Notes on Information Literacy and Media Concepts

Definition: Information literacy is the ability to recognize when information is needed and to effectively locate, evaluate, and use that information.
Seven stages of becoming information literate:
- $1$ . Recognizing the need for information
- $2$ . Determining different sources of information
- $3$ . Locating or researching the information
- $4$ . Analyzing and evaluating the quality of the information
- $5$ . Organizing and storing the information
- $6$ . Using the information in an ethical and effective way
- $7$ . Creating and communicating new knowledge

Focus: responsible and ethical use of information, particularly regarding intellectual property.
Plagiarism: Using someone else’s work as your own without giving proper credit.
Copyright Law: Covers all original tangible works; grants exclusive rights to the creator but does not cover ideas or facts within those works.
Fair Use Policy: Allows use of copyrighted work within specific rules for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and education.
Common Knowledge: Information that is generally known and does not need to be cited.
Paraphrasing: Rephrasing ideas from a source into your own words while still giving proper credit.

This lesson traces the development of media through four historical ages, showing humanity’s ongoing effort to transfer information more efficiently.
1) Pre-industrial Age (Pre-1700s) / Prehistoric Age
- Media examples: cave paintings, papyrus, clay tablets
- Goal: convey information using writing and drawing on available materials
2) Industrial Age (1700s-1930s)
- Key inventions: printing press (mass production of books, newspapers, printed materials), typewriter, motion pictures
- Effect: mass dissemination of information
3) Electronic Age (1930s-1980s)
- Invention: transistor
- Impact: electronic devices more efficient than analog; mass media in real time to many recipients from a single source
- Early electronic devices: transistor radio and television
4) Information Age (1900s-2000s)
- Characterized by the massive influence of the internet
- Provides on-demand, real-time access to a variety of information
- Notable trend: widespread use of social media websites and applications

The main goal of any society: to be democratic and benevolent toward its members
The fast-paced, real-time transfer of information through digital media shapes how society functions as a connected collective
Role and Influence of Media
- Mass Communication: Media, especially new media, is used by news and entertainment organizations to reach consumers
- Social Media: Highly influential form of new media used by businesses, government offices, and influential people to reach customers, constituents, and followers
- Spreading Information: Digital media enables on-demand, real-time communication across geographies
- Spreading Misinformation: New media can spread false information; audiences may be influenced without verifying truthfulness
- Empowerment: Digital media can empower marginalized groups (e.g., gender equality, rights of people with disabilities, recognition of indigenous groups)
E-Governance and Its Contributions
- Enhanced Services: E-government enhances state services by giving communities access to information and services from government offices
- Common Examples: Making government documents available, enabling real-time communication with public officials, enabling public participation in surveys and crowd-sourcing for decision-making

IoT Definition: A system of interconnected everyday objects linked into a network to send and receive data, which can be processed into useful information
IoT Devices: Range from personal gadgets like smartphones to household items like smart appliances
Key Concepts:
- $1$ . Cyber Security: Techniques and protocols to protect a network from malicious attacks
- $2$ . E-Governance: The use of technology by the government to deliver services to the community more efficiently
- $3$ . Smart Home: A concept where home appliances are connected and controlled over a single network
- $4$ . Wireless Network Connection: A technology that allows devices to connect and communicate without a physical cable

The term "media" is the plural form of "medium" and refers to the communication channels through which information is delivered from one person to another
There are five main types:
- $5$ . Print Media: Physical copies produced through printing presses; examples include newspapers, newsletters, and books
- $6$ . Broadcast Media: Transmits messages "over the air" and does not rely on physical copies; examples include radio and television
- $7$ . Film or Cinema: Combines moving pictures with sound to tell stories
- $8$ . Video Games and Digital Media: Computer-generated games played on consoles, computers, or mobile devices
- $9$ . New Media: Typically digital and internet-based with two-way communication and interactivity; examples include social media, blogs, and streaming services

Definition: The interconnection and meshing of different, distinct communication channels, networks, and technologies
The 3 C’s: content, communication, and computing
Types of Convergence:
- $1$ . Technological Convergence: When one type of media crosses over into another thanks to technology (e.g., TV episodes available to watch on a smartphone)
- $2$ . Organic Convergence: Consumers stack media by using multiple types at once (e.g., watching TV while on a social media app)
- $3$ . Global Convergence: Distant cultures influence each other through media (e.g., popularity of Japanese anime abroad)
- $4$ . Cultural Convergence: Different cultures intersect and influence each other’s practices and beliefs (a trend started in one country adopted elsewhere)
- $5$ . Economic Convergence: A single company gains control of multiple media outlets (e.g., owning TV channels, radio stations, and online news sites) to reach a wider audience and increase profits