Before students can make intelligent decisions about the types of information sources they use, they need to understand certain concepts about the nature of information and the technologies and histories associated with these information sources. Learning about the origin of the printed word and its profound impact on Western culture over the past 500 years is essential to understanding the meaning and implications of new information technologies. The future of the book will also be discussed because reflecting upon the book's future is reflecting upon the future of our society and culture. The provocative discussions and assignments in this course will produce well-informed, highly articulate, and sophisticated users of information. As we leave behind the industrial age and enter the 21st century's electronic age, no other area of learning is more important.
Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner.
Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at Penn State, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University's Code of Conduct states that all students should act with personal integrity, respect other students' dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts. Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others. This page was last modified January 26, 2001.