LIBR 287-12
Seminar in Information Science
Topic: Open Source Software
Fall 2014 Greensheet

Diane K. Kovacs
E-mail
Office hours: Via e-mail; Chat/Instant Messaging appointments can be arranged.  I really prefer not to work by telephone. We need to both be able to see and work on the computer together. E-mail and chat are best. In an urgent situation you may call me at 216-392-8254 but I am actually more accessible via e-mail than by phone.  Remember this is Eastern Time zone for me. diane@kovacs.com is the best e-mail address to use.

This course will be available on Canvas - http://ischoolapps.sjsu.edu/canvas - on August 25. However, the course will begin on September 29. You will be enrolled into the site automatically. I will send more information about course access as we approach this date through MySJSU.

Course Description

Current issues and problems in information science. Specific content of the seminar changes each time it is offered.

Repeatable with different content up to 9 units.

LIBR287-12 is a hands-on overview of open-source software (such as content management systems and ILS programs) that is being used by libraries today. This practical knowledge will be taught with an eye towards students understanding the implications of open access and what it means for libraries and librarians. During the course we will also discuss copyright and open licenses (like GPL and Creative Commons).

Course Requirements

Class participation is cultivated through asynchronous guided conversations (in Canvas) and optional Collaborate (was Collaborate) discussion/lecture sessions are an important part of this course. 180 class participation points are awarded for commenting at least once on each classmates' Discussion Activity postings (45 points each; 4 Discussion Activities). An additional 20 course participation points are earned by attending (optional) or listening to the recorded Collaborate meetings, responding to teacher emails and other feedback. And 10 extra credit points may be earned by participating in an optional Facebook group where we can interact with guest speakers and each other informally. LIBR287 SJSU iSchool Class Discussion Optional Group (Kovacs) Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/libr287kovacs/

It is important to express your own opinions while also being respectful; suggest constructive ideas for improvement while evaluating other students’ work; pose relevant questions; compare and contrast ideas; share and critique resources; communicate and collaborate.

Course Format
This course will be taught online using Canvas - http://ischoolapps.sjsu.edu/canvas and supplemented with once a week on different days of the week for Collaborate meetings for discussion, questions, and some lecture. Collaborate meetings are optional attendance but required listening to the recordings.

Primary Requirements
The primary course requirements are that students will:

• have access to the computing environment as described at http://ischool.sjsu.edu/ecommunication/homecomputing.htm
• use Canvas - http://ischoolapps.sjsu.edu/canvas and refer to Tutorials as needed
• submit assignments via Canvas - http://ischoolapps.sjsu.edu/canvas

Assignment Due Dates
(Dates are subject to change with fair notice. See below.)

Blackboard Collaborate (was Collaborate)
Optional Once a Month Collaborate Discussion/Lecture sessions scheduled as follows
(This will be subject to some possible changes and additional optional online meeting dates depending on availability of guest speakers etc.)

1. Monday, September 29 at 7 p.m. PT-8 p.m PT (10 p.m. - 11p.m. ET) - Attendance strongly encouraged for first class information.
2. Thursday, October 9 at 7 p.m. PT-8 p.m PT
3. Wednesday, October 15 at 7 p.m. PT-8 p.m PT
4. Tuesday, October 21 at 7 p.m. PT-8 p.m PT

Assignments
Full assignments details and instructions are on the Canvas course page. Assignment points total 1000. Learning Activities total 800 points. Course participation is worth a total of 200 points.

NOTE: All learning activities must be submitted on due dates. Points will be taken off for submissions more than 3 days late. Learning activities may be revised/rewritten/resubmitted for additional points if the resubmissions are submitted within one week of the scheduled due date. Resubmissions after that week will not be accepted. Guided conversation topic posts must be posted no later than the last scheduled day of the topic in which they are being discussed.

• Discussion Activity 1. Introduction and Self-Assessment of Open Source Software. 200 points.Due Sunday, October 5
• Discussion Activity 2. Research and Reflection on Open Source Software Overview. 200 points. Due Sunday, October 12 supports SLO#1, SLO#2, SLO#3, SLO#4, SLO#5
  Discussion Activity 3. Research and Reflection on Open Source Software and Libraries. 200 points. Due Sunday, October 19 supports SLO#1, SLO#2, SLO#3, SLO#4, SLO#5
  Discussion Activity 4. Research and Reflection on Copyright & The Public Domain and Open Licenses in the Context of Open Source Software. 200 points. Due Sunday, October 26 supports SLO#1, SLO#2, SLO#3, SLO#4, SLO#5

Assignment Basic Format Guidelines

Please use the following class header on the top left-hand side of each page AND as the file name you use to save the assignment in before uploading to Canvas:

• LIBR 287-12 _Firstname_Lastname_ Assignment name_CurrentSemester_Year
  Example: LIBR 287-12_Diane_Kovacs_Discussion Activity 1_Fall_2014.doc
• Also include in each assignment:
  • Name of the assignment
  • Your first and last name
  • Your email address
  • Date
  • Save as .doc or .txt or other readable format.

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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 200, Other prerequisites may be added depending on content. 

Student Learning Outcomes

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

1. Know about major OSS applications and know how to locate OSS programs.
2. Have an understanding of the Open Source Software (OSS) movement.
3. Know about the current library-related OSS landscape.
4. Understand key issues surrounding OSS implementation in libraries.
5. Have a basic understanding of copyright and open licenses and their relation to the topics covered in the course.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)

LIBR 287 supports the following core competencies:

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Textbooks

Recommended Textbooks:

• Engard, N. (2009). Library Mashups: Exploring new ways to deliver library data. Information Today. Available through Amazon: 1573873721

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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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