LIBR 200-16
Information and Society
(Executive MLIS)
Fall 2007 Greensheet
Steve Tash Phone: 949.683.7151 9am-7pm PST
Office Hours: E-mail, Telephone Appointments & Instant Messaging
| Course Links Greensheet Restricted Readings |
Video Welcome Captioned Uncaptioned |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS e-Bookstore |
Textbooks | Course Requirements
Reminder: Students must self-enroll for this course on Blackboard. Students must self-enroll for this course on Blackboard between June 25-July 5, 2007 and will be required to use a password access code which I will provide using the MySJSU Messaging system.
Course Description
Explores 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.
Prerequisites: computer literacy
Course Objectives
At the completion of the course, students should be able to:
- Describe the role of information from historical, current, and future perspectives;
- Identify the various information sectors;
- Describe and evaluate issues involved in creating and disseminating information in society, with particular attention paid to information literacy;
- Understand the role of libraries and their relationship to other information providers;
- Identify and discuss the major values and codes of ethics associated with the information professions;
- Describe the impact of cultural diversity on the provision of user services by librarians and other information professionals;
- Describe and discuss important economic and policy issues related to the creation and dissemination of information;
- Understand and have experience with different forms and genres of professional writing.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Know the foundations and structure of the information profession;
- Locate, evaluate, and utilize scholarly and professional literature;
- Demonstrate in-depth understanding of major issues in library and information science.
LIBR 200 course 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;
- Demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for group work, collaborations and professional level presentations.
Textbooks
Recommended Text
Support SLIS e-bookstore. Supports a number of student scholarships. Find it here: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/courses/books/index.php
- American Psychological Association. Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington, D.C.: APA. [Recommended] 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 the first day of classes. The access code for this course will be sent to new students via MySJSU. 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
Blackboard
Check Blackboard course site for Announcements, Assignments for exact due dates and times.
Web Based Instruction
The class is primarily Web based using Blackboard and Elluminate. 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, virtual office hours, virtual discussions with instructor and special guests and within Blackboard discussion forums is crucial to learning in the online environment. We will make heavy use of Elluminate** software for instructor office hours, online chats and discussions during the term. Reading/viewing/listening to required materials will enhance your ability to participate in these discussions. Check Blackboard regularly for detailed assignments and updates.
Elluminate
There are two required Elluminate sessions scheduled for this class on the following dates. Each session will run from 9am-10 am PST unless noted below:
- September 22
- November 10
Students will need to have a microphone attached to their computer to participate. It is recommended that you log in at least 10 minutes before class to check the audio. You are required to complete an orientation with Debbie Faires prior to participating in the first session. For a list of training times and other helpful information, see the SLIS Student guide to Elluminate at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/software/elluminate/students/index.htm
General Expectations for Students:
- 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
- Be proficient with developing PowerPoint presentations.
- Consistently follow the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.) for formats, citations and references
- Avoid spelling, grammatical and syntactical errors
- Be able to utilize Elluminate **as an online environment for virtual office hours, virtual chats and discussions. Students may utilize BB group chat/virtual classroom functions within their team profile with their team colleagues.
**Elluminate Support: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/de/tutorials/elluminate/more.htm
Use the Elluminate tutorials to learn how to upload PowerPoint presentations and how to utilize their feature "application sharing" and verify your microphone and speakers are in operational order. You can use Elluminate with text messaging if you have no microphone. SLIS will be providing student training with Elluminate so check your listserv postings.
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.
Assignment
- Class Participation
A portion of the overall grade is allocated for class participation. For the purposes of this class, participation includes attendance at all Elluminate virtual sessions, thoughtful contribution to class discussions, presentations and other activities. Student must demonstrate they are making an effort to master the material covered in the course. - Review/Analysis Journal/Association
Working with a classmate, you will prepare two analyses-one of a professional journal from field of LIS and one of a significant professional association- for submission to the class discussion board. Each review/analysis should be at least two pages, double-spaced. - Article Critique
You will locate, read, analyze, and respond to one article on the values, ethics, or future of information professionals. Article must be from a recent peer-reviewed LIS journal. - Field Analysis
You will visit three different libraries-selecting from academic, public, school and/or special. You will observe the library in action and if possible interview the library manager or administrator, reference librarian, school media specialist or librarian in charge. You will develop an end product for EACH library. - LIS Resource Review
You will write a critical review of an important resource in the field of library & information science, and will present this resource to class members at one of our Elluminate virtual meetings. - Research 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 10 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 30% of your grade in this graduate class. - Quizzes
Although not typical of graduate courses, given the online nature of this course quizzes will assure that attention is paid to the course readings rather than only to the assignments. The quizzes will be multiple choice, true/false, online, open book, and approximately 20 questions worth a total of 5 points per quiz.
Grading Philosophy
Completing all assignments accurately and on time will earn a grade of B. To raise this grade, you will need to demonstrate above average creativity, imagination, analysis, and scholarship. Unexcused late assignments will receive a grade of C or lower. Reading late assignments is at the instructor’s discretion. Illness and emergencies are usually the only good excuses.
This course satisfies the University graduate writing requirement.
| Class Participation (class discussions and presentations, team communication, Elluminate virtual sessions) | 10 pts |
| Research paper | 30 pts |
| Quizzes | 10 pt |
| Field Analysis | 15pts |
| LIS Resource Review | 10 pts |
| LIS Professions/Association/Journal/(TEAM assignment) | 20 pts |
| Article Critique | 5 pts |
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+ |
| 70-72 | D |
| 67-69 | D- |
| Below 67 | F |
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/
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 members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct.