Information has value

In class we discussed: How Information Has Value can be used “as a commodity, as a means of education, as a means to influence, and as a means of negotiating and understanding the world. Legal and socioeconomic interests influence information production and dissemination.”

Information can act as a commodity, and as such, creators of information can use their work for financial or even reputational gains. These motivations may determine how information sources are shared whether given freely, offered for sale, or leased for temporary access. Information users have responsibilities as both consumers and creators of information based on the work of others. Academic and legal practices such as proper attribution of sources and complying with copyright are a result.

Experts recognize that their online activity and information they contribute to online sites can be used for economic gain by the sites themselves. Such uses may include personal information harvested from social media sites or advertisements placed on “free” web tools or apps.

We also discussed copyrighting and copy right infringement, open source and creative commons in class. I will now briefly discuss the meaning of these terms.

Copyrighting: This is the exclusive and assignable legal right, given to the originator for a fixed number of years, to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material. We also said in class that copyrights last for 70 years.

Copyright infringement is the use of works protected by copyright law without permission, infringing certain exclusive rights granted to the copyright holder, such as the right to reproduce, distribute, display or perform the protected work, or to make derivative works.

Open Source: This has to do with denoting software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified.

Creative commons: Creative Commons is a nonprofit organisation that enables the sharing and use of creativity and knowledge through free legal tools. It is an easy-to-use copyright license, and it provides a simple, standardized way to give the public permission to share and use your creative work.

Information Has Value

Information Has Value by Audrey Fenner

Information Has Value Video

Of all the frames in Information Literacy Revision, “Information Has Value” is my utmost favourite. The reason why I like it so much is because it focusses on the value that information has. Value of information can so easily be lost due to unethical use of it. Users of information sometimes use other people’s creative ideas, thoughts and make it their own. This frame acknowledges that the author of specific information needs to be respected. Experts understand that this value designates information as intellectual property. 

When I was much in primary school, I never knew I should give credit when credit is due, especially when I was doing assignments. I just copied the information making it my own. It is only on a secondary school and Tertiary School level when I realised the importance of citing. In other words, giving credit to authors of the information I am using. I am just grateful for this frame for it gave me a fresh revelation on how to view and respect other people's work. I also realised that they did not just create the information, much effort and time went into it. So it is only ethical to acknowledge them when you make use of their resources.

Stellenbosch University a 'mini-apartheid island' - Sasco

Cape Town - Stellenbosch University is a “mini-apartheid island” in urgent need of change, South African Students' Congress (Sasco), national executive committee member Luntu Sokutu said on Friday.

He was speaking outside one of the university's administration buildings after Sasco led a group of students through the streets, in protest against the apparent lack of transformation at the institution and its language policy.

"There is an urgent need for radical transformation at SU," he said "There is an Oranje there to accommodate all those Afrikaner racists who refuse to accept their defeat of 1994."

The institution does not reflect the demographics of the country and excludes non-Afrikaans speakers, Sokutu said. 

"Why do we celebrate June 16 when there are still students who are forced to learn in Afrikaans in SA? Are we not spitting on the graves of those youths who gave their lives to ensure that Afrikaans is not forced as a medium of instruction in institutions?" he asked.

"We want to make it clear that we don’t want a negotiated settlement to transformation at SU. We are not applying for transformation. It is a demand - one we must fight for."

In Sasco's memorandum, handed to university management, it demanded that transformation be speeded up and prioritised at the institution.

Rector and Vice Chancellor Wim de Villiers accepted the memorandum, saying the university was committed to this.

"The language policy is being revised and we have a task group looking at it. The findings will be presented to council at its next meeting scheduled for September 28," he said.

De Villiers admitted one of the biggest challenges facing the institution was the lack of diversity among its lecturing personnel.

Rector and Vice Chancellor Wim de Villiers accepted the memorandum, saying the university was committed to this.

"The language policy is being revised and we have a task group looking at it. The findings will be presented to council at its next meeting scheduled for September 28," he said.

De Villiers admitted one of the biggest challenges facing the institution was the lack of diversity among its lecturing personnel.