News Category: student-news

The UT iSchool was well-represented at this year’s annual User Experience Professionals Association conference in Toronto. In addition to Dr. Randolph Bias receiving a lifetime achievement award, three iSchool students placed second in a student design competition. The UXPA 2017 Student Design Competition challenged the three students to create a smart assistant for online shopping.

Four School of Information students received top awards for their projects and research findings during the iSchool's Spring 2017 Open House Showcase on May 5.

The Open House was an opportunity for approximately 80 iSchool students—including more than 50 graduating master's students—to showcase their work in interest areas ranging from archives and museums to global intelligence, health and information management.

Fifty children gathered around computers in an East Austin classroom last spring. They knew how to operate the machines, of course. The children could type, run software and explore the Internet. But now they were handed screwdrivers.

One by one, fifth-grade students at the University of Texas Elementary School took turns removing the tiny screws that held the computers together. When they popped off the protective case, the hard drive and other components were revealed.

Several kids giggled. “I can see inside!” one girl declared.

“What is it?” another asked.

Nearly 80 School of Information students—one-third of the iSchool's enrollment—gave back to their communities during the iSchool’s seventh annual iGive Campaign in fall 2016.

Students volunteered more than 3,600 hours for nonprofit groups, museums, schools and other worthy causes like the Inside Books Project, the Austin History Center and Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas.