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Xinformatics 2024

Instructor: Thilanka Munasinghe - munast at rpi dot edu

Course: Xinformatics: ERTH/CSCI/ITWS 4400/ 6600 CRNs: 78323, 78324, 78321, 78322, 78303, 78304

Meeting times: Wednesday 9:00 pm ET - 11:50 am ET

In-Person Class Room Location: PITTS 4114

Location: Virtual - WebEx for Remote (Online) Participation. WebEx login information available on Learning Management System (LMS)

Instructor Office Hours: Tuesdays/Fridays 12:30 pm ET - 1:30 pm ET

Instructor Office Location: Room 315 Lally Building

TA: Muhammad Haris Saleem - saleem at rpi dot edu

TA Office Hours: Mondays from 11 am ET - 1 pm ET

TA Office Location: Lally 205

Description

In the last decade, Informatics has attained greater visibility across a broad range of disciplines, especially in light of great successes in bio- and biomedical-informatics and significant challenges in the dramatic increase of data and information resources. Xinformatics is intended to provide both the common informatics knowledge as well as how it is implemented in specific disciplines, e.g. X=astro, geo, chem, urban, econ, etc. Informatics' theoretical basis arises from information science, cognitive science, social science, library science as well as computer science. As such, it aggregates these studies and adds both the practice of information processing, and the engineering of information systems. This course will introduce informatics, each of its components and ground the material that students will learn in discipline areas by coursework and project assignments.

Recommended Textbook: Thinking in Systems A Primer by Donella H. Meadows

Syllabus/ Calendar (tentative)

Refer to the Reading/ Assignment/ Reference list for each week (see below).

  • Week 1 (Jan. 10): Introduction to informatics
  • Week 2 (Jan. 17): Capturing the problem: Use case development and requirement analysis
  • Week 3 (Jan. 24): Information systems theory
  • Week 4 (Jan. 11): Foundations; semiotics, library, cognitive and social science
  • Week 5 (Feb. 07): information Integration, Life-cycle, and Visualization
  • Week 6 (Feb. 14): Information modeling (+class exercise), Information architecture: theory and practice/ design (Internet, Web, Grid, Cloud)
  • Week 7 (Feb.21): No Classes: Follow a Monday schedule
  • Week 8 (Feb.27): Class presentations for assignment 3 and Project definitions
  • Week 9 (Mar.06): No Classes: Spring Break
  • Week 10 (Mar. 13): Remaining class presentations for assignment 3 and Project team, begin project definitions
  • Week 11 (Mar. 20): Unstructured Information, Information Audit, and Integrity, Workflows
  • Week 12 (Mar. 27): Guest Lecture on Semantic Web, Information Audit and Integrity, Workflows, and Project Check-in
  • Week 13 (Apr. 03): Semantics of Information Quality and Bias, Information Retrieval and Project Check-in
  • Week 14 (Apr. 10): Global Change Information System and Project Check-in
  • Week 15 (Apr. 17): Course Summary and Project Teamwork (One-on-One with the instructor and TA)
  • Week 15 (TBA): Final project presentations. Final project due (written).

Reading/ Assignment/ Reference List

Class 1 Reading Assignment: Xinformatics Applications

Class 2: Reading Assignment: Use case development and requirement analysis

Required:

Assignment 1: Available on LMS

Class 3: Reading Assignment: Information theory

Class 4: Reading Assignment: Foundations, semiotics, ...

Assignment 2: Available on LMS

Class 5: Reading Assignment:

Information Integration

Information Life Cycle

Information Visualization

Information model development and visualization

Outside the current box

Assignment 3: Available on LMS

Class 6: Reading Assignment:

Assignment 4 : Available on LMS

Class 7: Reading Assignment:

Final Assignment Project : Available on LMS Class 8: Reading Assignment:

 

Class 9: Reading Assignment:

"Unstructured"

Class 10: Reading Assignment:

Information Discovery

Retrieval

"Knowledge Representation"

Class 11: Reading Assignment:

  • None

Class 12: Reading Assignment:

  • None

Class 13: Reading Assignment:

  • N/A

Topics for Xinformatics/ Foundations:

  • Introduction to informatics
  • State-of-the-Art examples;
  • Capturing the problem: Use case development and requirement analysis
  • Information theory, models, tools
  • Foundations; semiotics, library, cognitive and social science
  • Information life-cycle
  • Information architectures (Internet, Web, Grid, Cloud)
  • Information Visualization,
  • Information Audit and Workflow Management
  • Information Discovery, Information Integration

Informatics Applications:

  • Geoinformatics
  • Astroinformatics
  • Cheminformatics
  • Bioinformatics
  • Helioinformatics
  • Health informatics
  • Ecoinformatics

Xinformatics Project options (examples):

  • Information Management for collaborative websites
  • Information Modeling for Health Sciences: Patient Records
  • Information Management for Disasters: Earthquakes/Flooding/Landslides
  • Information Management for Early Warning Systems: Dengue/Malaria Mosquito Early Warning System
  • Information Architecture Analysis Case Study: GEOSS
  • Information Content, Content and Structure Analysis: Library Information Systems
  • Digital Twins

Suggested Prerequisites

Knowledge such as that gained in a Database class (e.g., CSCI-4380) Knowledge such as that gained in a Data Structures class (e.g., CSCI-1200) Knowledge such as that gained in a Data Science class (e.g. ITEC/CSCI/ERTH 4350/6350) or permission of the instructor

Attendance Policy

Enrolled students may miss at most one class without the permission of the instructor. Attendance partially counts toward the participation grade for this course.

