LIBR 281-04
LIBR 281-13
Seminar in Contemporary Issues
Topic: New Perspectives on Literacy 
Fall 2009 Greensheet

Dr. Kristen Radsliff Clark
E-mail
Office: San Diego
Office Hours: By appointment.
Elluminate: Tuesdays 1:00 to 2:00 pm (password is donut). 

This is an online-only class using Angel and Elluminate. Students must self-enroll for the course on Angel between August 22th and August 26th. The required password access enrollment code will be provided in an email via the MySJSU Messaging system.

The course begins via Angel on Monday, August 24th. Elluminate sessions will begin on Tuesday August 25th at 1pm. Attendance at the Elluminate sessions are not mandatory - recordings will be available.

Course Description

Course explores traditional approaches to literacy as well as Multiliteracies, New Literacies, and Popular Literacies lines of research. Frameworks are presented to inform the design of interventions and artifacts to promote learning within libraries and other informal learning environments.

Course Prerequisites
Demonstrated computer literacy. Students need to know how to download software, zip and unzip files, work with folders, and elementary computer trouble shooting. Students need to know how to download software, zip and unzip files, work with folders, and elementary computer trouble shooting.

Course Objectives

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will understand literacy as a socially and culturally situated concept and be aware of dominant and emerging models which support and guide research in the field;
• Students will have the ability to define a set of terms reflecting fundamental concepts of literacy which have emerged from multiple approaches to the subject and use them in discussions of their projects for the class;
• Students will be able to articulate fundamental concepts of multiple approaches to literacy and employ them in the design and evaluation of learning environments and curricula.

LIBR 281 supports the following MLIS Core Competencies:

• Design training programs based on appropriate learning principles and theories;
• Understand the nature of research, research methods and research findings; retrieve, evaluate and synthesize scholarly and professional literature for informed decision-making by specific client groups;
• Demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for group work, collaborations and professional level presentations;

Top of Page

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, including Angel, Elluminate and Second Life. This course must be completed by all new SLIS students within the first 4 weeks of their first semester. If you have questions about this course, e-mail Debbie Faires or Dale David.

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

Help! How do I …?
I will create a discussion forum in Angel general questions regarding due-dates, structure of assignments, and clarification of concepts. Please post your general questions here so that all students may benefit. Feel free to contact me via email at kclark@slis.sjsu.edu. Placing the words: 281 question and your section number in the subject field will guarantee that your email will get to my high priority folder so that I can get back to you promptly (usually within 24 to 48 hours).

Assignments and Extra Credit
In addition to weekly summaries of readings, students will complete a short introduction of themselves via Angel, multiple projects, and a reflection paper. I will assign 1% extra credit if students complete SOTES. Simply complete the survey and drop me an email at the end of the semester. More specific information regarding all assignments and extra credit will be made available on the Angel course website. 

Weekly Summaries, Angel, and Elluminate Participation
All students will send weekly summaries of readings to me via Angel. These will be graded on a submitted/not submitted basis. See the “Notes on Weekly Summaries” and handouts. I will also hold weekly Elluminate lecture/workshop sessions on Tuesdays. Attendance at the Elluminate sessions are not mandatory - recordings will be available. **Part of participation in this course includes listening well to others and engaging with opposing viewpoints. You are expected to be respectful and thoughtful in responding to each other and in responding to the course materials

Course Calendar

Week 1 – Introduction and Traditional notions of literacy (8/24-8/30)

Week 2 – Critical Approaches to Education (8/31-9/6) 

Week 3 – Approaches to literacy based on critical theory cont. (9/7-9/13)

Week 4 – From literacy to literacies  (9/14-9/20)

Week 5 – Critical literacies (9/21-9/27)

Week 6 – Critical literacies cont. (9/28-10/4)

 Week 7 – MIDTERM WEEK (10/5-10/11)

 Week 8 – Multiliteracies Pedagogical Framework (10/12-10/18)

Week 9 – Multiliteracies Pedagogical Framework cont. (10/19-10/25)

Week 10 – New Literacies (10/26-11/1)

Week 11 – Popular Literacies (11/2-11/8)

Week 12 – Informal Learning Environments  (11/9-11/15)

Week 13 – Literacy Events Design (11/16-11/22)

Week 14 – Catch-up & Review (11/23-11/29)

 Week 15 – Wrap-Up (11/30-12/8 - 1 week 2 days) 

FALL 2009

Friday............................ July 3 .......................... Independence Day Observed –Campus Closed (I)
Thursday....................... August 20 .................. Academic Year Begins – Fall Semester Begins
Thursday - Friday.......... August 20-21 .............. Pre-Instruction Activities: Orientation, Advisement, FacultyMeetings and Conferences (P)
Monday......................... August 24 ................... First Day of Instruction - Classes Begin
Thursday....................... September 3............... Last Day to Drop Courses Without an Entry on Student'sPermanent Record (D)
Monday......................... September 7 ............... Labor Day - Campus Closed (L)
Friday............................ September 11............. Last Day to Add Courses & Register Late (A)
Monday......................... September 21............. Enrollment Census Date (CD)
Wednesday................... November 11 .............. Veteran’s Day -Campus Closed (V)
Wednesday................... November 25.............. Classes that start at 5:00 PM or later will not meet.
Thursday....................... November 26 .............. Thanksgiving Day - Campus Closed (T)
Friday............................ November 27 .............. Rescheduled Holiday – Campus Closed (RH)
Tuesday........................ December 8................ Last Day of Instruction – Last Day of Classes
Wednesday................... December 9................ Study/Conference Day (no classes or exams) (SC)
Thursday - Friday.......... December 10-11......... Final Examinations (exams)Monday -
Wednesday... December 14-16......... Final Examinations (exams)
Thursday....................... December 17.............. Final Examinations Make-Up Day (MU)
Friday............................ December 18.............. Grade Evaluation Day (E)
Monday......................... December 21.............. Grades Due From Faculty – End of Fall Semester (G)
December 22-............. WINTER RECESSJanuary 24
Friday............................ December 25.............. Christmas Holiday – Campus Closed (CH)

Textbooks and Readings

***All readings can be accessed online via Angel.***

No Textbooks For This Course

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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