Design Approach. 3 Units.

This course is an introduction to the concept of information and the uses of information in organizations and social life. The course is for anyone who is interested in the evolution of digital culture and the influence of design, systems, and management in contemporary life. This will involve readings from a variety of disciplines, including mathematics, the social sciences, management and the humanities. We live in an "information ecology": a system of human activities served by a variety of technologies that are often grounded in local environments and with deep ethical implications. The goal of our course is to understand this system and how information has become a medium of human experience in our lives. There will be useful readings, but also exercises and projects that enable students to test and develop their understanding.