The audacious vision of Information Schools › 2010conference › docs › InvitedSpeech4.pdf · |The defining characteristics of iSchools include: an interest in the relationship

The audacious vision of Information Schoolsof Information Schools

Harry BruceDean and ProfessorDean and Professor

The Information SchoolUniversity of Washington

Harry Bruce - Dean and Professor - UW Information School

University of Washington

Greetings


Greetings


UW iSchool librarians do gaga

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Harry Bruce - Dean and Professor - UW Information School546,000 views

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Invitation – please join us!


iConferences 2011

bFebruary 8‐11, 2011Seattle Washington USASeattle, Washington, USA

11 Workshopsp86 Papers16 Alternative Events2 Industry panels2 Industry panelsMore than 80 posterspDoctoral Colloquium (supported by the NSF)


Junior Faculty & Postdoc Colloquium

Annual iConferences

First iConference 2005 Pennsylvania State First iConference: 2005 Pennsylvania State University2006: University of Michigan2008: University of California, Los Angeles2008: University of California, Los Angeles2009: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

U i i f Illi i U b2010: University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign2011: University of Washington2012: University of Toronto2012: University of Toronto2013: Proposals submitted – announced Dec


Purpose of iConference 2005

Identity - iConference participants to identify h ib d li i f “i f i the attributes and qualities of “information

schools.” The focus was on essentials: to articulate the

fessence of:an “information school” and an information school and The “information field.”


Defining “Information School”

No clear statement of identity, core values, and distinctive qualities resulteddistinctive qualities resultedCautions raised:

Too narrow, we risk excluding voices, alienating important partners threatening future important partners, threatening future collaboration.Too broad, we risk becoming too abstract, meaninglessg


iSchool Caucus Grows

The iSchool Movement is now global (28 The iSchool Movement is now global (28 schools) including schools from 13 of the United S C d Ch D k G G States, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, and Singapore., , g p

Schools that focus on information education & research are considering research are considering affiliation with the movement as b h i id i a statement about their identity,

and the quality & impact of their


q y pwork.

iSchool Movement

Since iConference 2005Since iConference 2005…The iSchool Caucus has developed its web presence; iSchools.org & the annual iConference.Hired a half-time communications coordinatorHired a half-time communications coordinator

In spite of these successesA l d k d – A clear identity statement - marketing and

communicating the value and purpose of iSchools; remains of a key challenge


Outline

Identity and Value propositionIdentity and Value propositionPromoting the purpose and value of an Information School Information School

What is an iSchool?

What does an iSchool do?

Why is this important?Why is this important?

Diversity is our strength and challenge y

Leadership is our mission

An audacious vision for the iSchool movement


movement

The defining characteristics of iSchools include:The defining characteristics of iSchools include:

an interest in the relationship between information, technology, and people;

a commitment to learning and understanding the role of a commitment to learning and understanding the role of information in human endeavors;

a recognition that expertise in all forms of information is required for progress in science, business, education, and culture; and

a belief that this expertise must include understanding of a belief that this expertise must include understanding of the uses and users of information, as well as information technologies and their applications


technologies and their applications.

Information, People, Technology

Information

Transforming SocietPeople Technolog


Transforming SocietyPeople Technology

Identity, Value, Purposey, , p

The Interaction of Information, ,

Technology,Technology,

& PeoplePeople& PeoplePeople


Identity, Value, Purposey, , p

Human Engagements with Information

Harry Bruce - Dean and Professor - UW Information Schooland Technology

Identity, Value, PurposeIdentity, Value, Purpose

iSchools facilitate support and iSchools facilitate support and iSchools facilitate, support and iSchools facilitate, support and

Harry Bruce - Dean and Professor - UW Information Schoolenrich these engagementsenrich these engagements

Why is this important?

Effective human engagements with information and technologyinformation and technology

LearningProblem solvingInnovationInnovationDiscoveryDecision makingFunFun

We make information workHarry Bruce - Dean and Professor - UW Information School

e a e o at o o

How?

Th h d i Through academic programs preparing information specialists with a repertoire of professional interventions that impact each component of the information life cycle – creation to use

Through service i f i f i l d i tifi iti informing our professional and scientific communities leading and advocating for the information field

Through scholarship, creative work and researchresearch


How? People.

We study how people create need find give We study how people create, need, find, give, use, and share information.

We study the contexts in which people work, do projects and tasks and have fun do projects and tasks, and have fun.

We study the role that information plays for We study the role that information plays for people in these contexts.

We study the constraints that affect how people will use informationpeople will use information.

We study the preferences that people have


e stu y t e p e e e ces t at peop e ave for information types and services.

How? Information.

W t d th liti d tt ib t f We study the qualities and attributes of information so we can represent, organize and p gmanage artifacts, documents and content created by people to communicate ideas and created by people to communicate ideas and to be used by others.

We want to understand the value of information, potential uses and applications, how we can create collections and manage how we can create collections and manage them for future use.


How? Technology.

