INFO 287-11
Seminar in Information Science
Innovation and Participatory Practice in Libraries 
Fall 2021 Syllabus

Alicia Hammond
E-mail 

Office Location: Online
Office Hours: By appointment 

Canvas Information: Courses will be available beginning August 19 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

This course is intended as an introduction to participation and creativity in libraries, with a focus on DIY culture, innovation, and developing creativity through play. Students will focus on the value of active participation in experiential learning. They will also be asked to explore the power of innovation and play in a cultural organization. Students will also cover the DIY and Maker movements, particularly as they relate to STEM education in libraries and other areas for informal learning. Emphasis is placed on encouraging patrons to engage with their libraries as a place for intellectual growth and curiosity, through the design of surprising interactive spaces and mentorship of visitors in content creation. 

Course Calendar

Subject to change with fair notice.

Course Requirements

Grading will be based on a total accumulation of possible 100 points, distributed as follows:

Grading

• Introduction Question & Comment (1%)
• Weekly Discussion Questions & Comment (26%)
• Three Projects (39%)
• Mid Term Check-In (1%)
• Wrap Up Questions (8%)
• Final Project: Development of Makerspace or Participatory Space Plan (25%)

Assignments

• Introduction Questions & Comments (worth 1 point or 1%) Answer introduction questions and comment on three other classmates' posts. Due: Sunday, August 29 at 11:59 pm PT

• Class Participation and Discussion (worth a total of 26 points or 26%) For 12 weeks of the semester, students will answer discussion questions and comment on fellow student's discussion questions. Each week, students will answer three questions (worth a 1/2 point each). They will also comment at least one time on another student's discussion each week. This will be worth 1/2 point. Discussion questions and comments will be given full points if they are informed based on the class teachings as well as respectful to other students. Due: All posts are due each week by Sunday at 11:59 pm PST. Late submissions will not be accepted.
• Wrap-Up Questions (worth 8 points or 8%) Students will be asked to answer several questions in depth to show what they have learned through the semester. Due Sunday, November 21 at 11:59 pm PT.

• Projects (worth 39 points or 39%)
  • Project #1: #MakeSomething Activity & Reflection Paper (CLO 2,5) Worth: 12 points  Due: Sunday, September 12 (11:59 pm Pacific Time)
  • Project #2: Design Thinking/IDEO Project (CLO 5) Worth: 12 points  Due: Sunday, October 10 (11:59 pm Pacific Time)
  • Project #3:  Library/Museum Visit Report (CLO 1-5) Worth: 15 points Due: Sunday, November 7 (11:59 pm Pacific Time)

• Final Project: Library Makerspace/Participatory Space Plan (worth 25 points or 25%) (CLO 1-5)  Due Monday, December 6 at 11:59 pm PT

Other Relevant Information  

Participation is extremely important in any graduate-level course. You will learn more by respectfully challenging each other (and me) then you will from any text. The best way to take in and learn about new ideas is by actively participating.  A full 26 percent of your grade in this class is determined by your level of participation in class discussion. My expectation is that you will not only submit weekly answers to discussion questions for your fellow students and myself to read but that you will also present timely comments on your classmates' thoughts and add to discussions in the online class forums provided. If you comment thoughtfully and respectfully during each week's class, you can expect full credit. To receive full credit, please comment on at least one other students' discussion question. If you do not submit discussion questions and a comment by the due date, you will receive 0 points. The late policy does not pertain to discussion questions.  

Late Assignment Policy

Late projects will be penalized 5% of total possible points if turned in within the first 24 hour period after the specified due date and time, and 5% per 24 hours period after that time, up to five full days after the due date. Late assignments will be accepted, with a penalty, up to five days after the due date. Assignments submitted at any later time without an approved excuse will not be accepted. Class discussions have no late policy.

Questions

If you have questions about the class at any time, please feel free to contact me by email. I will be checking one to two times a day unless I have previously stated a scheduling issue.

top

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 287 has no prequisite requirements.

Course Learning Outcomes

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

1. Identify the library's role in STEM education.
2. Understand models of learning by play and active participation within and outside the library community.
3. Evaluate models for physical content creation in libraries.
4. Use and evaluate maker tools.
5. Identify and apply a personal innovation style.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)

INFO 287 supports the following core competencies:

top

Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

• Kelley, T., & Littman, J. (2005). The ten faces of innovation: IDEO's strategies for defeating the devil's advocate and driving creativity throughout your organization. Doubleday. Available through Amazon: 0385512074

Recommended Textbooks:

• Simon, N. (2010). The Participatory Museum. Museum 2.0. Available through Amazon: 0615346502

top

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.

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to access PDF files.

More accessibility resources.