LIBR 204-01
Information Professions
Fall 2014 Greensheet

Lisa Rosenblum
E-mail
Office hours: As arranged with student.The best and preferred way to reach me is via email. I check daily. In addition I will be offering optional drop in sessions on Collaborate throughout the semester TBD.

Getting Started

This course has a Canvas site. You will be enrolled into the site automatically on the first day of the semester. 

Fall Semester: August 25, 2014 to December 10, 2014.

Weekly class sessions run from Monday through Sunday of the following week. New weekly material will appear each Sunday in Canvas and assignments are generally due Sunday by midnight.

Course Description

Examines the organizations and environments in which information professionals work.  This course explores different specializations and career paths, professional communities, networks and resources, ethical and legal frameworks. This course also introduces management and leadership theories and concepts and applies them to different information environments. A special focus is placed on management responsibilities in order to emphasize the importance of these skills in the professional workplace.

Note: iSchool 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 Learning Tools and Strategies for Success. This is a mandatory 1 unit course that introduces students to the various e-learning tools used in the iSchool program.  For more information, see: http://ischool.sjsu.edu/current-students/courses/core-courses-and-electives

Contacting the Instructor
Please consider sending any questions regarding the class via the discussion forum. I will set up discussion forums for each assignment. You may also reach me via email. I make it a point to check often and will tell you if for some reason I cannot.

Class Location & Meeting Schedule
This is a 100% web-based course.  There will also be optional Collaborate sessions throughout the semester and a group presentation on Collaborate to be scheduled by each group and archived for my review.

Course Format and Requirements
This course will be conducted using the Canvas course management system. Lectures are posted weekly with relevant discussion forum questions to encourage discussion. Students are required to:

• Complete all readings.
• Respond weekly to discussion items, and other assignments on Canvas.
• Complete assignments to be posted on Canvas.

Assignments
More detail on each assignment will be provided in Canvas.

All assignments are due electronically by midnight of the due date Pacific Time.  The total number of points for this class is 200. See grading scale below to translate into a letter grade.

• Canvas Participation--30 points. Each student will be expected to interact and participate using the Canvas Discussion Forums. Discussions will be organized around lectures and readings. (Supports SLO 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9)
• Management Interview--25 points. Each student will interview a manager and describe his/her style using references from the textbook. (Supports SLO 1, 3, 5)
• Resume Assignment--5 points. Students will be introduced to the SJSU Career Center services and will be asked to submit their resume. (Supports SLO 4)
• Environmental Scan--40 points. Students will observe a public library and write an observational paper using references from the textbook. (Supports SLO 1, 5,7 ,8)
• Strategic Plan and Public Presentation--60 points. Students will be assigned to a team for a two-part project creating a strategic plan for an information organization and then presenting this plan to the public. In the written report , the team will conduct a SWOT analysis for a public library based upon the environmental scans and then draft vision, mission and value statements for the organization as well as goals and objectives. In the 2nd part of the assignment the team will present the plan to a group of stakeholders on Collaborate. (Supports SLO 1, 2, 5,6,7, 8)
• Analytical Essay--40 points. Using the readings provided by the instructor during the semester, each student will write an essay covering one of the topics presented during the semester, and post their essay to their e-portfolio. (Supports SLO 1,2,3, 4,5, 8)

Course Calendar

Grading
Everyone begins the class with a grade of “B” the standard grade for graduate work. Students who complete all assignments on time and as assigned, will receive a B provided the quality of work meets the minimum requirements commensurate with graduate work. Above standard work is defined as clearly displays one or more of the following criteria:

• Originality in the approach to the assignment
• Greater depth of analysis above and beyond the basic assignment.
• Substantive comments to the discussion board that indicate a depth of understanding beyond simple summary of readings and questions.
• Superior organizational, written, or communication skills in the presentation of materials.
• Use of The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth edition, as the official style manual for formats, citations, and bibliography. Please see http://ischool.sjsu.edu/resources/apa.htm for a list of sources providing assistance.

Penalties are assessed in the following situations:

• Errors in spelling, grammar and syntax will be subject to penalty as well as not using APA format.
• Disorganized format, lack of structure and failing to follow the full assignment will be subject to penalty.

Writing Requirement
If an instructor finds that a student's writing ability 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 the student is attending sessions.

Late Assignments
Late assignments will not be accepted without prior notification and approval of instructor, and will be subject in a reduction of points earned towards the assignment.

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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 204 has no prequisite requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

1. Describe the role of information and the information profession in various contexts, and from historical, current and future perspectives.
2. Identify the most significant areas of research in library and information science in historical and current contexts.
3. Identify and discuss the professional values and ethics of library and information science.
4. Explore a number of professional opportunities and related supports available to information professionals.
5. Identify, discuss and compare key management concepts such as leadership, change, advocacy, and decision making, as well as the roles and activities of managers and leaders.
6. Understand analytical and strategic planning processes and skills.
7. Identify various information stakeholders and the information environments that provide for their needs.
8. Experience and assess working in teams.
9. Review, use and properly cite the professional and research literature of management and leadership.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)

LIBR 204 supports the following core competencies:

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Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

• Evans, G. E., & Alire, C. (2013). Management basics for information professionals (3rd ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman. Available through Amazon: 1555709095

Recommended Textbooks:

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

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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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