LIBR 284-02
LIBR 284-11
Seminar in Archives and Records Management
Topic: Oral History
Fall 2012 Greensheet

Nancy MacKay
E-mail
Office Hours: by e-mail


Greensheet Links
Textbooks
SLOs
Competencies
Prerequisites
Resources
D2L
iSchool eBookstore
 

This course will be delivered on D2L  and students are automatically enrolled. Instructor will communicate with students through my.sjsu.edu before the beginning of the semester. The course site will open a few days before the beginning of class.

Course Description

Oral history is a method of documenting recent history through recorded personal accounts of individuals who lived it. This course surveys the theory and practice of oral history as a means to enhance the historical record, with an emphasis on the intersection between library science and oral history. Students interested in public history, archives, or simply curious about oral history will find the class stimulating and enjoyable.

The class is organized around the design, implementation, and processing of an oral history project. Students will  design and conduct an oral history project from start to finish, based on a theme selected by the instructor. Each student will create a project statement, then  select a narrator,  prepare, conduct, transcribe, and process an audio recorded interview. Students will apply the methodology we learn in class in conducting their oral history project.

Though students may work individually or in groups on the oral history project, a spirit of collaboration and open exchange is expected. Though there are some reading assignments, the primary learning method is experiential. Guest speakers will enliven our weekly lessons and provide a new perspective on current oral history practice.

The course is organized into five learning modules:

  1. Introduction to Oral History, Weeks 1-3
  2. Planning an Oral History Project, Weeks 4-6
  3. The Interview, Weeks 7-10
  4. After the Interview, Weeks, 11-14
  5. Assessment, Weeks 15-17

The week unit runs from Sunday through Saturday. Unless otherwise stated, assignments are due at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the Sunday due date. The workload is heaviest during the interview and transcription stage, around weeks 6-12.

Most course content will be delivered on Collaborate through a combination of prerecorded and live sessions.  Unless noted otherwise, live sessions are scheduled for Sundays at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Students are strongly encouraged to attend live sessions, especially for guest speakers.  All Collaborate sessions will be recorded and archived on our course D2L site for access throughout the semester. 

Course Requirements

Technology
In addition to the standard technology required for SLIS, students will work with audio files.Students will record an interview on a digital audio recorder of their choice,  transfer the  sound file to their computer, upload it onto the SLIS server, and transcribe the interview from the sound files.

Assignments

  1. Project statement. Create a project statement using the template provided. (15 points) SLO #1, 2, 3, 4
  2. Narrator profile. Create a biographical profile of the chosen narrator using the template provided. (5 points) SLO #3, 7
  3. Quiz. This short quiz will test comprehension of oral history best practices we've discussed in class. (15 points) SLO #6, 7, 8
  4. Interview. Prepare and conduct a 60 minute audio recorded interview. (20 points) SLO #1, 2, 3, 4
  5. Interview Summary. Complete this form which summarizes the circumstances and content of the interview (5 points) SLO #3, 5
  6. Transcript. Transcribe and audit edit interview, then submit transcript to the narrator for correction and approval. (15 points) SLO #3, 4, 5
  7. Cataloging Template. Create metadata using the template provided. (5 points) SLO #5, 7
  8. Final paper. In this final paper students will present and evaluate their project. (20 points) SLO # 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
  9. Extra credit opportunities will be announced in class.

Course Calendar - (may change slightly)

MODULE TASK SUMMARY

Introduction

Weeks 1-3 (August 22-September 8)
COLLABORATE LIVE, August 22, Course orientation

COLLABORATE LIVE, August 26, Introduction to Oral History

Planning

Weeks 4-6 (September 9-29)
Project Statement Progress Report due September 16

COLLABORATE LIVE, September 23, Guest speaker, Barbara Sommer (tentative)
Project Statement due September 30

Narrator Profile due September 30

Interviewing

Weeks 7-10 (September 30-October 27)
Quiz due October 7
COLLABORATE LIVE October 21,Interviewing Q&A and introduction to processing

Interview due October 28

Interview Summary due October 28

After the Interview



Weeks 11-14 (October 28-November 24)
COLLABORATE LIVE, October 28, Guest speaker, Cyns Nelson (tentative)

COLLABORATE LIVE, November 11, Guest speaker, Geoff Froh (tentative)

Transcript due November 18

Cataloging template due November 26

Assessment



Weeks 15-17 (November 25-December 10)
COLLABORATE LIVE, November 25, Student Xtra credit presentations (tentative)

COLLABORATE LIVE, Final Office Hours, December 9

Final paper due December 10

Recommended Text

  • Sommer, B. and Quinlan, M.K. (2009). Oral History Manual. 2nd ed. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. PURCHASE OPTIONAL. Available as eBook through King Library

Additional readings will be available electronically.

Course Workload Expectations

Success in this course is based on the expectation that students will spend, for each unit of credit, a minimum of forty-five hours over the length of the course (normally 3 hours per unit per week with 1 of the hours used for lecture) for instruction or preparation/studying or course related activities including but not limited to internships, labs, clinical practica. Other course structures will have equivalent workload expectations as described in the syllabus.

