LIBR 202-05
LIBR 202-22
LIBR 202-23
Information Retrieval
Fall 2011 Greensheet

Alyce L. Scott
E-mail
Office Location: Online
Office Hours: By E-mail


Greensheet Links
Textbooks and Readings
Course Requirements

Resources
D2L
D2L Tutorials
iSchool eBookstore
LIBR 202 Resources
Online Resource
Supplemental Readings
Inmagic Download

This is an online-only class using D2L and Elluminate.

Students will be automatically enrolled in the D2L site for this course. The course will be automatically available to students on August 24th, 2011.

The required password access enrollment code will be provided in an email via MySJSU to students who are registered for the class. Class begins via D2L on August 24.

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. 

Course Prerequisites:

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 Blackboard, 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

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 standards 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 MLIS 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

These additional MLIS Core Competencies are also supported by the course:

  • Use the basic concepts and principles related to the creation, evaluation, selection, acquisition, preservation, and organization of specific items or collections of information
  • 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
  • Use service concepts, principles and techniques that facilitate information access, relevance, and accuracy for individuals or groups of users.

http://ischool.sjsu.edu/slis/competencies.htm

Course Requirements

Assignments
The assignments are designed so that the students will acquire and demonstrate the following skills:

  • Create a user model, and based on the needs identified, design descriptive and subject metadata for a a collection and create a database
  • Create a controlled vocabulary and use it in records for a  collection of scholarly articles
  • Search the databases created
  • Set performance criteria and, based on searches, evaluate the database
  • Describe fundamental concepts of information seeking behavior
  • Articulate information and retrieval concepts in discussions

Grades for the course will be based on the following exercises, assignments, and tests, as well as points for class participation in the Angle forums. These will be weighted according to the point scale shown below. At the end of the semester, the total points received will be converted to a percentage, which will determine the student's letter grades for the course according to the standard grading scale used by the School. Percentages are not rounded off. for example, to obtain a grade of B or better (88%), you must earn a total of at least 880 points.

Exercise #1: Attribute Elicitation 70 points (7%)

Assignment #1: Description and Database Design

220 points (22%)
Midterm Exam 150 points (15%)
Exercise #2: Classification 120 points (12%)
Assignment #2: Subject Analysis and Evaulation 270 points (27%)
Final Exam 150 points (15%)
Participation in class forums on Angel 20 points (2%)
Total points possible 1,000 points (100%)

Course Calendar
A detailed schedule will be maintained on D2L. The course will follow a week-by-week schedule, and students must keep current with the progress of the course. There will generally be one lecture given each week. The lecture will be delivered live every Wednesday at 8pm (CST). Attendance at the Elluminate sessions are not mandatory. Any live Elluminate sessions will be recorded for later listening.

Textbooks and Readings

In addition to the textbooks shown below, students are required to read at least 15 supplemental readings during the semester. The readings, mainly journal articles from the information science literature, are available online. Some readings will be assigned, others may be chosen by the student from the list of available readings.

Required Textbooks:

  • Rowley, J. & Harley, R. (2008). Organizing knowledge: An introduction to managing access to information (4th ed.). Ashgate. Available through Amazon: 0754644316 arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain

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.

icon showing link leads to the PDF file viewer known as Acrobat Reader Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to access PDF files.

More accessibility resources.