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We all know that Amazon (and many other online stores) can often predict what we may be interested in. Amazon (or at least it’s recommendation engine) sifts through the huge amount of information we give it to determine what it is we like or have, and what other people like and have, and consequently what we may like to have. It seems to learn from our interactions with it.
We all know that Amazon (and many other online stores) can often predict what we may be interested in. Amazon (or at least it’s recommendation engine) sifts through the huge amount of information we give it to determine what it is we like or have, and what other people like and have, and consequently what we may like to have. It seems to learn from our interactions with it.3
And by ‘learns’, we really mean that it gathers heaps of data about what people look at, what they say they like, what they buy. It ‘watches’ and analyzes and puts it all together in huge spreadsheet like tables, which are actually, big databases. And then it matches information, performs correlations and other esoteric statistical analyses, some of which are probably patented and secret, so we don’t really know. It’s really only as smart as the programmers, who must be pretty smart to have come up with this. But it doesn’t actually ‘watch’ or ‘learn’, it just records information. It could feel like being watched just like the closed circuit TV cameras popping up all over the city, but that’s another story.
And by ‘learns’, we really mean that it gathers heaps of data about what people look at, what they say they like, what they buy. It ‘watches’ and analyzes and puts it all together in huge spreadsheet like tables, which are actually, big databases. And then it matches information, performs correlations and other esoteric statistical analyses, some of which are probably patented and secret, so we don’t really know. It’s really only as smart as the programmers, who must be pretty smart to have come up with this. But it doesn’t actually ‘watch’ or ‘learn’, it just records information. It could feel like being watched just like the closed circuit TV cameras popping up all over the city, but that’s another story.4
This is data modelling, which sounds really dry, but is actually the process by which we make many predictions, both for our customers and clients and for our whole business enterprise. But first we usually start from what we know. Take for instance, this course. Some of the things we know are:
This is data modelling, which sounds really dry, but is actually the process by which we make many predictions, both for our customers and clients and for our whole business enterprise. But first we usually start from what we know. Take for instance, this course. Some of the things we know are:5
- Informatics is first year
- Informatics is about computers
- Informatics is about people
- Informatics is about people using computers
- Informatics is useful
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Once we establish what we know (the ontological question, we ca then begin to think about how we know (the epistemological question). So, how do you know? Well, again, using this course as an example, you know through:
Once we establish what we know (the ontological question, we ca then begin to think about how we know (the epistemological question). So, how do you know? Well, again, using this course as an example, you know through:8
- Experience
- Reading
- Writing
- Assessment
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Chatting with your friends [but not in class]
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So, the processes you use to get to know something are generally interactive. They are interactions with books, experts, activities and other people. All learning (and evaluating knowledge, both business and personal) occurs through the interaction of many ideas and concepts. In a course such as this, how do we know you know? How do we know that the lessons we develop have taken root and allow for many ideas to blossom, allowing you to achieve whatever personal goals you have? The obvious answer is assessment. Any knowledge you develop (or we hope you develop) will be assessed through various means during the course. The same applies to ‘business intelligence’, ‘business knowledge’ or ‘business analysis’. The information must be assessed by some measure. The measurement is usually some form of criteria developed prior to any activity, to ensure that the business (or the individual) is not flopping around and not achieving anything.
So, the processes you use to get to know something are generally interactive. They are interactions with books, experts, activities and other people. All learning (and evaluating knowledge, both business and personal) occurs through the interaction of many ideas and concepts. In a course such as this, how do we know you know? How do we know that the lessons we develop have taken root and allow for many ideas to blossom, allowing you to achieve whatever personal goals you have? The obvious answer is assessment. Any knowledge you develop (or we hope you develop) will be assessed through various means during the course. The same applies to ‘business intelligence’, ‘business knowledge’ or ‘business analysis’. The information must be assessed by some measure. The measurement is usually some form of criteria developed prior to any activity, to ensure that the business (or the individual) is not flopping around and not achieving anything.10
In the GBS, we use a set of Rubrics to check that all students attending our courses achieve the goals and objectives of the program. But, what is a rubric? Well, Dictionary.com defines a rubric as:
In the GBS, we use a set of Rubrics to check that all students attending our courses achieve the goals and objectives of the program. But, what is a rubric? Well, Dictionary.com defines a rubric as:11
- a title, heading, direction, or the like, in a manuscript, book, statute, etc., written or printed in red or otherwise distinguished from the rest of the text.
- a direction for the conduct of divine service or the administration of the sacraments, inserted in liturgical books.
- any established mode of conduct or procedure; protocol.
- an explanatory comment; gloss.
