Module Identifier IL11020  
Module Title USING INFORMATION  
Academic Year 2000/2001  
Co-ordinator Mr David Stoker  
Semester Semester 2  
Other staff Dr Geraint Evans  
Course delivery Lecture   12 Hours 12 one hour lectures.  
  Seminars / Tutorials   5 Hours  
Assessment Exam   2 Hours Two hour written examination.   50%  
  Presentation   Oral presentation ORAL PRESENTATION (20% of course assessment) Working in pairs, or groups of three, students should imagine that they have been asked to investigate a developing country of their choice as a potential market for a new product. They should investigate the range of printed and electronic information sources that are available with respect to that country, taking into account their quality, accuracy, and reliability. They will then prepare an oral presentation outlining the potential problems and opportunities of moving in to this market (this should be accompanied by a handout of not more than 2 A4 pages).   20%  
  Report   Evaluation report The written assignment has two components: a. Each person should submit an individual written account of 1,000-1500 words indicating two of the information sources used for their oral presentation and evaluate them with respect to the criteria discussed in seminars (10 marks). b. Each person will be given a list of twenty unique questions to be answered from the sources listed in the Information Services booklet entitled Electronic Information Resources (20 marks).   30%  
Further details http://www.dil.aber.ac.uk/dils_new/Modules/Handbooks/Index.htm  

Brief description
This module investigates a wide range of formal and informal information sources and looks at their characteristics, value and use and some of the problems associated with them. Electronic and print-based sources are also compared and analysed.

Aims
The overall aim of this module is to introduce you to the area of textual information sources. Textual
information is published in a wide variety of formats, using both electronic and traditional printed
means of delivery. We need to be able to know how and where to find both formal and informal
sources of information, how to use them and how to exploit them. We also need to be aware of
their strengths and weaknesses, in order that we may evaluate, analyse and use them effectively.

By the end of this module you should be able to:

* Explain what is meant by the term 'information sources' and describe the various formats in
which information is published.
* Critically evaluate information sources based on the criteria discussed in lectures and
seminars.
* Discuss the relative strengths and weaknesses of both print-based and electronic information
sources.