Instructional time may include but is not limited to:
Working on posted modules or lessons prepared by the instructor; discussion forum interactions with the instructor and/or other students; making presentations and getting feedback from the instructor; attending office hours or other synchronous sessions with the instructor.

Student time outside of class:
In any seven-day period, a student is expected to be academically engaged through submitting an academic assignment; taking an exam or an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction; building websites, blogs, databases, social media presentations; attending a study group;contributing to an academic online discussion; writing papers; reading articles; conducting research; engaging in small group work.

Course Prerequisites

LIBR 200, LIBR 202, LIBR 204, Other prerequisites may be added depending on content

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Identify and explain preservation concerns for many common types of photographic (print and negative) processes.
  2. Apply archival rules of appraisal, arrangement, and description to complex visual archives.
  3. Identify the complex issues relating to photograph digitization and born digital images, including management, access, metadata, and long-term preservation.
  4. Implement cold storage solutions for photographic materials
  5. Describe and discuss the nature of electronic records and the impact that technology has on recordkeeping in contemporary environments.
  6. Analyze how national and regional laws and regulations impact electronic records management.
  7. Identify appropriate metadata standards for the control and retrieval of electronic records.
  8. Create and develop policies, standards, and practices governing the creation, management, and use of electronic records.
  9. Discuss the challenges associated with preserving electronic records over time, and identify the methods and strategies being advocated by experts in the field to ensure that electronic records remain understandable, accessible, and usable.
  10. Define general requirements for compliant organizations and accountable electronic recordkeeping systems based on industry models and standards.
  11. Analyze a variety of problems related to electronic records, and propose solutions that are appropriate in particular contexts.
  12. Identify future Web 2.0 trends and practices in the creation of information in electronic form.
  13. Discuss major academic electronic records research projects proposed or undertaken by various organizations and institutions.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)

LIBR 284 supports the following core competencies:

  1. F Use the basic concepts and principles related to the selection, evaluation, organization, and preservation of physical and digital items and collections.
  2. G Demonstrate understanding of basic principles and standards involved in organizing information, including classification, cataloging, metadata, or other systems.
  3. H Demonstrate proficiency in identifying, using, and evaluating current and emerging information and communication technologies.

Textbooks

No Textbooks For This Course.

Grading Scale

The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:

97 to 100 A
94 to 96 A minus
91 to 93 B plus
88 to 90 B
85 to 87 B minus
82 to 84 C plus
79 to 81 C
76 to 78 C minus
73 to 75 D plus
70 to 72 D
67 to 69 D minus
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;
    For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA) — INFO 200, INFO 202, INFO 204 — the iSchool requires that students earn a B in the course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation.  You must repeat the class the following semester. If -on the second attempt- you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified.
  • 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 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

University Policies

General Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities of the Student

As members of the academic community, students accept both the rights and responsibilities incumbent upon all members of the institution. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with SJSU's policies and practices pertaining to the procedures to follow if and when questions or concerns about a class arises. See University Policy S90-5 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S90-5.pdf. More detailed information on a variety of related topics is available in the SJSU catalog at http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/catalog/departments/LIS.html. In general, it is recommended that students begin by seeking clarification or discussing concerns with their instructor. If such conversation is not possible, or if it does not serve to address the issue, it is recommended that the student contact the Department Chair as a next step.

Dropping and Adding

Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drop, grade forgiveness, etc. Refer to the current semester's Catalog Policies section at http://info.sjsu.edu/static/catalog/policies.html. Add/drop deadlines can be found on the current academic year calendars document on the Academic Calendars webpage at http://www.sjsu.edu/provost/services/academic_calendars/. The Late Drop Policy is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/aars/policies/latedrops/policy/. Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for dropping classes.

Information about the latest changes and news is available at the Advising Hub at http://www.sjsu.edu/advising/.

Consent for Recording of Class and Public Sharing of Instructor Material

University Policy S12-7, http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S12-7.pdf, requires students to obtain instructor's permission to record the course and the following items to be included in the syllabus:

  • "Common courtesy and professional behavior dictate that you notify someone when you are recording him/her. You must obtain the instructor's permission to make audio or video recordings in this class. Such permission allows the recordings to be used for your private, study purposes only. The recordings are the intellectual property of the instructor; you have not been given any rights to reproduce or distribute the material."
    • It is suggested that the syllabus include the instructor's process for granting permission, whether in writing or orally and whether for the whole semester or on a class by class basis.
    • In classes where active participation of students or guests may be on the recording, permission of those students or guests should be obtained as well.
  • "Course material developed by the instructor is the intellectual property of the instructor and cannot be shared publicly without his/her approval. You may not publicly share or upload instructor generated material for this course such as exam questions, lecture notes, or homework solutions without instructor consent."

Academic integrity

Your commitment, as a student, to learning is evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University. The University Academic Integrity Policy F15-7 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/F15-7.pdf 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 Student Conduct and Ethical Development website is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/studentconduct/.

Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 at http://www.sjsu.edu/president/docs/directives/PD_1997-03.pdf requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the Accessible Education Center (AEC) at http://www.sjsu.edu/aec to establish a record of their disability.

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