We study the technologies that people use to t t fi d d h create, store, find, use, manage and share

information.

We see technology as a tool to facilitate the use of information by people.

We evaluate, design, build, and augment these technologiesaugment these technologieswith a user perspective.


How?

Faculty Disciplinary Areas

How?

Faculty Disciplinary Areas.

Business/ managementC t S i

Information TechnologyLib S iComputer Science

EngineeringLibrary SciencePhilosophyg g

Health SciencesInformation Science

p yPolitical ScienceLaInformation Science

PsychologyLawAnthropologyy gy p gy


Information Schools study the content, usage, manipulation and management of information in manipulation and management of information in all its forms, including every type of document, d di d i d i f i data, medium, and every associated information service. They also design, create and validate y g ,methods, systems and applications for enabling the use of information to support understanding the use of information to support understanding, problem solving and decision making.

(working draft – Nov, 2010)


UW iSchool mission.

We design solutions to information challengesWe design, build, enhance, and evaluate technologies, systems, and services that help g y ppeople find and use the information they need to do their work, to make good decisions, and to do their work, to make good decisions, and to flourish professionally and personally.

W f We prepare information leaders and innovatorsea e s a ovato s


A Vision for the iSchools

Developing a vision and set of goals (framework) against which iSchool priorities future against which iSchool priorities, future investments and the relevance of initiatives being proposed can be evaluated.

This statement should articulate where we want This statement should articulate where we want the iSchool movement to be in the next ten years (and beyond).


Vision - Process

K (di d)Key statements (discussed):The iSchool Movement will have spread around the world. There will be a high quality highly visible and influential iSchool on There will be a high quality, highly visible and influential iSchool on every major campus. The identity and purpose of Information Schools will be widely The identity and purpose of Information Schools will be widely understood and valued. The information field will be recognized as a core academic discipline underpinning vital professions. Large and small companies will give preference to Information S h l d h i i l School graduates when recruiting personnel. Funding agencies will run programs specifically designed to support the research activity and academic programs of Information Schools the research activity and academic programs of Information Schools. Policy makers will turn to Information Schools for data and advice on how to improve or develop information services for the community.


p p y

iSchools Vision

The iSchool Caucus seeks to maximize the visibility and The iSchool Caucus seeks to maximize the visibility and influence of its member schools, and their interdisciplinary approaches to harnessing the power of information and approaches to harnessing the power of information and technology, and maximizing the potential of humans. We envision a future in which the iSchool Movement has spread envision a future in which the iSchool Movement has spread around the world, and the information field is widely

i d f ti i ti t d d i i recognized for creating innovative systems and designing information solutions that benefit individuals, organizations, and

i iS h l d ill fill h l d l d hi society. iSchool graduates will fill the personnel and leadership needs of organizations of all types and sizes; and our areas of

h d ll d h research and inquiry will attract strong support and have profound impacts on society and on the formulation of policy


from local to international levels.

iSchool Goals

1. Lead and promote the Information Field.

Member schools are committed to collective Member schools are committed to collective efforts that will shape the information field, communicate its purpose and value and communicate its purpose and value and enhance its visibility.


iSchool Goals

2. Create agile and more effective responses to strategic research and academic initiativesacademic initiatives.

Member schools work together to identify, target and influence agencies and institutions that will sponsor and promote iSchool work.


iSchool Goals

3 Provide support for 3. Provide support for, and solutions to shared challenges

Member schools provide one another with mutual one another with mutual support and a collective identity, helping identity, helping constituent schools to face local challenges and gto solve problems.


1. Lead and promote the Information Field:

a) Conducting studies that demonstrate the value of iSchools

b) Facilitating the development of new iSchools and recruiting new schools into the iSchool movement

c) Hosting an annual iConference

) E h i d l i h iS h l b d) Enhancing and leveraging the iSchool.org web presence

e) Media outreach and advertising) g

f) Enhancing the doctoral experience in iSchools

g) Strategic communications with institutional leadership, policy makers, funding agencies and professional associations


SummaryyiSchool movement success and iSchool movement success and progressp g

Affiliation with iSchools is a positive affirmation of the quality and impact of the affirmation of the quality and impact of the creative work, scholarship, research and academic programs of member schoolsacademic programs of member schools

iSchools should…Maintain high expectations for member schoolsEncourage, and support schools that seek affiliation with the iSchool movement


Our mission is leadership

Information leadershipU i i h d d i i h ll d University research and education is challenged to confront the big issues facing our world –energy, the environment, global health, mass urbanization, etc. These issues are

InterdisciplinaryData centricData centricGlobalM l i lifMulti-lifespan


Conclusion

Identity, Value, PurposeThe value proposition of iSchools:

InterdisciplinarityInterdisciplinarityDiversityCollaborations and partnershipsExcellence and DistinctionExcellence and DistinctionLeadership


Thank you

Q ti d tQuestions and comments


Documents

The audacious vision of Information Schools › 2010conference › docs › InvitedSpeech4.pdf · |The defining characteristics of iSchools include: an interest in the relationship