LIBR 200-04
Information and Society
Fall 2013 Greensheet

Dr. A. Bernier
E-mail
Home Office: (510) 339-6880
Office Hours:by appointment
Instructor Office Location: King Hall 418D
Instructor Office Hours: Advising available by appointment

Mission of the School
The School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) educates professionals and develops leaders who organize, manage and enable the effective use of information and ideas in order to contribute to the well-being of our communities.

Getting Launched
SLIS utilizes a content management system called Direct 2 Learn (D2L) for class communications: submitting assignments, grades, even email. We will automatically enroll you in the D2L site for our course and you will be able to begin access to it between 19-21 August.

Our class begins on Wednesday 21 August. Weekly units end on Sundays at 5PM (Pacific time) – and all assignments are due on Sundays at 5 p.m. (Pacific Time).

All LIBR 200 students receive a complimentary student membership in a professional association, see:
http://ischool.sjsu.edu/current-students/resources/complimentary-student-memberships-professional-associations

Course Description

Explores the complex and interrelated historical, social, economic, cultural, political, and technological influences that shape information and society. Emphasis is on the various roles and responsibilities of information organizations and the values and ethics of information professionals.

Note: SLIS requires that students earn a B in this 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.

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

Required Home Computing Environment
Please see the School’s “Home Computing Requirements” at http://ischool.sjsu.edu/ecommunication/homecomputing.htm<

Desire2Learn (D2L)
This course will be conducted entirely online using D2L (Desire2Learn) content delivery system. Lectures, assignments, and communications, including discussions and announcements, will be conducted via D2L.

You must be extremely organized, disciplined, and self-motivated in order to complete an online course successfully. Though you can access the course materials online anytime, plan to set aside time each day to complete the readings and assignments.

Writing Requirement
Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)
All graduate students are required to demonstrate competency in written English as a requirement for graduation. SJSU policy requires that English competency be a requirement for advancement to graduate candidacy. This course satisfies the (GWAR).

If the instructor finds that a student's writing is unacceptable, the instructor will require the student to sign up for online writing tutoring. The student will ask the tutor to confirm with the instructor that he or she is attending sessions.

Assignments:

Readings
In addition to required textbooks, the course will also require additional readings, lectures, and online discussions. Required materials will be furnished or accessible via King Library.

Discussions
The course requires several reflective discussions based on course materials and informed by lectures, readings, and fellow student insights. Each Discussion is worth 3 points. Total 18 points (Student Learning Objectives 1-7)

LIS Resources Survey
This assignment is intended to introduce you to the major reference sources used in library and information science research.  You will be asked to examine 5 such reference (tertiary) sources pertinent to your term paper topic and evaluate their content, quality, and usefulness. A bibliography and instructions will be provided. 
15 points (Student Learning Objectives 7, 8)

Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography
This assignment gets you started on your term paper by asking you to locate and evaluate 12-15 scholarly (secondary) sources pertinent to your paper topic.  Instructions and examples will be provided. 
12 and 15 points respectively. (Student Learning Objectives 3, 8)

Librarians in Popular Culture Assignment
For this assignment, you will read a novel set in a library and watch a movie featuring an information professional as a main character. Based upon a review of the book and movie, you will write an essay that analyzes how libraries and librarians are represented in popular culture. A bibliography and filmography will be provided.
10 points. (Student Learning Objectives 1, 3, and 5)

Term Paper
Write a formal research paper in which you analyze a significant issue confronting the information professional today.  Paper topics must be selected from the major topics covered in class and relevant to the goals and objectives of this course.  The text of your paper should be 15 to 20 pages in length; the reference list should include at least 20 citations from scholarly sources. Your paper will be graded on the extent of research, the description and critical analysis of the topic, the evidence in support of your thesis (argument), and writing quality.  References and formatting should adhere to the rules established in the APA Publication Manual (a required text).
30 points. (Student Learning Objectives 8)

Course Calendar

*Subject to change with fair notice.

NOTE: Assignments are due on Sundays and must be posted by 5 p.m. (Pacific Time) on the date they are due. Late submissions will sustain a 20% reduction of the total points possible for that assignment, and late Discussion posts receive a 1 point reduction

Optional Elluminate Office Hours

All major written work will receive detailed written analytical and constructive comments from me. These comments are designed to help strengthen your skills and build your confidence to perform and deliver professional library services with young adults. They are not necessarily intended to explain grades.

Holiday Observances
Only University-recognized holidays will be observed for this class. See the Academic Calendar on the University’s website for specific details.

Incompletes
Please avail yourself of the policy for uncompleted coursework on the School’s website under “Registration.” 

Dropping the Course
The last day to drop this course without an entry on your permanent record is
Tuesday 3 September.

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GWAR

This course satisfies the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).

INFO 200 gives students graduate-level writing experience, including a literature review and research paper. Graduate-level academic writing is formal and logical. It involves the avoidance of bias, the inclusion of evidence, and the development of strong arguments. Scholarly writing uses concise, precise, and clear language, is cohesive, and utilizes a logically organized flow of ideas. Successful completion of the research paper satisfies San José State University's Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). If the instructor finds that a student's writing is unacceptable, the instructor will require the student to sign up for online writing tutoring. The student will ask the tutor to confirm with the instructor that he or she is attending sessions.

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 has no prequisite requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

1. Describe the role of information from historical, current, and future perspectives.
2. Identify various information stakeholders and the information environments that provide for their needs.
3. Describe and evaluate issues involved in creating and disseminating information in society.
4. Identify and discuss the major values and codes of ethics associated with the information professions.
5. Describe the impact of cultural diversity on the provision of user services by librarians and other information professionals.
6. Discuss important economic and policy issues related to the creation, dissemination, and use of information.
7. Explain what information literacy is and how it helps users evaluate and use information.
8. Locate, evaluate, and use scholarly and professional literature.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)

LIBR 200 supports the following core competencies:

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Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

• American Psychological Association (2009). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.) American Psychological Association. Available through Amazon: 1433805618.

• Dority, G. K. (2006). Rethinking Information Work: A Career Guide for Librarians and Other Information Professionals. Libraries Unlimited. Available through Amazon: 159158180X.

• Rubin, R. E. (2010). Foundations of library and information science (3rd ed.). Neal-Schuman. Available through Amazon: 1555706908.

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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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