An information system (IS) is a combination of:
Hardware
Software
Data
People
Processes
Together, these components collect, store, process, and distribute information so organizations can function, make decisions, and improve performance.
You use Information systems every day!
Can you think of an Information System you use regularly?
(credit: modification of work from Introduction to Computer Science. attribution: Copyright Rice University, OpenStax, under CC BY 4.0 license)
Physical devices you can touch
Examples: laptops, PCs, printers, phones, routers
We will dive deeper into hardware in Unit 1!
The instructions telling the hardware what to do
Two major categories:
Operating systems (also called system software like Windows, macOS, iOS, Android)
Applications (Word, Excel, messaging apps)
We will dive deeper into software in Unit 2!
Raw facts (e.g., addresses, clicks, transactions)
Data becomes useful when organized, processed, or stored appropriately (often in databases or similar systems).
Data Drives decisions and analytics
Everyone, from end users to IT staff, developers, analysts, and CIOs
People decide what technology to adopt and how it’s used
No system works without humans intentionally shaping it
How information gets shared between devices and people
The step-by-step instructions that an organization follows to achieve goals using technology
Technology improves processes if they make sense
We will dive deeper into the internet in Unit 2!
You interact with Information Systems constantly: every Amazon order, GPS route, TikTok “For You” recommendation, even Brightspace!
IS is the backbone of our digital society, think: schools (LMS), hospitals (digital charts), retail (POS), banking (banking apps), entertainment, government.
Brightspace is CCBC's Learning Management System (LMS). An LMS is a system to manage your learning! Let's learn more about this tool, as you will use it in most, if not all, of your courses here at CCBC.
Before we get to the nitty-gritty, please keep in mind that all the information here assumes you are accessing the course on a computer. I recommend using Google Chrome.
Brightspace has a phone app called Pulse, but it is expected that you will use a computer for your studies. This is a computer science course, after all! The app can be used to quickly glance at the schedule, access a reading, or check your grades.
If you look toward the top of the page in Brightspace, you will see the toolbar. This is your primary way of navigating the LMS.
The Course Home page is the first page you will see once you enter a course.
This page contains the following:
Recent announcements from your instructor
The link to Brightspace Help
Upcoming due dates from your Calendar
Please note: You are responsible for keeping up with course announcements. Announcements are emailed automatically to your student email account, and you can also access announcements from the Pulse App, which can be set up to display notifications.
The Content page should be the most visited in your course. For most courses, it will contain all the links and content you need, but this can vary by instructor. For this course, you should see the following link on the left toolbar:
Table of Contents
This will show you all the content in the course.
Start Here
This should be the first link you visit when you begin any new course.
Syllabus & Schedule
Contains links to the syllabus, schedule, and course policies.
Instructor Info
Information about your instructor and how to contact them.
Units
The actual learning materials of the course. This will be the content area you will visit most throughout the semester.
The assignments page contains links to most of your assignments. Again, this will vary significantly by class and instructor.
In this class, assignments are listed on the Assignment page as they become available. The learning modules will also introduce the projects at the appropriate time.
It is recommended that you always go to the Learning Modules on the Content page before attempting Assignments. By doing this, you will be better prepared. If you navigate directly to the assignment, you may not have all the information needed to complete it successfully.
Once you submit an assignment, you can see and revisit your submissions for review. After the instructor grades an assignment, you will receive a feedback link.
Click on Read to see this feedback. You will also be able to see the rubric for specific point distribution.
Please always check the Assignments page before asking your instructor why you received a specific grade. They will provide feedback on your assignment and complete the rubric, which shows you exactly why you lost points.
If your class uses Discussions, you can access them here. This course does, and much like Assignments, you should initially access a discussion from the Learning Module to be sure you have all the information before participating.
Brightspace Discussions are set up like this...
Forums --> Topics --> Threads
Each instructor can organize their discussion page to meet the course's needs. This course will contain the following forums:
Activity Discussions
This forum is reserved for activity reflections and questions. They are not graded individually, but your participation in them will count towards your overall participation grade.
Questions & Comments
This forum is reserved for general discussions and questions about the class. Start a thread if you have a question, want to share course-relevant news, or leave feedback!
screenshot of quizzes highlighted in toolbar
The Quizzes link is a misnomer. It should be called Assessments, as any assessment will be accessed on this page, including quizzes, tests, exams, and even surveys.
Again, this page will significantly depend on your instructor. For this course, it is recommended to access this page when prompted to in the Learning Modules, if at all, as the assessments in this class are project-based.
The Grades page is self-explanatory. You can see all grades for all assignments on this page.
This page's organization and options will vary significantly based on your instructor. In this class, you can expect all grades for individual activities and status grades every few weeks.
The Class Progress page helps track your progress in any course and provides reports about what you have accessed in the course.
You can use the Class Progress tool to keep track of your course-specific assignments and feedback. It's a great way to see your overall progress in any course.
Instructors can also use the Class Progress tool to track each student's overall progress in the course.
As with any service or application, you will get out of Brightspace what you put into it. Brightspace is a robust LMS (an INFORMATION SYSTEM) that offers many tools to help you succeed in your courses.
You can install the app to help you track due dates and announcements. You can also subscribe to specific features, such as discussions.
LibreTexts. (2024). 1: What is an information system? In Computer concepts. West Hills College Coalinga. https://workforce.libretexts.org/Courses/Coalinga_College/Computer_Concepts/01%3A_What_is_an_Information_System
Raisinghani, M. S. (2025). Foundations of Information Systems. OpenStax.
https://openstax.org/books/foundations-information-systems/pages/1-1-introduction-to-information-systems