LIBR 244-03
Online Searching
Spring 2008 Greensheet
Jean Bedord
E-mail
Emergencies/Prior Appointment: 408-257-9221
Office location: Virtual
Office hours: E-mail reaches me faster than other communication. But I expect most communication to occur in class or within the BlackBoard environment, so I can answer to the entire class. Use LIBR244 in the Subject line or it may get lost in my email filters.
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Resources Course Requirements |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS eBookstore |
This class is completely online via Blackboard. Students must self-enroll for this course on Blackboard before January 28, 2008. You will be required to use a password access code, which I will provide through the MySJSU Messaging system no later than January 21.
First day of instruction is January 23. Late enrollments may not accept.
Course Description
Knowledge of online information sources and search tools have become key competencies for reference and research professionals. This course introduces students to the resources available through the major commercial (fee-based) online aggregators, Dialog, Factiva, and Lexis-Nexis, known in the information industry as the Big Three. These resources are compared to the resources available through the Web search engines and the SJSU library website.
Students will learn how to select appropriate electronic resources and formulate search strategies through exercises based on real-life research questions. Topics will include searching techniques, database indexing, evaluation of search services, and understanding the relationship between database structure and search techniques. The history of the online information industry, trends in the online information industry and pricing issues are also included, in addition to searching theory.
Prerequisite: LIBR 202
Course Objectives
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students should have:
- Explored content for three major fee-based commercial aggregator systems.
- Developed effective search strategies and techniques for conducting online searches in fee-based systems.
- Demonstrated correct search syntax in all three fee based systems, through completion of class exercises.
- Identified high quality Internet resources and their characteristics.
- Compared results for Internet searching vs. fee based aggregator systems, learning when each resource is appropriate to obtain precise and relevant results for patrons, users and clients.
- Written a short paper on a topic in the online information industry, utilizing online research resources, demonstrating professional level writing and choices of information sources.
LIBR 244 supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- design, query and evaluate information retrieval systems;
- 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.
In addition, this section supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- Use service concepts, principles and techniques that facilitate information access, relevance, and accuracy for individuals or groups of users
- Demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for group work, collaborations and professional level presentations
Complete list of competencies at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/competencies.htm.
Textbooks and Resources
Required Text and Readings
Note: Look for used copies of the Walker book. New books may be ordered through the SLIS eBookstore, part of the Amazon Affiliates program. The SLIS Scholarship fund receives a referral fee on all items you purchase after clicking a book on the SLIS e-Bookstore page.
- Walker, Geraldene & Joseph Janes, Online Retrieval: A Dialogue of Theory and Practice, 2nd Ed., 1999, Libraries Unlimited. (Note that the examples and technology coverage is dated; however, the book is very useful in understanding methods to effectively search fee-based systems, especially Dialog, as well as the underlying technology discussed in this course. Thus far, there has been no replacement for this text and feedback indicates that most students find it useful.)
- Hock, Randolph, The Extreme Searcher's Internet Handbook: A Guide for the Serious Searcher, 2nd Edition, January 2007, CyberAge Books and http://www.extremesearcher.com for links to sites cited in the book.
- Mann, Thomas. The Oxford Guide to Library Research, Oxford University Press, 2005
- SLIS has licensed the APA guide for electronic reference. Download this at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/resources/apa_refguide.htm
- Additional readings from articles or Web sites will be assigned throughout the semester.
Recommended Texts
- American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington, D.C.: APA. This is the print version of the standard style guide used for the MLS program at SJSU. Used copies should be readily available.
- Hock, Randolph, Yahoo! To the Max, CyberAge Books, 2005
Online Resources
High quality online guides, tutorials and other reference materials are provided at no cost from the vendors to assist in learning their systems. These will be used as reference materials.
- Dialog: Dialog has a Graduate Education Program at http://gep.dialog.com with a number of excellent instructional materials. You will be using the following resources, but students may find the additional materials useful, particularly for business applications:
- Dialog Pocket Guide (HTML or PDF versions)
http://support.dialog.com/searchaids/dialog/pocketguide - Dialog DataStar DataBase Catalog 2008 (PDF)
http://support.dialog.com/publications/dbcat - Introduction to Dialog; Featuring DialogClassic
http://training.dialog.com/sem_info/courses/general.html#idc
Download: Introduction to Dialog; Featuring DialogClassic (PDF file, 1.2MB.) - Dialog Reference Card with Basic Commands (use as a cheat sheet)
http://gep.dialog.com/instruction/pdf/student_ref_guide.pdf
- Dialog Pocket Guide (HTML or PDF versions)
- Lexis Nexis:
- Factiva:
- Factiva.com Inside Out Guide
http://www.factiva.com/collateral/download_brchr.asp?node=menuElem1526
- Factiva.com Inside Out Guide
Additional readings will be assigned throughout the semester.
Course Requirements
Blackboard
The class will be run on Blackboard. Students are expected to login daily to checkBlackBoard for the following:
- Announcements
- Course Information
- Course Documents
- Assignments
- Discussion Boards.
Assignments
The assignments for this course will be:
- Exercises
There will be four assigned exercises that will require searching online databases. Instructions will be provided for assignments, and grading will be based on the student’s search strategies, thought processes and results of the searches.
More important than finding the “right” answer is the description and analysis of the process – why terms or databases were chosen (or not chosen), what the thought process was, how the search strategy was constructed, what mistakes were made, and suggested changes to the strategy if the search were to be re-run (although it is not necessary to actually re-run it).
Search statements, as well as the analysis of the exercise, must be turned in for grading. It is not necessary for all results to be included, but some results are necessary for the proper evaluation of the exercise. Analysis should be brief (one or two paragraphs). - Quiz
There will be one quiz, with specifics posted on Blackboard. - Online Discussion
Since this course is conducted entirely online, participation in online discussions via Blackboard is essential. Discussion topics will be provided. Students may also propose topics for discussion or begin new discussion threads. Students should post (at least) two comments on each discussion topic, one an original contribution and the other a response to another student’s post. Please check in on the discussions occasionally throughout the week.Note that participation is 20% of your grade, so non-participation will automatically reduce your grade below a B. - Essay
A 5-10 page essay is due at the final week of class. Topics can be an issue or trend involving use of online resources in libraries, Web searching, or online searching or the online industry. Each student will select a topic and have it approved by the instructor mid-semester. This essay shall be in APA style with the usual rules of good grammar and syntax. You will be expected to use a minimum of 5 sources for your essay (articles, book chapters, website materials, etc.)
Grading
| Assignment | Percent of Total Points |
| Online Exercises | 60 points |
| Quiz | 5 points |
| Online Discussions & Participation | 20 points |
| Formal Essay | 15 points |
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 |
In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:
- C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
- B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work;
- A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.
Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0.
NO INCOMPLETES WILL BE AWARDED.
Late Work
There will be a 20% penalty for late work submitted within one week of the due date. Zero credit will be given after this.
Required Home Computing Environment
Please see the School’s “Home Computing Requirements” at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/ecommunication/homecomputing.htm
Internet Explorer is required for Factiva searching.
Additional policies and expectations:
- Be aware of SLIS requirements for dropping classes
- Expect to spend a substantial amount of time on this class. It is technical in nature, and requires regular attention and skill building. It is in your own best interests to do the practice exercises, even though they are not graded.
- Carefully consider your total course load, work and family commitments before starting this class. All students are graded on the same basis, without consideration of personal circumstances.
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.
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/
One Washington Square - San José, California USA, 95192-0029
Phone: 408-924-2490
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