INFO 204-03
Information Professions
Fall 2018 Syllabus

Sean Gaffney
E-mail
Office location: Holiday, FL
Office Hours: by arrangement

Canvas Information: Courses will be available beginning August 21 at 6 am PDT 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 in the Canvas site automatically.

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 INFO 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 Core Courses and Electives (http://ischool.sjsu.edu/current-students/courses/core-courses-and-electives).

Writing Requirement
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

Individual Assignments

• Participation - Each student will be expected to interact and participate using the Canvas Discussion Forums. Bi-weekly discussion questions will be organized around readings from the textbook. More information can be found in the Assignments section of Canvas under Participation (70 points) Supports CLO #2, #4, #6
• Critical Summary - Students will select an article related to International Librarianship from the professional literature and write a short evaluative/critical annotation. (30 points) Supports CLO #8
• Change Management Essay - Students will read "Who Moved My Cheese" and write a short interpretive essay. (75 points) Supports CLO #4
• Resume Assignment - Students will prepare a professional resume and letter of application for an LIS position. (50 points) Supports CLO #3
• Professional Development Essay - Students will use course materials to explore a variety of roles available in the LIS Profession and write a short essay relating to their goals. (75 points) Supports CLO #1, #3

Group Assignment

• Strategic Plan - Working in teams, students will select a library or information center and develop a comprehensive strategic plan. (200 points) Supports CLO #2, #4, #5, #7

Course Calendar

We will cover two to four chapters per week from the Hirsch text. There will also be additional readings posted regularly in Canvas.

In addition, I will conduct various Zoom Sessions to discuss assignments, provide additional insight into topics of interest, and answer questions. These sessions are OPTIONAL and will be recorded for those unable to attend.

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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 204 has no prequisite requirements.

Course 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 and discuss the professional values and ethics of library and information science.
3. Explore a number of professional opportunities and related supports available to information professionals.
4. 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.
5. Understand analytical and strategic planning processes and skills.
6. Identify various information stakeholders and the information environments that provide for their needs.
7. Experience and assess working in teams.
8. Review, use and properly cite the professional and research literature of management and leadership.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)

INFO 204 supports the following core competencies:

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Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

• Hirsh, S. (Ed.) (2018). Information services today: An introduction (2nd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. Available as free eBook through King Library

• Johnson, S. (1998). Who moved my Cheese? Putnam. Available through Amazon: 0399144463.

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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 or undergraduate (for BS-ISDA);
  For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA, Informatics, BS-ISDA) — 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 if you wish to stay in the program. 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.

Graduate Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). Undergraduates must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

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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