LIBR 286-10
Interpersonal Communication Skills for Librarians
Fall 2009 Greensheet

Dr. Renee Jefferson
E-mail
Office Hours: ANGEL, by appointment


Greensheet Links
Textbooks and Readings
Course Requirements
Resources
ANGEL
ANGEL Tutorials
iSchool eBookstore
 

This course uses ANGEL for communication, discussion, submitting assignments, and recording grades. You will enroll in the 286-10 site between August 19, 2009 and the first day of class.  You will be given a password access code via MySJSU prior to August 19, 2009.

Course Description

This course surveys the principles and practice of interpersonal communication within small group and peer relationships.

Course Prerequisites: LIBR 200, 204 required.

Course Objectives

Student Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to perform the following:

  1. Describe the role of communication.
  2. Apply the concepts and issues related to interpersonal communication.
  3. Distinguish be appropriate and inappropriate interpersonal communication techniques within a professional working environment.
  4. Apply appropriate interpersonal communication techniques within a professional working environment.

LIBR 286 supports the following MLIS Core Competencies:

  • demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for group work, collaborations and professional level presentations.

Course Requirements

Assignments
All assignments must be turned in by 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) on their due dates. The grade for an assignment submitted after the due date and time will be reduced by 5% for each day that is late. Assignments submitted on or after the 7th day of the due date will not be accepted and a grade of zero will be entered. Extra credit assignments will not be available.

  • Communication Exercises (Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, & 4; 60% of final course grade): The purpose of the exercises is to give you an opportunity to explore and discuss interpersonal communication topics presented in the textbook. The exercises will consist of individual and group assignments.
  • Virtual Presentation (Learning Outcomes 2 & 4; 30% of the final course grade): Each group will make a virtual presentation.
  • Virtual Presentation Evaluations (Learning Outcomes 2 & 3; 10% of the final course grade): You will evaluate two group presentations.

Course Calendar
The following table includes the course assignments and due dates. The due dates may change to accommodate class needs. Sufficient notice will be provided for any change in due dates.

Assignments Points Due Date
Communication Exercises 60 8/31, 9/14, 9/28, 10/12, 10/26, 11/9
Virtual Presentation 30 11/16
Virtual Presentation Evaluations 10 12/2
Total 100  

Textbooks and Readings

Required Textbook:

  • Ross, C. S., & Dewdney, P. (1998). Communicating Professionally. Neal-Schuman. Available through Amazon: 1555703402. arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain


Grading Scale

The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:

97 to 100 A
94 to 96 A minus
91 to 93 B plus
88 to 90 B
85 to 87 B minus
82 to 84 C plus
79 to 81 C
76 to 78 C minus
73 to 75 D plus
70 to 72 D
67 to 69 D minus
Below 67 F

 

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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