Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
product of a service aligned with the professional or discipline field? Is a similar in-
formation scheme used for more ephemeral documents and communications?
Diffusion
Diffusion of information is the critical function whereby people make sense of in-
formation so that it can be utilized. Educational institutions and organizations have
many communication channels to utilize in their educational missions. Private en-
terprise, religions, and organizations of all types are engaged in teaching. Conse-
quently, the consumer has many choices in selecting educational opportunities in
the marketplace. Likewise, those individuals and organizations offering education-
al experiences have many options for providing the programs they wish to offer.
Bloggers can promote diffusion through their interpretation and discussion of is-
sues.
The proliferation of information available for instruction requires an information
specialist to help instructors use the Internet and other resources for teaching. This
information specialist can help the student to identify resources to help in the learn-
ing process and the completion of learning assignments.
In the evaluation of learning resources, the authority of the resources is a
first consideration (see the “Creation/Recording” and “Mass Production” sections
above). Is the university, private enterprise, church, government agency, or other
organization a reputable source for this information? If the author is an individual,
does that person have the appropriate education and experience to claim expertise
in the subject matter? Is the content appropriate in reading level and subject area
for the intended audience? Has the resource been reviewed favorably by a reliable
reviewing source? See Chapter 6 for a more complete discussion of diffusion.
Utilization
Consumers of information must be able to take information that has been dis-
seminated and diffused through libraries, schools, or other channels of commu-
nication and use that information in their lives. It is the role of information profes-
sionals to help people understand information, to give it meaning, and perhaps to
assist in interpretation so that people can use information in their personal or pro-
fessional lives.
Utilization can be measured by observing the information consumers or by in-
terviewing them. In a formal or research context, utilization of research can be
measured by the citations one receives from other researchers and scholars. Pop-
ular resources likewise can have their utilization documented by citations and ref-
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