INFO 298-14 (1-Unit)
Special Studies: Professional Socialization and Leadership
Summer 2017 Syllabus

Ms. Patty Wong
E-mail
Other contact information: (530) 848-8768 cell
Office Hours: Students may contact Instructor for appointment beyond face to face seminars.

Canvas Information: Courses will be available beginning June 5th, 6 am PT unless you are taking an intensive or a one-unit or two-unit class that starts on a different day. In that case, the class will open on the first day that the class meets.

You will be enrolled into the Canvas site automatically.

Course Description

The MLIS program encourages lifelong learning as a professional value. One means of engaging with colleagues and new development is through association and conference participation. This course examines current trends and issues using an annual professional conference as the "text." Note: the American Library Association annual conference in Chicago, IL from June 22-27, 2017 will be the vehicle and venue for this course. Students will attend seminars daily beginning June 22 through the conclusion of the conference. 

The course will feature opportunities to meet with prominent ALA member leaders, a bird's eye view of association governance, participation in a number of programs, and attendance at the conference trade show.  A preconference collaborate session will be scheduled during the week of June 5. Students must attend or review the archived session prior to coming to ALA conference.

This is a 1-unit class. Requires attendance at ALA Annual Conference in Chicago: June 22-27, 2017. Students must meet the school's home computing and technology literacy prerequisites. Seehttp://ischool.sjsu.edu/current-students/technology-support/home-computing-environment.

Course Requirements

Pre-conference:

• Assignment #1: There is a total of one orientation and two lectures prior to the ALA Annual Conference meeting.   Attendance at the Collaborate sessions is not required but strongly encouraged.  Sessions will be recorded and must be reviewed well in advance of Conference attendance. Assignment supports CLO #1
• Assignment #2: Students will be assigned a short project and readings prior to the first meeting with the instructor the day before the conference begins. Assignment supports CLO #1
• Assignment #3: An association leader will provide an overview of the association history, issues, and conference organization, for which the students will have prepared to engage in discussion.  Several association members and staff from various part of  ALA will attend sessions to provide insight on leadership.  Assignment supports CLO #2
• Assignment #4: Students will organize with the instructor to ensure that at least one student attends two different conference sessions each day; each student will attend a minimum of eight sessions. Sessions may include no more than two conference receptions. Students will be provided with a template for reporting on conference sessions, including a brief description of content, the research on which the presentation was based, possible implications for best practices, questions or concerns raised for further investigation.  Assignment supports CLO #6
• Assignment #5: Students will work with the instructor to plan criteria for an assessment of the trade show and exhibits and the latest trends in products and services.  Assignment supports CLO #5
• Assignment #6: Students will attend a session on professional networking. Assignment supports CLO #4

Conference:

• Assignment #7: Each day the instructor and students will meet to discuss content, research bases, implications for best practice and issues. Student teams will lead one session, having prepared an introduction, thought-provoking questions, and preparation for the next discussion.  Assignment supports CLO #7

Post-conference:

• Assignment #8: Students will post a five-page research paper on an area requiring further investigation, incorporating one or more conference sessions and an assessment of their foundation for professional practice. Assignment supports CLO #3
• Assignment #9: Students will complete a reflective journal of their conference experience; guidelines will be provided.  Assignment supports CLO #6

Course Calendar
Tentative Course Calendar (as known May 1 - conference meeting times may be subject to change)

All of the Conference Seminars will be held at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place (HRM), 2233 South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Chicago, IL. The hotel is adjacent to the McCormick Place West, the conference center, and is one of the Conference Hotels. 

Course seminars will be 2 hours in length. Times and room location to be announced in early June 2017. Other features will include the SJSU iSchool reception and much more.

Course Grading

To obtain credit, a student requires a minimum grade of 79% (C), which constitutes "adequate" work for a graduate level course.

Other Relevant Information

• Attendance: Regular attendance is expected of students. Please be present and on time for class or inform the instructor in advance (530) 848-8768, as you would any supervisor in a workplace; as there is no final examination, absence from two or more seminars will make it difficult for you to succeed.
• Evaluation: Evaluation in this course is an ongoing process. An important part of this process is the strengthening of your own self-evaluation skills - learning the process of critical, non-defensive scrutiny of your own performance. The better you are able to do this, the more your professional growth will continue after you leave the course. Should the course requirement or grading practices appear unclear or inconsistent, it is your right and responsibility to seek clarification from the instructor.
• Other Course Policies:
  (1) Please be present and on time for class or inform the instructor in advance; as there is no final examination, absence from two or more classes may result in failure;
  (2) submit assignments on time according to instructions; written assignments will not be accepted after the stated deadline without prior approval, and may be subject to a grade penalty;
  (3) contribute positively and productively to the professional growth of others in meetings, seminars, and peer assessments;
  (4) complete readings and assignments to increase understanding of leadership and management issues;
  (5) complete assigned tasks with demonstrated understanding of process, competence in products and the ability to analyze objectively and critically one's performance.

Readings

• American Library Association website: www.alaannual.org/
• Rezac, Darcy et al. Work the Pond! Use the Power of Positive Networking to Leap Forward in Work and Life (2005)

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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

INFO 298 has no prequisite requirements.

Course Learning Outcomes

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

1. Explain the role of professional conferences in continuing professional education.
2. Tell the history and development of the state/national association.
3. Appraise the professional literature emanating from association members.
4. Network and interact with peers and association leaders and discuss current issues and trends in association leadership and the profession.
5. Assess industry trends in product development and utility for professional practice.
6. Analyze the research base for best practices as articulated by conference presenters.
7. Lead discussions with peers on critical observation of the library landscape.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)

INFO 298 supports the following core competencies:

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Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

• Rezac, D., Thomson, J. & Hallgren-Rezac, G. (2005). Work The Pond! Use the power of positive networking to leap forward in work and life. Prentice-Hall. Available through Amazon: 0735204020

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Grading

This is a Credit/No Credit course. Incompletes will only be awarded in the case of serious medical or family issues (with appropriate documentation supplied).

University Policies

Per University Policy S16-9, university-wide policy information relevant to all courses, such as academic integrity, accommodations, etc. will be available on Office of Graduate and Undergraduate Programs' Syllabus Information web page at: https://www.sjsu.edu/curriculum/courses/syllabus-info.php. Make sure to visit this page, review and be familiar with these university policies and resources.

In order to request an accommodation in a class please contact the Accessible Education Center and register via the MyAEC portal.

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