LIBR 202-28
Information Retrieval
Fall 2010 Greensheet

Dr. Kristen Radsliff Rebmann
E-mail
Office: Hayden, Idaho (same timezone as CA - pst)
Office Hours: By appointment.
Elluminate Sessions (NOT MANDATORY): Tuesdays 9:00 am to 10:15 am pst (password is donut). 

This is an online-only class using Angel and Elluminate. Students must self-enroll for the course on Angel between August 24th and August 31st. The required password access enrollment code will be provided in an email via the MySJSU Messaging system.

The course begins via Angel on Wednesday August 25th.  Elluminate sessions will begin on Tuesday, August 31st at 9:00 am pst.

***Student attendance at the Elluminate sessions is not mandatory - recordings will be available.***

Course Description

Principles of information retrieval and their application to information systems and services. Emphasizing models of user information seeking behavior, human information processing, and their relationship to retrieval models in information systems. Class activities will be carried out in Angel, video, and audio formats. Enrollment in the Angel class is mandatory.

Course Prerequisites
Demonstrated computer literacy. Students need to know how to download software, zip and unzip files, work with folders, and elementary computer trouble shooting. Students need to know how to download software, zip and unzip files, work with folders, and elementary computer trouble shooting.

Course Objectives

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Students will be able to design, query, and evaluate a database information retrieval system, using an appropriate user model.
• Students will be able to articulate fundamental concepts of information-seeking behavior and employ them in the design and evaluation of systems.
• Students will be able to define a set of terms reflecting fundamental concepts of information retrieval and use them in discussions of their projects for the class.
• Students will understand metadata, both structure and representation, and be aware of dominant models such as the MARC record, LC Classification, Dublin Core, and NISO 39-19.
• Students will understand principles of good interface design and be able to evaluate interfaces using those principles.

LIBR 202 supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:

• Design, query and evaluate information retrieval systems.
• Understand the system of standards and methods used to control and create information structures and apply basic principles involved in the organization and representation of knowledge.
• Describe the fundamental concepts of information-seeking behavior.

Course Requirements

Complete LIBR 203: Online Social Networking: Technology and Tools
This is a mandatory 1 unit course that introduces students to the various e-learning tools used in the SLIS program, including Angel, Elluminate and Second Life. This course must be completed by all new SLIS students within the first 4 weeks of their first semester. If you have questions about this course, e-mail Debbie Faires or Dale David.

For more information, see http://ischool.sjsu.edu/classes/coursedesc.htm

Help! How do I …?
I will create a discussion forum in Angel for general questions regarding due-dates, structure of assignments, and clarification of concepts. Please post your general questions here so that all students may benefit. Feel free to contact me via email at kristen.rebmann@sjsu.edu. Placing the words: 202 question and your section number in the subject field will guarantee that your email will get to my high priority folder so that I can get back to you promptly (usually within 24 to 48 hours).   Sometimes you might see me in google chat - feel free to talk with me this way as well.

Assignments and Extra Credit
Students will complete a short introduction of themselves via Angel, 2 exercises and 5 projects.  I will assign 1% extra credit if students complete SOTES.  Simply complete the survey and post a message (to let me know) in the SOTES-Extra Credit discussion forum in Angel at the end of the semester.  More specific information regarding all assignments and extra credit will be made available on the Angel course website.

Angel, and Elluminate Participation
I hold weekly Elluminate lecture/workshop sessions on Tuesdays and occasionally use the discussion forum in Angel to discuss course ideas and issues beyond the scope of the course.  Posting in the discussion forum is not mandatory.  Attendance at the Elluminate sessions is also not mandatory - recordings will be available.  **Part of participation in this course includes listening well to others and engaging with opposing viewpoints. You are expected to be respectful and thoughtful in responding to each other and in responding to the course materials.

Course Calendar

Subject to change with fair notice.

Week 1 – Introduction, Classification, and Representation (8/25-9/4)

Read	Core Course Documents: Greensheet, Readings, Exercise handouts, Lecture Powerpoints, & Project Handouts. Readings: Norman “The Power of Representation”; Star & Bowker “To Classify is Human.” Handouts: "Brief introduction via Angel" (due Tuesday Week 2)
To Do (Assignments):	Attend Elluminate Session: Tuesday (8/31) @ 9am pst - donut BEGIN ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL DB/Textworks

Week 2 – Information Retrieval and Search Models (9/5-9/11)

Read	Readings: Rijsbergen “Introduction”; Meadow “The Representation of Information.” Handouts: Project #1 handout (due Monday Week 4).
To Do (Assignments):	Attend Elluminate Session: Tuesday @ 9am pst - donut By Tuesday of this week: Brief introduction via Angel. Please follow the guidelines found in the handout to introduce yourselves!

Week 3 – Users (9/12-9/18)

Read	Readings: Marchionini “Information Seekers and Electronic Environments” Handouts: Exercises #1 & #2 (both due final day of instruction - 12/9)
To Do (Assignments):	Attend Elluminate Session: Tuesday @ 9am pst - donut

Week 4 – Databases (9/19-9/25)

Read	Readings: DB/Textworks “Online Resources” Handouts: Project #2 handout (due Monday Week 6).
To Do (Assignments):	Attend Elluminate Session: Tuesday @ 9am pst - donut By Monday of this week: Send completed Project #1 to me via Angel.

