LIBR 245-10
Advanced Online Searching
Summer 2007 Greensheet
Amelia Kassel
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| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Resources Course Requirements Other Requirements |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS e-Bookstore |
The Greensheet is a course syllabus which may be revised before or during the semester.
This class is completely online via BlackBoard. Enroll at the Blackboard site between June 1st and June 6th. You will need an access code, which will be sent to all registered students on June 1st. Late enrollments are not accepted. The first day of instruction is Monday, June 4th.
Course Description
This course offers opportunities to improve online searching techniques, deepen understanding of online resources, and investigate advanced problems in online research. Students will use major commercial/professional database services, complex search strategies, and appropriate Web-based sources, including the Invisible Web. The focus is on business and market intelligence research although students may fulfill assignments based on other interests. We will work on advanced search techniques in Dialog, examine issues in electronic information retrieval and delivery such as quality of information, formats, deliverables, copyright, and cost. Students will complete assigned readings, design and carry out research projects, and submit original papers examining contemporary online searching issues. Participation in weekly BlackBoard discussions is mandatory.
Course Prerequisite: LIBR 244
Knowledge of and skills in searching two of the Big Three (Dialog, Factiva, and LexisNexis) is required.
Course Objectives
LIBR 245 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.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will improve knowledge and skills related to:
- Three major fee-based aggregator systems
- Effective search strategies and techniques for conducting online searches in fee-based systems
- Dialog interfaces and command language
- Search syntax
- How and why fee-based database systems play a role in obtaining precision results quickly and efficiently for many types of questions
- Techniques that can be applied or adapted to Internet searching based on conceptual similarities
- How to become better teachers for training users in how to conduct online research in various settings
- How to better decipher quality Internet sources
- Why it’s beneficial to subscribe to and learn the fee-based aggregator systems particularly in business and special library settings
Textbooks and Resources
Required Texts
The following textbooks are required:
- Shamel, Cynthia. L (2004). Introduction to Online Market and Industry Research, available from Barnes and Noble Online http://www.barnesandnoble.com or http://e-catalog.thomsonlearning.com/155 Search on Shamel
- Berkman, Robert. (2004). The Skeptical Business Searcher. CyberAge Books http://books.infotoday.com/books/SkepticBusinessSearcher.shtml
- Select one or more of the Super Searcher book series and plan to discuss key aspects on BlackBoard. A complete list of titles is available at http://www.infotoday.com/supersearchers
Go to SLIS e-Bookstore.
Required Articles
The following articles are required:
- Feldman, Sue. The High Cost of Not Finding Information. (2004) KMWorld, 13 (3), http://www.kmworld.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?CategoryID=54&ArticleID=9534
- Kassel, Amelia. Value-Added Deliverables: Rungs on the Info Pros Ladder To Success (2002). SEARCHER, the Magazine for Database Professionals. www.infotoday.com/searcher/nov02/kassel.htm
- Kassel, Amelia. DialogClassic Web, Re-Designed: A Hit! Searcher, May 2007
Required Online Resources
You will be required to learn and use DialogClassic Web interface for searching the Dialog system.
- Dialog
Dialog offers a number of instructional materials through its Graduate Education Program at http://gep.dialog.com. Review available sources and select those most useful to you. I’ve listed key materials below but there are others that some students find useful.- Introduction to Dialog; Featuring DialogClassic
http://training.dialog.com/sem_info/courses/general.html#idc - Dialog Pocket Guide (HTML or PDF versions)
http://support.dialog.com/searchaids/dialog/pocketguide - Dialog Catalog 3Mb
http://support.dialog.com/publications/dbcat - Reference Card with Basic Commands (use as a cheat sheet)
http://gep.dialog.com/instruction/pdf/student_ref_guide.pdf - Choosing the Right Database Dialog Lab Workbook 2005 - Chapter 5 http://gep.dialog.com/instruction/workbook/2005_labwb_chap5.pdf
- DialogClassic Web Guide
- http://www.thomsondialog.com/dialogclassicweb/support/
- Introduction to Dialog; Featuring DialogClassic
- LexisNexis Resources
http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/courses/244/lexisnexis.htm - Factiva.com Guide will be posted to BB
Course Requirements
Blackboard
Students must regularly consult BlackBoard sections including:
- Announcements
- Course Information
- Course Documents
- Assignments
- Discussion Board
Assignments
Students are required to complete the following assignments:
- Read required books and articles, some of which will be assigned via Blackboard after the semester begins.
- 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. Detailed class discussion requirements will be posted to Blackboard. BB Class Discussion is 20% of the grade. Lack of satisfactory participation will automatically result in
- Submit a midterm assignment that contains a case study or research scenario containing online research from multiple online resources including the Web and fee-based services. Examples and formats are contained in the Shamel text. Also use my article about value-added deliverables for additional guidelines. Projects will include the following components:
- Developing and outlining an effective overall search strategy
- Identifying and evaluating potential sources of information
- Conducting research using the appropriate system/site protocols and search engines
- Analyzing and summarizing the results
- Interview your client
- Conduct the search in as many database as you think necessary
- Supply your client with the search and request comments on the success of the search for his or her need
- Submit a copy of the query, interview questions, search statements, complete search results, and the client’s comments about the results.
- Write an original paper on a significant issue in the online information environment. Topics can be gleaned from required reading and class discussion or students may explore other areas with the instructor's approval. The paper should be 10 to 15 pages long and include documentation and references. Follow APA standards for composition and bibliography. All papers will be evaluated on their fit with the objectives of the assignments and your stated goals, normal standards of organization and composition, and quality of analysis and presentation.
Due Date for No. 4 above is the last day of class, August 10, 2007 by 11:59 pm. Submit your paper to me in a Word file via e-mail. - Additional Requirements
Successful course participants will:- Post a brief bio and statement of purpose to the BlackBoard Discussion Board during the first week of class.
- Read required books cited above and other reading assignments as posted to BlackBoard.
- Initiate and contribute to discussion on BlackBoard weekly with substantive and thoughtful comments.
- Conduct, document, and analyze a multi-faceted research scenario or case study.
- Research and write a 10 to 15-page paper on a topic that’s of particular interest to you and related to online research.
- Integrate knowledge from required readings and class discussion into written assignments.
Grading
Grading incorporates consideration of creativity, thoroughness, thoughtfulness, and originality.
Participation in class discussion on BlackBoard is 20% of the grade. Lack of satisfactory participation will automatically result in a grade below a B – see the grading scale below.
| Weekly Class Discussion and Initiative | 20% |
| Case Study or Research Scenario | 40% |
| Final Paper | 40% |
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 |
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/
Other Requirements and Comments
- Extra credit assignments are not accepted.
- This is a full semester course compressed into a 10 week summer session and the same requirements and standards are applied to this course as for Fall and Spring.
- No incompletes will be awarded – no exceptions.
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