INFO 204-04
INFO 204-13
Information Professions
Fall 2021 Syllabus
Dr. Deborah Hicks
E-mail
Office Hours:
Virtual office hours. See Canvas for times.
| Syllabus Links Textbooks CLOs Competencies Prerequisites |
Resources Canvas Login and Tutorials iSchool eBookstore |
Canvas Information: Courses will be available beginning August 19, 2021, at 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 in the Canvas site automatically.
Course Description
As they respond to the information needs of clients and communities, information organizations face complex and exciting challenges. This course will help prepare students to take on these challenges by providing them with an understanding of the organizations and environments in which information professionals work, traditional and emerging professional roles, and core management and leadership theories. This knowledge will help students understand the similarities and differences among information organizations, explore different specializations and career paths, apply professional values to ethical decision-making, and to develop core management and leadership skills. This course prepares students to be active participants in their professional communities and networks and to become collaborative professionals ready to take on management and leadership roles.
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, including Collaborate. For more information, see INFO 203 Online Learning.
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.
Weekly Schedule
|
Module |
Topics |
Required Readings |
Activity and Assignment Due Dates |
|
1 Aug 18-24 |
Introduction to the Big Ideas of INFO 204 |
Textbook: |
Activity: Introduction and LibSquares Due Aug 24 |
|
2 Aug 25-31 |
Origins of the Information Professions Core Professional Values Working in Teams
|
Textbook: Chapter 5: Diversity, Equity of Access, and Social Justice Articles: Wiegand, W. (2020). Sanitizing American library history: Reflections of a library historian. Library Quarterly, 90(2). https://doi.org/10.1086/707669 Web Resource: |
Activity: Current Events and Core Values Due Aug 31 |
|
3 Sept 1-7 (Labor Day: Sept 6) |
Ethics and Decision Making
|
Textbook: Book Chapters: Read Chapter 2: A New Framework for EBLIP and one of the following: Chapter 9: Academic Libraries Chapter 10: Public Libraries Chapter 11: Health Libraries Chapter 12: School Libraries Chapter 13: Special Libraries |
Activity: Ethics Case Studies Due Sept 7 |
| Sept 8-14 | *Work Week* | No Readings |
Assignments: Organizational Analysis - Group Ground Rules Foundations Assignment |
|
4 Sept 15-21
|
Information Sectors and Environments
|
Article: Chapter 6: Literacy and Media Centers: School Libraries Chapter 7: Learning and Research Institutions: Academic Libraries Chapter 8: Community Anchors for Lifelong Learning: Public Libraries Chapter 9: Working in Different Information Environments: Special Libraries and Information Centers Chapter 10: Digital Resources: Digital Libraries |
Activity: Environmental Scan Searching Due Sept 21 |
|
5 Sept 22-28 |
Introduction to Management Organizational Planning
|
Textbook: Article: |
Activity: Analyze Strategic Plans Due Sept 28 |
|
6 Sept 29-Oct 5 |
Financial Management
|
Textbook: Book Chapter: Article: |
Activity: Budget Case Studies Due Oct 5 |
|
7 Oct 6-12 |
Personnel Management |
Textbook: Articles: Allard, D., Lieu, A., Oliphant, T. (2020). Reading between the lines: An environmental scan of writing about third-party sexual harassment in the LIS literature and beyond. Library Quarterly, 90(4), https://doi.org/10.1086/710256 |
Activity: HR case studies Due Oct 12 |
|
8 Oct 13-19 |
Advocacy |
Textbook: Chapter 28: Advocacy Web Resource: |
Activity: Elevator Pitches Due Oct 19
|
|
9 Oct 20-26 |
Assessment and Evaluation |
Articles and Web Resources: Farkas, M. (2013). Building and sustaining a culture of assessment: Best practices for change leadership. Reference Services Review, 41, 13-31. doi: 10.1108/00907321311300857 Magnus, E., Belanger, J., & Faber, M. (2018). Towards a critical assessment practice. In the Library with the Lead Pipe. Retrieved from Reuter, K., & Silipigni Connaway, L. (2018). User-centered assessment: Leveraging what you know and filling in the gaps [Webinar]. Retrieved from |
Assignment: Due Oct 22 Activity: Developing KIPs Due Oct 26
|
|
10 Oct 27-Nov 2 |
Crisis Management |
Articles: Erickson, S. (2021). Communication in a crisis and the importance of authenticity and transparency. Journal of Library Administration, 61(4), 476-483. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2021.1906556 O'Neill, B., & Kelley, R. (2021). Delivering bad news: Crisis communication methods in academic libraries. College and Research Libraries, 82(3). https://crl.acrl.org/index.php/crl/article/view/24913 |
Activity: Crisis Communication Due Nov 2
|
|
11 Nov 3-9 |
Technology Management
|
Textbook: Chapter 26: Managing Data and Data Analysis in Information Organizations Chapter 32: Information Licensing |
Activity: Advocate for a Technology Trend Due Nov 9
|
|
Nov 10-16 |
*Work Week* |
No readings |
Assignment: Organizational Analysis - Strategic Plan Due Nov 16
|
|
12 Nov 17-23 |
Leadership: An Introduction |
Textbook: Thomas, C., Trucks, E., & Kounds, H. B., (219, April 17). Preparing early career librarians for leadership and management: A feminist critique. In the Library with the Lead Pipe. https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2019/early-career-leadership-and-management/ |
Activity: LibSquares Revisited Due Nov 23 |
| Nov 24-30 | *Thanksgiving and Work Period* | No Readings |
Assignment: Organizational Analysis - Presentation Due Nov 30 |
|
13 Dec 1-7 |
Leadership, Change, and Planning for the Future
|