- a class or category
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The third definition helps us to understand this evaluation as any established mode of conduct or procedure; protocol. Thus we have protocols (that are outlined in your assessment document) that allow us to measure your achievement. If we remember what was said in Week 4 about givens, objectives and goals, we can use these (and have been in our discussion so far) to evaluate your achievement and, thereby, define our rubrics. The goal that helps define the shape of this course is:
The third definition helps us to understand this evaluation as any established mode of conduct or procedure; protocol. Thus we have protocols (that are outlined in your assessment document) that allow us to measure your achievement. If we remember what was said in Week 4 about givens, objectives and goals, we can use these (and have been in our discussion so far) to evaluate your achievement and, thereby, define our rubrics. The goal that helps define the shape of this course is:15
Demonstrate the use of information technologies and business decision support tools for addressing business issues
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Much of what we do in this course is addressing that objective. All our teaching and learning activities contribute to our Assurance of Learning for graduates. Essentially, we need to teach what we assess,
then we need to assess what we teach. But, first, we need to define what we want to evaluate! This is a foundation step for decision making, both personally and professionally. The prezi has an example of a rubric for the program level. Check your assessment document to see rubrics for the assignment level. One of the creiteria in the program level rubric is: Information organisation and sharing. We all engage in these activities but those of us in Business must develop specific skills to ensure business objectives are met. We can do this through the use of various tools, such as
Much of what we do in this course is addressing that objective. All our teaching and learning activities contribute to our Assurance of Learning for graduates. Essentially, we need to teach what we assess,then we need to assess what we teach. But, first, we need to define what we want to evaluate! This is a foundation step for decision making, both personally and professionally. The prezi has an example of a rubric for the program level. Check your assessment document to see rubrics for the assignment level. One of the creiteria in the program level rubric is: Information organisation and sharing. We all engage in these activities but those of us in Business must develop specific skills to ensure business objectives are met. We can do this through the use of various tools, such as
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Storing and Organising Information is an important activity for you (and for me). Your assessment has been designed around this activity through the use of spreadsheets which are essentially flat databases (if you want to know more about database and information system development, there are second year courses that you may take). Spreadsheets are arrays of values that are laid out in a grid on a computer screen. They are conceptualised as rows and columns of values and can store and manipulate the data dynamically in various ways. The most important aspect of spreadsheets is that if a change is made in one part of the spreadsheet, the entire array can be recalculated automatically. They are very flexible and have numerous applications in informatics.
Storing and Organising Information is an important activity for you (and for me). Your assessment has been designed around this activity through the use of spreadsheets which are essentially flat databases (if you want to know more about database and information system development, there are second year courses that you may take). Spreadsheets are arrays of values that are laid out in a grid on a computer screen. They are conceptualised as rows and columns of values and can store and manipulate the data dynamically in various ways. The most important aspect of spreadsheets is that if a change is made in one part of the spreadsheet, the entire array can be recalculated automatically. They are very flexible and have numerous applications in informatics.20
- Collects data and information about individuals
- Stores this in a database
- Recommends activities (based on pre-tests, just like Amazon)
- Allows us to assess a learning outcome (Able to use technology)
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Similarly, the university has an information system (actually it has quite a few different information systems), but the one you are probably most familiar with is the enrolment system. This system stores records of student enrolments. It’s connected to the room-booking system which stores records of classroom use. The enrolment system is also connected to the library information system which stores records of library items and who has them.
Similarly, the university has an information system (actually it has quite a few different information systems), but the one you are probably most familiar with is the enrolment system. This system stores records of student enrolments. It’s connected to the room-booking system which stores records of classroom use. The enrolment system is also connected to the library information system which stores records of library items and who has them.22
Of course, we have all now used a wiki for editing for the web site annotation and the research annotation, although we have only just scratched the surface of how these less structured tools can be used. Most information in a wiki is very unstructured, almost the complete opposite of spreadsheets, databases and information systems.
Of course, we have all now used a wiki for editing for the web site annotation and the research annotation, although we have only just scratched the surface of how these less structured tools can be used. Most information in a wiki is very unstructured, almost the complete opposite of spreadsheets, databases and information systems.23
While most of your use of these systems is specifically for learning activities (which sometimes don’t seem to relate to business), all business, Amazon included, use most of them and more organisations everyday are moving towards wiki-type environments to store their unstructured information.
While most of your use of these systems is specifically for learning activities (which sometimes don’t seem to relate to business), all business, Amazon included, use most of them and more organisations everyday are moving towards wiki-type environments to store their unstructured information.24
With so much information seemingly hyperconnected and available, are there any downsides? This video from Robin Sloan and Co. hints at some potential problems.
With so much information seemingly hyperconnected and available, are there any downsides? This video from Robin Sloan and Co. hints at some potential problems.