LIBR 200-12
Information and Society
Fall 2006 Greensheet
Steve Tash Phone: 949.683.7151 9am-9pm PST
Office Hours: E-mail, Telephone Appointments & Instant Messaging
| Course Links Greensheet Restricted Readings |
Video Welcome Captioned Uncaptioned |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials |
Textbooks | Course Requirements
Students must self-enroll for this course on Blackboard between August 14-24, 2006 and will be required to use a password access code which I will provide using the MySJSU Messaging system.
Course Description
This is a class designed to explore the complex social, economic, historical, and technological developments that influence the impact of information on society. The mission, values, and ethics of information professionals are also analyzed. This course provides a foundation for thinking critically about information professions and the roles of information professionals.
Course Objectives
LIBR 200 supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- articulate the ethics, values and foundational principles of library and information professionals and their role in the promotion of intellectual freedom;
- compare the environments and organizational settings in which library and information professionals practice;
- recognize the social, cultural and economic dimensions of information use;
- understand the nature of research, research methods and research findings; retrieve, evaluate and synthesize scholarly and professional literature for informed decision-making by specific client groups.
In addition, this section supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- recognize the social, cultural and economic dimensions of information use;
- demonstrate proficiency in the use of current information and communication technologies, and other related technologies, as they affect the resources and uses of libraries and other types of information providing entities;
- demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for group work, collaborations and professional level presentations;
- evaluate programs and services on specified criteria;
- contribute to the cultural, economic, educational and social well-being of our communities.
This course supports the following SLIS Learning Outcomes:
- Outcome: Students will know the foundations and structure of the information profession.
Assessment: All students will participate in a group project that surveys the information and library professions along with Electronic research and report findings to the class. - Outcome: Students will be able to locate, evaluate, and utilize scholarly and professional literature.
Assessment: All students will be required to write critical essays, notes and/or annotations, and develop Power Point presentations from publications pertinent to library and information science. - Outcome: Students will demonstrate in-depth understanding of major issues in library and information science.
Assessment: Students are required to research and write a major paper, 15 pages minimum (worth at least 35% of their total grade) on a topic relating to information and society.
Textbooks
Textbooks are available from www.lu.com , www.Amazon.com and www.Barnesandnobel.com.
Required Text
Fourie, Denise. (2002) Libraries in the Information Age. Libraries Unlimited.
Recommended Text
American Psychological Association. Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington , D.C. : APA. This is the standard style manual used for the MLS program at SJSU.
Course Requirements
Complete the New Student Technology Course
This is a mandatory short, self-paced online course on Blackboard that must be completed by all new SLIS students before orientation. The access code for this course will be sent to new students via MySJSU by July 1st. If you have questions about this course, e-mail Debbie Faires or Dale David.
For more information, see http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/blackboardintro.htm
Course Format
This course meets online only with NO onsite meetings.
Web Based Instruction
The class is strictly Web based using Blackboard. It will be necessary for students to self-enroll using the following URL: http://tigris.sjsu.edu/
This Blackboard self-enrollment process is in addition to the normal course registration. In other words you must be formally registered for the class prior to doing the Blackboard self-enrollment. Students must self-enroll for this course on Blackboard . You will be required to use a password access code which I will provide using the MySJSU Messaging system.
You will post your assignments utilizing the Blackboard Assignment Manager. We will not be using the digital drop box section of Blackboard.
Attendance/Participation
Participation in online projects and in Blackboard discussion forums is crucial to learning in the online environment.
Reading/viewing/listening to required materials will enhance your ability to participate in these discussions. Check Blackboard regularly for detailed assignments and updates.
General Expectations for Students
Students are expected to:
- Have the minimal home computing environment as described at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/ecommunication/homecomputing.htm
- Use a current virus protection program to scan all assignments before they are submitted electronically to Blackboard, other students and to your instructor
- Enroll in Blackboard to receive communications from your instructor (http://tigris.sjsu.edu/)
- Submit assignments electronically using BB assignment manager.
- Submit assignments by midnight of the due date. An assignment submitted after the due date may be subjected to a grade penalty.
- Create assignments using Microsoft Word and double space in no more than a 12-point font
- Consistently follow the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.) for formats, citations and references
- Avoid spelling, grammatical and syntactical errors
Also join the school’s electronic list, SLISADMIN, to get official or administrative messages from SLIS. Find directions at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/ecommunication/electroniclists.htm or
choose Electronic Lists under the Computing pull-down menu on the SLIS Web site.
