|
Course |
L SC 311G-02 Information Literacy | |
| Time | T & Th, 10:20 - 11:35 a.m. | |
| Location | Zuhl Library Instruction Room (Rm. 123) | |
| Instructor | Susan E. Beck | |
| Office | Rm. 225, Branson Library | |
| Phone | 646-6171 | |
| Office Hours | By appointment |
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.
Objectives: Students will understand:
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the publication sequence of information |
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that knowledge and information are constantly changing |
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how the scholarly communication process is influenced by the Internet and publishers |
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that information is a commodity that is generated, controlled, and disseminated |
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the issues affecting the access of information, such as copyright, privacy, preservation, cost, equity, and format |
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the ethics of information use, including copyright and intellectual property rights, and the need for proper citation of sources and the avoidance of plagiarism |
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the issues relating to censorship and intellectual freedom |
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the development of the Internet and issues concerning regulation and censorship |
Students will understand how information is
organized, stored, and disseminated. Students will be able to define their
information needs and know how to organize an effective search
strategy. Students will understand how to evaluate the
quality of information they find.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.
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
.
Objectives: Students will
understand the:
criteria used to evaluate information for its content, bias, accuracy, and
relevance
difference between popular and scholarly
resources
difference between primary and secondary
sources
difference between fact and opinion
publishing process as opposed to publishing on the Internet
Six 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. Each student
is responsible for giving a reading presentation of one substantial reading (15-20 pages) on an
information-related topic to the class. 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. Students are graded on participation
and also on their mastery of the course's material through the final
exam. Four opportunities for
earning five extra credit points will be given at various points throughout the
course: extra credit assignments will NOT be announced in class but will,
instead, by posted on the course's Assignments
page.
| Required Element | Total Points | Percentage |
| Assignments (5 @ 50 points each) |
250 |
25% |
| Quizzes | 150 | 15% |
| Final Exam | 50 | 5% |
| Research Portfolio | 350 | 35% |
| Reading Presentation | 150 | 15% |
| Participation | 50 | 5% |
| 1,000 total | 100% |
| 90-100% | 900-1,000 points | = A |
| 80-89% | 800-899 points | = B |
| 70-79% | 700-799 points | = C |
| 60-69% | 600-699 points | = D |
| 59% or under | below 599 points | = F |
All items submitted for grading will be returned to students with grades and comments within one week of their submission. The instructor is always happy to discuss questions or comments you may have about the grading of particular assignments. These discussions should, however, be conducted outside of class time.
Satisfactory/UnsatisfactoryThe minimum standard for an S grade is a C (700-799 points; 70-79%).
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. Links to online copies of assignments will be posted on the Schedule and Assignments pages AFTER the assignment is distributed in class.
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 31 days of class, make up quizzes will never be given. Quizzes will be very brief - taking approximately 5 minutes of class time.
Reading Presentation: Each student will be responsible for an oral presentation on a lengthier (15-20 pages) reading on a course-related topic. Copies of the reading to be presented may be obtained from the instructor, and only the student presenting the reading is required to have read it. Reading presentations take no more than 10 minutes and are accompanied by a one page handout outlining the reading's main points. For more directions on completing the reading presentation, see the instruction sheet at http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/lsc311/02fall2003/readingguidelines.html. Students will begin signing up for readings on the second day of class
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 consists of an annotated bibliography of sources on your topic and a research essay describing your experiences in researching your topic. For more directions on the research portfolio, see the instruction sheet at http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/lsc311/02fall2003/project_guidelines.doc. (This is an MS Word document so you will need to be using a computer with MS Word to gain access to this file. I provide you with a copy in class.)
Final Examination: A final examination will be given in this course during the university- scheduled examination period. The final examination will essentially be a repeat of the pre-test from this course. Teacher-course evaluations will also be completed during the final examination period.
Participation: Attendance at and participation in class activities is expected.
ReadingsThe textbook for this class is a coursepack that is available from the Corbett Copy Center. In addition, there will be two kinds of readings used to support the coursework for L SC 311: (1) brief readings assigned to the entire class for reading at home or in class and (2) lengthier readings (15-20 pages) which one person is assigned to read and present to the class. Each student will be expected to complete all brief reading assignments and one lengthier reading/presentation. The topics of the lengthier readings and the dates on which they are to be presented are included on the course Schedule, as are instructions on how to obtain copies of the readings.
Course Rules & Classroom Conduct Due DatesAll
due dates for assignments are firm. Assignments are due at the beginning of class whether or not you are
in class. Assignments received during or after class on the due date will be counted as late. Late
assignments will receive the following deductions:
| Days
Late During class After class 2 to 3 days 4 days or more |
Deductions 10% 20% 50% 100% |
* Days late 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 will be taken each class meeting. Your
attendance will be recorded and used for university administration purposes
should you get a D or an F in this course. Attendance in class is expected.
Success in this class generally requires regular attendance. Excessive absences
could well result in failing the course. All quizzes and all course assignments
are based on in-class discussions, instruction, and practice. I will not
schedule office hours to discuss assignments missed or not fully comprehended
because you were not in class.
It is your responsibility to be
prompt. Please be on time. I will not repeat or update you on material missed
because of tardiness. If you are late, please use the back entrance to the class
in order to avoid disturbing your
classmates.
All students who have not attended class by August 26 2003 (the first three class periods) and who have not contacted me about their absences will be automatically dropped from the course. In every 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 October 10, 2003.
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 during class is prohibited. Turn them off. If for some reason you need to bring a cell phone or a pager to class, please discuss your situation with me ahead of time.
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.
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, and printing or using other applications on the computer workstations during lectures or presentations are not only rude; they are 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.
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.
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 accommodation 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.
You are welcome to use and make a print copy of these materials for educational purposes, but please credit the source as: LSC 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: Susan E. Beck at susabeck@lib.nmsu.edu.
Page last updated on Thursday, August 07, 2003 .