Week 5 – Querying IR Systems  (9/26-10/2)

Read	Readings: Meadow “Querying the Information Retrieval System.”
To Do (Assignments):	Attend Elluminate Session: Tuesday @ 9am pst - donut.

Week 6 – Formal Metadata (10/3-10/9)

Read	Readings: Hubbard “Metadata.” Coyle “Understanding Metadata and Its Purpose.” Handouts: Project #3 handout (due Monday Week 9).
To Do (Assignments):	By Monday of this week: Send completed Project #2 via Angel. Attend Elluminate Session: Tuesday @ 9am pst - donut.

Week 7 – Subject Access (10/10-10/16)

Read	Readings: Subject Access Handout MIDTERM REMINDER: HOW ARE YOU DOING ON "At your leisure" EXERCISES #1 & #2?
To Do (Assignments):	Attend Elluminate Session: NO LECTURE THIS WEEK.

Week 8 – Informal Metadata & Web 2.0 (10/17-10/23)

Read	Readings: Mathes “Folksonomies” & Maness "Library 2.0"
To Do (Assignments):	Attend Elluminate Session: Tuesday @ 9am pst - donut.

Week 9 – Information Seeking (10/24-10/30)

Read	Handouts: Project #4 handout (due Monday Week 11). Readings: Kuhlthau “Zones of Intervention in the Process of Information Seeking.”
To Do (Assignments):	By Monday of this week: Send completed Project #3 to me via Angel. Attend Elluminate Session: Tuesday @ 9am pst - donut.

Week 10 – Information Seeking cont. (10/31-11/6)

Read	Readings: Marchionini “Information-Seeking Perspective and Framework.”
To Do (Assignments):	Attend Elluminate Session: Tuesday @ 9am pst - donut.

Week 11 – Design (11/7-11/13)

Read	Readings: Norman “Psychopathology of Everyday Things.” Readings: Norman "Affordance, conventions, and design" Handouts: Project #5 handout (due Monday Week 14).
To Do (Assignments):	By Monday of this week: Send completed Project #4 to me Angel. Attend Elluminate Session: Tuesday @ 9am pst - donut.

Week 12 – Usability & Evaluation  (11/14-11/20)

Read	Readings: Antelman, et al "Toward a Twenty-First Century Library Catalog"
To Do (Assignments):	Attend Elluminate Session: Tuesday @ 9am pst - donut.

Week 13 – Practice and Power (11/21-11/27)

Read	Readings: Star & Bowker “Classification and Its Consequences: Chapter 6.”
To Do (Assignments):	Attend Elluminate Session: Tuesday @ 9am pst - donut.

Week 14 – Catch-up (11/28-12/4)

Read	Readings: NO READINGS THIS WEEK. Catch-up: Review, and complete Project #5 & Exercises #1 and #2.
To Do (Assignments):	By Monday of this week: Send completed Project #5 to me via Angel. Attend Elluminate Session: Tuesday @ 9am pst - donut.

Week 15 – Wrap-Up (12/5-12/9)

Read	Readings: NO READINGS THIS WEEK. Catch-up: Review, and complete Exercises #1 and #2 if you haven't already!
To Do (Assignments):	By Thursday 12/9 of this week: Submit Exercises #1 and #2. Attend Elluminate Session: NO LECTURE THIS WEEK.

FALL 2010

Monday .........................July 5.......................... Independence Day Observed -Campus Closed (I)
Monday .........................August 23 ................... Academic Year Begins - Fall Semester Begins
Monday-Tuesday ..........August 23-24.............. Pre-Instruction Activities: Orientation, Advisement, Faculty
Meetings and Conferences (P)
Wednesday...................August 25 ................... First Day of Instruction-Classes Begin
Monday .........................September 6............... Labor Day - Campus Closed (L)
Tuesday ........................September 7............... Last Day to Drop Courses Without an Entry on Student's
Permanent Record (D)
Tuesday ........................September 14............. Last Day to Add Courses & Register Late (A)
Wednesday...................September 22............. Enrollment Census Date (CD)
Thursday.......................November 11.............. Veteran’s Day - Campus Closed (V)
Wednesday...................November 24.............. Classes that start at 5:00 PM or later will not meet.
Thursday.......................November 25.............. Thanksgiving Holiday - Campus Closed (T)
Friday ............................November 26.............. Rescheduled Holiday - Campus Closed (RH)
Thursday.......................December 9................ Last Day of Instruction – Last Day of Classes
Friday ............................December 10.............. Study/Conference Day (no classes or exams) (SC)
Monday-Friday ..............December 13-17 ........ Final Examinations (exams)
Monday .........................December 20.............. Final Examinations Make-Up Day (MU)
Tuesday ........................December 21.............. Grade Evaluation Day (E)
Wednesday...................December 22.............. Grades Due From Faculty - End of Fall Semester (G)
December 23- ............ WINTER RECESS
January 24
Friday ............................December 24.............. Christmas Holiday Observed -Campus Closed (CH)
Friday ............................December 31.............. New Year’s Day Observed - Campus Closed (N)Textbooks and Readings

Textbooks and Readings

No textbooks for this course.

No Textbooks For This Course

Grading Scale

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

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.

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to access PDF files.

More accessibility resources.