 

Description: This course will introduce informatics, each of its components, and ground the material that students will learn in discipline areas by coursework and project assignments. In the last 2-3 years, Informatics has attained greater visibility across a broad range of disciplines, especially in light of great successes in bio- and biomedical-informatics and significant challenges in the explosion of data and information resources. Xinformatics is intended to provide both the common informatics knowledge as well as how it is implemented in specific disciplines, e.g. X=astro, geo, chem, etc. Informatics' theoretical basis arises from information science, cognitive science, social science, library science as well as computer science. As such, it aggregates these studies and adds both the practice of information processing and the engineering of information systems.

Goal: To instruct future information architects how to sustainably generate information models, designs, and architectures To instruct future technologists how to understand and support essential data and information needs of a wide variety of producers and consumers For both to know tools, and requirements to properly handle data and information Will learn and be evaluated on the underpinnings of informatics, including theoretical methods, technologies, and best practices.

Learning Objective: Through class lectures, practical sessions, written and oral presentation assignments and projects, students should: Develop and demonstrate skill in Development and Management of multi-skilled teams in the application of Informatics Develop Conceptual and Information Models and explain them to non-experts Demonstrate the application information theory and design principles to information systems Demonstrate knowledge and application of Informatics Standards Develop and demonstrate skill in Informatics Tool Use and Evaluation Assessment Criteria: Via written assignments with specific percentage of grade allocation provided with each assignment Via oral presentations with specific percentage of grade allocation provided Via group projects and presentations Via participation in class (not to exceed 10% of total) Graduate students are assessed on identified components per assignment. Undergraduates may complete graduate components for extra credit Late submission policy: first time with valid reason – no penalty, otherwise 20% of score deducted each late day.

Academic Integrity: Student-teacher relationships are built on trust. For example, students must trust that teachers have made appropriate decisions about the structure and content of the courses they teach, and teachers must trust that the assignments that students turn in are their own. Acts, which violate this trust, undermine the educational process. The Rensselaer Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities defines various forms of Academic Dishonesty and you should make yourself familiar with these. In this class, all assignments that are turned in for a grade must represent the student’s own work. In cases where help was received, or teamwork was allowed, a notation on the assignment should indicate your collaboration. Submission of any assignment that is in violation of this policy will result in a penalty. If found in violation of the academic dishonesty policy, students may be subject to two types of penalties. The instructor administers an academic (grade) penalty, and the student may also enter the Institute judicial process and be subject to such additional sanctions as: warning, probation, suspension, expulsion, and alternative actions as defined in the current Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities. First violation for a specific assignment will result in a zero grade. Second violation will result in failure of the course. If you have any question concerning this policy before submitting an assignment, please ask for clarification.

COVID-19 code of conduct : This code will apply to any class that meets fully or partially in an on-campus physical classroom for in-person instruction. Violations: Refusal to comply with the COVID-19 code of conduct will be treated just as any classroom disruption, which will receive a request for immediate compliance, failing which the student will be asked to leave the classroom. Any further noncompliance will result in the dismissal of the entire class. All Covid-19 related violations will be reported by the instructor to the Compliance Officer at Lally School, and the Dean of Students. A student found to be in violation of the code, or required repeated reminders for compliance, will be asked to participate in all classes remotely. This is to protect their health and safety as well as the health and safety of their classmates, instructor, and the university community. Masks: All students must wear a mask in classrooms and all public places including anywhere inside the building. Masks will be provided to the student by the Institute. Traffic Flow and Social Distancing: Students and faculty will respect the need for social distancing. They are required to follow the traffic flow arrows posted in all rooms and buildings, including bathrooms and common areas. In-Class Seating: Students should sit in the appropriate designated seating in the classroom. Students are not allowed to move furniture or sit in seats not designated by the Institute. Cleaning of Spaces: Students are encouraged to clean the surfaces of the chairs/tables/desks they occupy before they sit down and as they prepare to leave. Cleaning and sanitizing solutions will be provided in the classroom. Students who are ill, under quarantine for COVID-19, or suspect they are ill should not come to class. All faculty will make every reasonable effort to accommodate the student’s absence and will communicate that accommodation directly to the student. Students who need to report an illness should contact the Student Health Center via email or call 518-276-6287. For students seen off campus, a student may request an excused absence via www.bit.ly/rpiabsence with an uploaded doctor’s note that excuses them.


Course: Xinformatics

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