Syllabus

What Is General Education Core Curriculum?

This course has been certified as one in New Mexico State University's General Education Core Curriculum (GECC). The GECC attempts to foster intelligent inquiry, abstract logical thinking, critical analysis and the integration and synthesis of knowledge; it strives for literacy in writing, reading, speaking and listening; it teaches mathematical structures; it acquaints students with precise abstract thought about numbers and space; it encourages an understanding of science and scientific inquiry; it provides a historical consciousness, including an understanding of one's own heritage as well as respect for other peoples and cultures; it includes an examination of values and stresses the importance of a carefully considered values system; and it fosters an appreciation of the arts. To summarize, general education provides the breadth necessary to have a familiarity with the various branches of human understanding.

Course Description

Information Literacy, a Viewing a Wider World course, is designed to help you become a full participant in our Information Society. Both practical and theoretical in scope, L SC 311 uses a mixture of lecture, in-class and electronic discussions, hands-on assignments, and written research projects to give you the technological skills and critical thinking abilities you need to use the printed and electronic information resources found in libraries and on the international computer networks collectively known as the Internet. Once you successfully complete this course you will be able to think critically about research strategies, and be able to locate and critically evaluate information, applying these skills and new-found knowledge to your academic courses and in your professional and personal life.

Learning Objectives

Goal 1. Students will understand the role of information in society.

Objectives:

Students will understand

the publication sequence of information
that knowledge and information are constantly changing
how the scholarly communication process is influenced by the Internet and publishers
that information is a commodity that is generated, controlled, and disseminated
the issues affecting the access of information, such as copyright, privacy, preservation,
         cost, equity, and format
the ethics of information use, including copyright and intellectual property rights,
         and the need for proper citation of sources and the avoidance of plagiarism
the issues relating to censorship and intellectual freedom
the development of the Internet and issues concerning regulation and censorship

Goal 2. Students will understand how information is organized, stored, and disseminated.

Objectives:

Students will understand

the purpose and functions of classification systems
the purpose and functions of library catalogs
database principles, including structure, controlled vocabulary, precision and recall
the distinguishing characteristics, functions, and purpose of reference sources
the differences between scholarly journals, trade publications, and magazines
the differences between primary and secondary sources
the differences and similarities between print and electronic information resources
the types of information most readily available on the Internet
the differences between Internet search engines and directories

Goal 3. Students will understand how to define their information needs and organize
         an effective search strategy.

Objectives:

Students will understand

that information-seeking is a non-linear process that involves making many decisions
the diversity of information resources and formats
the different searching techniques required by different information sources and formats
the search language appropriate to the source (such as controlled vocabulary, natural language)
online search techniques such as Boolean operators and truncation
that the components of the information search process are transferable and can meet
         a variety of information needs
which kinds of tools will help to find which kinds of information

Goal 4: Students will understand how to evaluate the quality of information they find.

Objectives:

Students will understand:

the criteria used to evaluate information for its content, bias, accuracy, and relevance
the difference between popular and scholarly resources
the difference between primary and secondary sources
the difference between fact and opinion
the publishing process as opposed to publishing on the Internet

Course Requirements and Grading

Five major elements comprise the grading structure for the course. Students complete five homework assignments. These assignments will correspond to the material presented in class. Daily quizzes on the course content are given to make sure students have mastered the concepts that are covered in class, that have been discussed in readings, and that have been explored in assignments. The final project consists of a research portfolio that describes the research topic and the research process, as well as gives a critical evaluation of the research process. The portfolio will also include an annotated bibliography in standard format. Two rough drafts are required as part of the portfolio. Students are graded on their mastery of the course material through the final exam.

Required Element	Total Points	Percentage
Assignments (5 @ 50 points each)	250	25%
Quizzes	150	15%
Final Exam	150	15%
Research Portfolio	350	35%
Rough Drafts	100	10%
	1,000 total	100%

Grading scale

A	900 - 1000
B	800 - 899
C	700 - 799
D	600 - 699
F	Below 600

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Brief Explanation of Course Requirements

Homework Assignments: There will be five homework assignments corresponding to the materials presented in class. The homework assignments cumulate into the bibliography portion of the final project and will provide the research experiences that you will describe in the essay part of your research portfolio. Thus, although assignments four or more days late will not be graded for credit, it would still be advisable to have the instructor review them - without a grade - to ensure that you are on track for the final project. Often, some in-class time will be devoted to helping you begin or complete homework assignments. The instructor reserves the right to request that students re-do unsatisfactory homework assignments for re-grading.

Quizzes: A brief 10 point quiz will be given at the end of class each day. Grades for 15 of these quizzes will be added for your final quiz score. Students can choose not to take some of the quizzes or take all of the quizzes given in class but accept the 15 highest quiz scores. Because you are only required to complete 15 quizzes when there are 32 days of class, make up quizzes will never be given. Quizzes will be very brief - taking approximately 5 minutes of class time.

Research Portfolio: Each student will compile a research portfolio, to be turned in at the end of the course, on a topic of their choosing. The five homework assignments essentially culminate into the research portfolio, so students need to decide on a topic by the time the first homework assignment is distributed. The research portfolio has three parts:

Annotated bibliography on an instructor-approved topic of your choice

Evaluative essay which discusses and evaluates both your research process and your topic

Journal, detailing your research process
In addition, two rough drafts are required.

