LIS 2188 OPEN GOVERNMENT DATA AND INFORMATION: CONCEPTS, STANDARDS, AND IMPACT

This course introduces participants to "open data," a term that is assigned to data that are free to access and use, that are available in machine-readable formats, that can be reused for any purpose, and that can be modified and shared by others. Globally, we see conversations about open data in research, with growing expectations and requirements to share research data, and in government, with policies and initiatives to expand public access to datasets. This course will focus on this second category of open data: data produced and shared by government and civic organizations. This course will overview the historical precedents to the open data movement, survey current policies at different levels of government, and examine key concepts in the open data movement. While we will focus on drivers and initiatives in the United States, we will look at case studies that will provide us with a broader understanding of what is happening worldwide. The focus of this course will be the core information skills and principles that underpin the success of open data initiatives and the mechanisms and standards in which governments at all levels in the United States are employing to publish data.

Academic Career: Graduate
Course Component: Lecture
Grade Component: Grad LG/SNC Basis
Minimum Credits: 3
Maximum Credits: 3