Information possesses several dimensions of value, including 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.
The value of information is manifested in various contexts, including publishing practices, access to information, the commodification of personal information, and intellectual property laws.
Novice:
- The novice learner may struggle to understand the diverse values of information in an environment where “free” information and related services are plentiful and the concept of intellectual property is first encountered through rules of citation or warnings about plagiarism and copyright law.
Experts:
- As creators and users of information, experts understand their rights and responsibilities when participating in a community of scholarship.
- Understand that value may be wielded by powerful interests in ways that marginalize certain voices. However, value may also be leveraged by individuals and organizations to effect change and for civic, economic, social, or personal gains.
- Understand that the individual is responsible for making deliberate and informed choices about when to comply with and when to contest current legal and socioeconomic practices concerning the value of information. However, value may also be leveraged by individuals and organizations to effect change and for civic, economic, social, or personal gains.
- Experts also understand that the individual is responsible for making deliberate and informed choices about when to comply with and when to contest current legal and socioeconomic practices concerning the value of information.
