LIBR 240-02
Information Technology Tools and Applications
Spring 2012 Greensheet

Stacy Wile
E-mail
Phone: 760-522-5344 (voice or text message)

Course Environment

This class will be taught through a web site, http://senna.sjsu.edu/swile/240/spring12/, which requires a login for viewing and a separate login for contributing. The course materials will appear on D2L only for backup purposes. I will send you usernames and passwords for the class web site before the first day of class.

Course Description

This course examines the different ways in which we can structure, store, process, access, and present information on a Web site.  It emphasizes the tools of information technology.  

For the Spring 2012 semester, we will focus on modular Website design using (X)HTML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). We will be building Web sites for a Web 2.0 audience so will also be learning how to make our Web sites dynamic and interactive using technologies such as blogs, RSS, and multimedia. We will discuss Web pages for mobile devices. 

We will do a little work with XML and its stylesheet language XSLT; a little PHP as used for interactive forms; and take a brief look at some simple JavaScript. 

We will introduce HTML5 and CSS3, newer standards which expand the functionality of XHTML and CSS.

Course Prerequisite: LIBR 202

Course Objectives

Student Learning Outcomes

• Understand the client-server relationship and how to work with a Unix server; and learn basic Unix commands
• Develop conceptual and practical strategies for presenting information on the Web
• Create content in XHTML format, incorporating elements such as forms and images
• Use CSS functionality to separate web page content and style, and to customize sites for different media
• Be aware of accessibility, usability, and cultural issues as they pertain to Web design
• Employ technologies such as RSS, blogs, wikis, and YouTube
• Understand the purpose of client and server side Web programming languages
• Employ some simple JavaScript and PHP programs to process forms
• Build an XML file and access it via an XSLT stylesheet
  

LIBR 240 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;
• 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.
  

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Course Requirements

Technology Requirements
The basic SLIS home computing requirements can be viewed at:
http://ischool.sjsu.edu/ecommunication/homecomputing.htm

In addition, for this class, each student must have access to the most recent updates of the following browsers in order to test their web pages:

• Internet Explorer version 9 (or online IE9 simulator)
• Firefox version 9

Open Firefox and enter the following URL in the address bar: http://pylea.sjsu.edu/hebey/browserdetect/swile.asp?bhcp=1

Fill in your information and submit the result, so I can verify that your browser configuration is appropriate for this class. 

Elluminate
In addition to the initial required Elluminate session, there will be further Elluminate sessions throughout the semester. These sessions are optional, and will be recorded.

Assignments

Grading is based on absolute number of points, so 97 out of 112 is an A. At least two points will be deducted for late assignments. 

Textbooks and Software

An HTML editor is not required but may be helpful. We will discuss available editors during the first few weeks of class.

Required Textbooks:

• Castro, E. (2006). HTML, XHTML, and CSS (6th ed.). Peachpit Press. Available through Amazon: 0321430840.

• McFarland, D. (2009). CSS: The missing manual (2nd ed.). Pogue Press. Available through Amazon: 0596802447.

Recommended Textbooks:

• Keough, J. (2005). JavaScript demystified. McGraw-Hill Osborne Media. Available through Amazon: 007226134X.

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.

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