Final Exam Preparations

read this Special report: The World Economy from The Economist to prepare yourselves

  1. The world economy: Wealth without workers, workers without wealth: The digital revolution is bringing sweeping change to labour markets in both rich and poor worlds.
  2. The third great wave: The first two industrial revolutions inflicted plenty of pain but ultimately benefited everyone. The digital one may prove far more divisive.
  3. Productivity: Technology isn't working: The digital revolution has yet to fulfil its promise of higher productivity and better jobs.
  4. The privileged few: To those that have shall be given: Labour is steadily losing out to capital
  5. Housing: Home economics: Sky-high house prices in the most desirable cities are holding back growth and jobs.
  6. Emerging economies: Arrested development: The model of development through industrialisation is on its way out.
  7. New opportunities: Silver lining: How the digital revolution can help some of the workers it displaces.
  8. Easing the transition: Means and ends: How governments can deal with the labour imbalance.

[you can also read these via UNC Libraries' e-journals]

For the final exam, come to class on Tuesday, 08 Dec 2015, with a product that answers three questions:

Using the above readings as a source document, answer these questions

  1. what is the number one thing you should know about the foundations of information science and why it applies to something in these readings
  2. add in what is the second thing you should know about the foundations of information science and why again it applies to something in these readings
  3. add in the third thing you should know about the foundations of information science and why again it applies to something in these readings

You might want to review the semester's readings to prepare for this final challenge

You may use any format you wish (a standard paper, a powerpoint presentation, a prezi presentation, a movie, anything). The key, however, is that the "why" of your product should show me that you understand what we talked about in INLS201 by using examples we used and terminology that is used in the field.

I will be looking at your responses to see if you can back up what you say with examples from what we covered, but the "why" of why a topic is important goes beyond what we had in class and should reflect your thoughtful consideration of the topic and of your worlds.

A good performance will include the following components

  1. an overview that lays out the three big things that will be discussed
  2. three sections, each on one of the big things, with examples
  3. a wrap-up that restates in a short sentence why the three big things are the three you selected
We will not review them during the final exam session, but I need to be assured that I have what you intended for me to have before I release you from the exam session.

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