Textbook: And, two of the following: Chapter 11: Information Intermediation and Reference Services Chapter 12: Metadata, Cataloging, Linked Data, and the Evolving ILS Chapter 13: Analog and Digital Curation and Preservation Chapter 16: Teaching Users: Information and Technology Instruction |
Assignments: Organizational Analysis - Peer- and Self-Reviews Leadership Infographic and Reflection Due Dec 7 |
Assessments
Module Activities
Students will perform 10 activities relating to course topics. Activities will include case studies and scenarios, reflections, critical analysis of organizational documents, and hands-on practice of key professional skills. Students will use a variety of modalities (such as written report and videos) to express themselves. (Course Learning Outcomes: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9)
LibSquares Activities
Using an arts-based approach, students will reflect on what it means to be a librarian and/or information professional. (Course Learning Outcomes: #1, #7)
Foundations Assignment
In either a podcast or written format, students will critically engage with and reflect on a key foundational aspect of the information professions, library and information science, or a core professional value of their choice. (Course Learning Outcomes: #1, #5, #9)
Leadership Infographic and Reflection
Using LIS databases, other relevant resources, and personal reflection, students will gain an understanding of the role of leadership within the information professions and develop their personal thoughts and ideas about leadership. (Course Learning Outcomes: #2, #5, #6, #9)
Organizational Analysis
Working together in small groups, students will create an organizational analysis for an information organization of their choice. The assignment consists of five parts. First, each team will create Group Ground Rules for working together. Second, each team will conduct an environmental scan and SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) of their chosen information organization. Teams will then use this information to draft vision, mission, and value statements for the organization. Third, based on the second part of the project, the group will articulate strategic directions for the information organization. Fourth, the team will present its strategic plan and associated planning documents to their classmates. Fifth, students peer review team member's individual contributions and performance. (Course Learning Outcomes: #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7,#8)
Grading
|
Assignment |
Point Value |
Due Dates |
|
Module activities |
2 points each (20 points total) |
Ongoing |
| LibSquare Activities | 5 points |
Part 1 - Aug 24 Part 2 - Nov 23 |
| Foundations Assignment | 15 points | September 17 |
|
Leadership Infographic and Reflection |
15 points |
December 7 |
|
Organizational Analysis |
Part 1. Group Ground Rules –5 points Part 2. Environmental Scan – 15 points Part 3. Strategic Plan – 10 points Part 4. Presentation – 10 points Part 5. Peer- and Self-Review – 5 points |
Part 1 - Sept 14 Part 2 - Oct 22 Part 3 - Nov 16 Part 4 - Nov 30 Part 5 - Dec 7 |
Other Relevant Information:
All assignments (excluding module activities and parts 1-4 of the Organizational Analysis) must be submitted before 11:59 pm Pacific Time on the due date. Grades will be reduced for any late work, each day late, by ten percent (10%). Please contact the instructor prior to a deadline in the case of illness or emergency. Additional late policy details available in Canvas.
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:
- Describe the similarities and differences between various information organizations and professional roles from historical, current, and future perspectives.
- Recognize the roles and activities of managers in information organizations.
- Explain strategic planning processes and skills.
- Identify and choose appropriate assessment tools for evaluating organizational effectiveness.
- Synthesize (including reviewing, using and properly citing) the professional and research management and leadership literature.
- Demonstrate leadership abilities through collaborative teamwork.
- Analyze and assess their own and others leadership abilities through self-reflection and peer review.
- Apply management theories and principles, professional values, and ethical frameworks to organizational issues and decision-making using scenarios and case studies.
- Create and deliver high quality reports, presentations and organizational documents that communicate to internal and external stakeholders organizational values, missions, and priorities.
Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)
INFO 204 supports the following core competencies:
- A Demonstrate awareness of the ethics, values, and foundational principles of one of the information professions, and discuss the importance of those principles within that profession.
- B Describe and compare organizational settings in which information professionals practice.
- D Apply the fundamental principles of planning, management, marketing, and advocacy.
- M Demonstrate professional leadership and communication skills.
- N Evaluate programs and services using measurable criteria.
Textbooks
Required Textbooks:
- American Psychological Association (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). American Psychological Association. Available through Amazon: 1433832178.
- Hirsh, S. (Ed.) (2018). Information services today: An introduction (2nd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. Available as free eBook through King Library
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 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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