Assignments
The assignments for this course are:
- Online discussions/Class participation
Several of the class sessions will involve online discussions, assigned readings, email communication and your own research and writing. Participation is required. - Information Competency Group Project
Working in groups develop a PowerPoint presentation and host a virtual classroom session. Groups will develop questions for Virtual Classroom and Host Virtual Chat.
Groups and Information Competency Topics:Elementary School Librarians- Big6 Skills; Middle School/HS Librarians- Collaboration with Teachers; Public Librarians/Adult-Serving special populations; Young Adult Librarians-web tutorials; Special Librarians-pathfinders; Academic Librarians-Information Literacy courses; Public Librarians/Children- Evaluating Websites.
- Library Research Report
Write critical notes and annotations on a LIS issue located in professional and scholarly readings. - Job Hunt Research Project
Write critical essay on job hunting exercise. An analysis of current and future job trends along with job ads utilized and professional literature consulted and evidence of critical reflection on your own educational and employment background relevant to job opportunities and expectations. Your essay should tell what you plan to do over the short and long term to enhance your job prospects. - Professional Journal/Association Analysis
Prepare TWO analyses; one of a professional LIS journal and one of a significant LIS professional association. These analyses shall also be submitted to the class discussion board forum list by assigned due date. - LIS ListServ/Electronic List/BLOG/Podcast
Write an analysis of an electronic medium for library and information science professionals. - Major Paper
Write a formal research paper in which you analyze a significant issue confronting the information professional today. Paper topics may be selected from the areas covered in class or you may choose an issue of more personal interest that is relevant to the goals and objectives of this course. The text of your paper should be 15 to 20 pages in length; the reference list should include at least 20 citations. A bibliography is not required, but you may include one if you'd like to list sources not cited but consulted for background information and context. You will be graded on the extent of your research, your description and critical analysis of the topic, the evidence you provide in support of your argument, and the clarity and quality of your writing. Your references and formatting should adhere to the rules established in the APA Publication Manual. This paper accounts for 35% of your grade in this graduate class.
Grading
| Information Competency (group/virtual chat/PowerPoint presentation) | 15 pts |
| Class Participation (DB/CHAT) | 10 pts |
| Major Paper on a major LIS Issue | 35 pts |
| Library Research Assignment (critical notes utilizing scholarly LIS journals) | 5 pts |
| LIS ListServ/BLOG/Podcast Assignment | 15 pts |
| Professional LIS Association/LIS Journal Analysis | 5 pts |
| Job Hunt Assignment | 15 pts |
Late Assignments
Grades for late assignments will be reduced by 10 percent.
Grading Scale
The standard SJSU SLIS Grading Scale is utilized for all SLIS courses:
| 97-100 | A |
| 94-96 | A- |
| 91-93 | B+ |
| 88-90 | B |
| 85-87 | B- |
| 82-84 | C+ |
| 79-81 | C |
| 76-78 | C- |
| 73-75 | D+ |
Grading Policy/Papers:
Everyone begins class with a grade of "B", the standard grade for graduate level work. Students who satisfactorily complete assignments on time; attend classes; and actively participate in class exercises and discussions (in class and in Blackboard discussion forums) will receive the "B" provided the quality of written work meets the rigorous scholarly standard
for the University.
In general, graduate work should exhibit clarity and be well written in a logical, coherent fashion. Above standard work is defined as clearly displaying one or more of the following criteria:
- Originality in the approach to the assignment
- Greater depth of analysis than the written assignment expects
- Critical evaluation of readings comparing authors, sources or different viewpoints
- Ability to organize information for oneself and others plus create tools for lifelong learning and knowledge retrieval
Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability,
please e-mail me as soon as possible. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires
that students with disabilities register with the Disability Resource Center
(DRC) to establish record of their disability.
No matter where students reside, they should contact the SJSU DRC to register. The DRC Web site: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/
Plagiarism
All assignments submitted must be your own work. Sources must be properly cited in papers as specified in class. The San Jose State University regulations governing plagiarism will be enforced.
Academic Integrity
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San José State University, and the University's Academic Integrity Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty are required to report all infractions to the Office of Judicial Affairs. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/F06-1.pdf
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