GREENSHEET
Textbooks | Course Requirements | Assignments | Grading | Other Comments
This is a preliminary Greensheet that may be revised prior to or during the semester.
Course Description
This course focuses on introducing students to search techniques and content for Dialog, Factiva, and LexisNexis, major commercial (fee-based) online aggregators, and integrating this knowledge with Internet research. Students will learn how to select appropriate databases and formulate search strategies through hands-on exercises based on real-life research questions. Along with experiential learning, course topics include the history of the online information industry, current trends, and pricing issues.
The course is geared to students who are interested in professional techniques used to conduct online searches on behalf of others but is also valuable for those who require an awareness of the role commercial databases play in obtaining precision results quickly and efficiently.
Course Objectives
This course supports the following SLIS objectives:
To support the mission of the School in teaching students the major theories, important principles, and current practice in: Information transfer, information management, including the selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination and utilization of information resources.
Textbooks and Resources
Required Text
Walker, Geraldene & Joseph Janes, Online Retrieval: A Dialogue of Theory and Practice, 2nd Ed., 1999, Libraries Unlimited. http://www.greenwood.com/books/BookDetail.asp?sku=LU6573
Online Resources
The following are free downloads to be used for reference assistance in learning online vendor systems.
Dialog
LexisNexis Resources
http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/courses/244/lexisnexis.htm
Factiva.com Inside Out Guide
http://www.factiva.com/collateral/download_brchr.asp?node=menuElem1526
Additional readings as assigned throughout the semester.
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Course Requirements
- Read required books and articles, some of which will be assigned via Blackboard.
- Online Discussion: Students are required to participate in online discussions via Blackboard on a weekly basis adding thoughtful, substantive comments or questions that relate to the reading or other assignments
- Exercises: A series of questions in which you perform online searches will be posted on Blackboard with specific instructions about each assignment. Grading is based on a brief report in which you summarize your thought process, search strategies, key terms, names of databases, and findings.
Blackboard
This class is completely online via BlackBoard. Enroll at the Blackboard site between May 28 and June 2.
Students must regularly consult BlackBoard sections including:
- Announcements
- Course Information
- Course Documents
- Assignments
- Discussion Board
Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
Students who need accommodation due to a disability must register with SJSU's Disability Resource Center (DRC) during the first three weeks of the semester. The Center will work with the students to determine the disability, document it, and determine the services and accommodations necessary for student success. Then, the DRC will contact the faculty member to determine the types of consideration necessary.
Students attending the Fullerton campus should first contact the Disability Resource Center in San Jose since they are SJSU students. The DRC will then direct the students to supporting resources on the Fullerton campus.
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
Read the SJSU Academic Integrity Policy
http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf
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Assignments
| Exercise 1 |
Due June 13, 2005 |
| Exercise 2 |
Due June 27, 2005 |
| Exercise 3 |
Due July 11 2005 |
| Exercise 4 |
Due July 25, 2005 |
| Exercise 5 |
Due August 8, 2005 |
Final Essay
Prepare a formal essay five to ten pages in length on a current issue or online research topic of interest to you. Follow APA style and all the rules of good grammar and syntax.
You can opt to submit a research project using online databases in which you describe and analyze your steps and results, along with techniques you have learned during the semester. The final paper is due the last day of class, August 12, 2005 and should be submitted in a Word file to me via e-mail.
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Grading
| Exercises |
60 points |
| Participation in Online Discussion |
20 points |
| Essay |
20 points |
Grading for exercises is based on a combination of:
- Following instructions provided with exercises.
- Completing all exercises and submitting them on time.
- Evidence that you’re learning basic commands and syntax, reflected in your work.
- Your comments – contained in a summary that indicates your thought process, strategies, and findings. This includes integrating what you have learned from readings and class discussion.
- Finding relevant results.
Overall grading for this course incorporates consideration of creativity, thoroughness, thoughtfulness, and originality. Successful course participants will:
- Post a brief bio and statement of purpose to the BlackBoard Discussion Board during the first week of class.
- Read the required textbook cited above and other reading assignments as posted to BlackBoard.
- Initiate and contribute to discussion on BlackBoard weekly with substantive and thoughtful comments.
- Integrate knowledge from readings and class discussion into assignments.
- Submit all required exercises and the final essay on time.
Grading Scale
| 97-100% |
A |
| 94-96% |
A- |
| 91-93% |
B+ |
| 88-90% |
B |
| 85-87% |
B- |
| 82-84% |
C+ |
| 80-81% |
C |
| 76-79 |
C- |
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Other Comments
- Personal, workload, and computer or technical problems are each student’s responsibility.
- No incompletes will be awarded – no exceptions.
- Your are required to use Internet Explorer for Factiva
- A high-speed connection for downloading various resources cited above is preferred. If you do not use a high-speed connection, it will be your responsibility to obtain all materials nevertheless.
- This is a full semester course compressed into a summer session with all the same requirements of spring or fall semesters.
- This is a technical course that requires regular attention to all discussion on BlackBoard and consistent preparation and effort – no exceptions.
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