Final Examination: The final exam will consist of multiple choice, short answer items, problem sets and brief essay questions. All test items will be based on material covered in class or in the assigned readings. Teacher-course evaluations will also be completed during the final examination period.

Participation: Attendance at and participation in class activities is expected.  

Consultation with Instructor: You are required to meet individually with me once for a consultation about your Final Project. I will schedule the session after I have handed back your first rough draft. The purpose of the meeting is to provide assistance as you work on your Final Project. If you fail to make an appointment or miss your appointment and fail to reschedule, you will receive ZERO points for this activity.

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Readings

There is no textbook for this course. However, assigned readings will be used to support the coursework. You are expected to have read assigned materials on the due date and may be tested on it.

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Computer Account & E-mail

You must have a computer account for this course. These are available free of charge to all NMSU students. You may get your NMSU e-mail account through the computer center, either in-person or via their web page (http://aams.nmsu.edu/account/screen1.html).

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Course Rules & Classroom Conduct

Due Dates:

All due dates for assignments are firm. Assignments are due at the beginning of class, whether or not you are in class. Assignments received after class on the due date will be counted as late. Late assignments will receive the following deductions:

Days late	Deduction
During class	10%
After class	20%
2 to 3 days	50%
4 days or more	100%

 

 

 

 

Late days are calculated on a 7 day week, 24 hour day.

A physician's excuse detailing the reason(s) for the absence(s) and/or a documented family crisis will be the only exception to deductions for late assignments. In these cases, due dates for late assignments will be negotiated with the instructor.

Assignments MAY be handed in early.

 

Attendance

I will pass around a sign-up sheet at the beginning of each class period. Your attendance will be used for university administration purposes should you get a D or an F in this course. Although attendance in class does not earn you any actual points toward your final grade, it is expected. In fact, success in this class requires regular attendance, and attendance is expected, but not mandatory. It is your responsibility to be prompt and attend class. Excessive absences could well result in failing the course. All examinations and all course assignments are based on in-class discussions, instruction, and practice. I will not schedule office hours to discuss missed or not fully comprehended assignments because you missed class.

Please be on time. I will not repeat or update you on material missed because of tardiness. If you miss a quiz because you are late, you may not take it later. If you are late, please use the back entrance to the class in order to avoid disturbing your classmates.

 

Withdrawals

All students who have not attended class by January 22, 2004 (the first three class periods) and who have not contacted me about their absence will be automatically dropped from the course. In any other case, students are responsible for dropping themselves from the course. I may encourage students not making sufficient progress in the course to drop, but students are expected to take care of the paperwork on their own. The last day to drop the course with a W is March 11, 2004.

 

Incompletes

Incompletes are given only in special circumstances. To receive an incomplete, you must have successfully passed the first half of the course and must be precluded from successful completion of the second half of the course by either a documented illness or a family crisis which I believe genuinely precludes you from successfully completing the course at the end of the semester. To be considered to have successfully passed the first half of the course, you must have a C average or higher after the middle of the term is reached.

 

Cell Phone Use

Cell phone use during class is prohibited. Turn them off.

 

Multiple Submissions

I do not accept resubmissions of work done for other courses for your final paper or for any other assignments. The general topic of your final paper may be similar to that researched for another course; however, the content, organization, and focus of the final paper for this course are so different that a resubmitted paper will be instantly recognized and will receive a failing grade.

 

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

The minimum standard for an S grade is a C.

 

Academic Misconduct

Anyone who willfully damages, steals, or makes inaccessible to others, library materials or computer resources, will be dropped from the course. Reading or sending e-mail, surfing the web, printing or using other applications on the computer workstations during lectures or presentations is not only rude it is unacceptable. Your screens can be viewed by others. (see below)

Plagiarism is unacceptable and will result in a failing grade. Cite all your sources. Paraphrase material used and cite that material.

 

Classroom Computers and Privacy

Your computer workstations are not private. Do not use class time for recreation or conversation. The instructor workstation in this classroom is equipped to view and display to the class, or to any individual in the class each and every computer monitor the instructor wishes to display. In addition, the instructor has the ability to blank all or individual computer screens as well as take over control of individual keyboards and mice.

Use caution in sending e-mail from classroom PCs. Nothing is private. You will be held responsible for what you do with and on the machines.

 

Posting of Grades

Grades will be posted on the class WebCT page. I will endeavor to update these postings as soon as possible. If you see any errors in your grades, please let me know immediately.

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Students with Disabilities

If you have or believe you have a disability, you may wish to self-identify. You can do so by providing documentation to the Office for Services for Students with Disabilities, located at Garcia Annex (phone: 646-6840). Appropriate accommodations may then be provided for you.

If you have a condition which may affect your ability to exit safely from the premises in an emergency, or which may cause an emergency during class, you are encouraged to discuss this in confidence with me and/or the Director of Disabled Students Programs. If you have general questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), call 646-3635.

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by Sylvia Ortiz
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM

Originally created by Susan E. Beck
Course lectures, assignments and in-class activities developed by
Jan Hylen, Kate Manuel and Susan Beck, NMSU Library

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You are welcome to use and make a print copy of these materials for educational purposes, but please credit the source as: L SC 311 Information Literacy, New Mexico State University, and cite the individual author of the modules you use. Please do not copy the source code of any of these pages and load them locally. All commercial rights are reserved. Send comments or suggestions to: Sylvia Ortiz at sortiz@lib.nmsu.edu