LBR 200 Information Literacy Spring 2008

Information since 1868

LBR 200 Information Literacy
Spring 2008

Tuesdays 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Fogler Library Classroom

Instructor: Joe Fernandez
Raymond H. Fogler Library
207.581.3611
joe.fernandez@umit.maine.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 5 p.m.- 6 p.m. or by appointment

Information literacy is a lifelong skill and is defined as the set of abilities that enables individuals to

Determine the extent of information needed
Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
Evaluate information and its sources critically
Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally

Association of College & Research Libraries. Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Learning

Course Description

This course will provide students with theoretical background and hands-on experience in dealing with the many kinds of information resources available today. Students will examine the role of information in today’s society and practice critical thinking skills to improve their research abilities for future coursework and personal research.

During this course, we will examine a variety of information-related topics, including the organization of information, the research process, evaluating information, and academic integrity, among others. Through lectures, readings, in-class assignments, response papers, and other course assignments, students will learn how to do basic library research with specific information resources in a variety of formats.

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

Locate and critically evaluate a variety of information resources
Understand the nature of scholarly, government, non-profit, and commercial information
Formulate search terms to effectively access resources using indexes, databases and the Internet
Use information appropriately

Readings:
List-Handley, C. J. (2005). Information literacy & technology. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt.
This textbook (ILT) is available at the university bookstore.
Additional readings are listed on your course schedule below; they are available through Fogler Library databases or through direct links provided below. These readings are not optional; they` will be the focus of our class discussions and your written assignments; active class participation is a requirement.

Attendance: Attendance is expected for all classes. If you have an emergency, please contact me before class.

Disability Accommodation: If you need accommodation for a disability, please contact Ann Smith, Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities (207.581.2319) as early as possible.

Assignments & Grading: Grading for this course will be based on the following:

Written assignments: 60 points
Brief (1-2 pages) based on the class readings, assigned topics and class discussions. You will write 12 of these over the course of the semester as scheduled below.
Issue paper: 50 points
The issue paper is a longer paper (3 pages) on an information-related issue that you have read about, or that we have discussed in class. Use the APA writing style for this paper. It is due on April 01, 2008 at which time you will also make a short presentation on your topic.

Two short presentations: 20 points
Issue paper on April 01, 2008
Annotated bibliography on April 22, 2008

Quizzes: 80 points
There will be two quizzes for this course on February 19, 2008 and April 29, 2008 based on readings, class assignments, lectures, and class discussions.

Annotated bibliography: 100 points
Using the APA writing style, prepare an annotated bibliography of 9 to 12 resources. Instructions
A condensed version of the APA writing style is available at http://library.umaine.edu/virtualref/citations.htm. Copies of Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 5th edition are available at the Reference Desk on the first floor of Fogler Library. This assignment is due on April 22, 2008 at which time you will give a short presentation about your bibliography.

In-class assignments: 60 points

Class participation - 30 points

The following grading scale will be used for your final course grade in this class:

90% - 100%     = A (360 - 400 points)
80% - 89%       = B (320 - 359 points)
70% - 79%       = C (280 - 319 points)
60% - 69%       = D (240 - 279 points)
Less than 60% = F (less than 240 points)

Schedule of Classes

Week 1: January 15, 2008 - Overview
Introduction
Pretest
Grading
Library tour
Written assignments
What is an issue paper?
What is an annotated bibliography?
APA writing style
URSUS
ILLiad account
Academic Search Premier – Create folder
Information/information literacy
What does it mean to be information literate?
In-class assignments

Week 2: January 22, 2008 - What is information? What is information literacy?
Outline of knowledge
Information in the library
Information anxiety
Information overload
In-class assignments

Readings:

Read before class and be prepared for in-class discussion:

ILT Chapters 1 & 2

Burkhardt, J., MacDonald, M. & Rathemacher, A. (2004). What is information? Retrieved January 11, 2008 from
      http://www.uri.edu/library/staff_pages/kinnie/lib120/info.html

Darrow, R. & MacDonald, C. (2004). What is information literacy in the digital age? CSLA Journal, 27(2), 21-23.

Plotnick, E. (1999). Information literacy. [Electronic Version]. Syracuse, NY: Clearinghouse on Information & Technology. (ERIC Document
      Reproduction Service NO. ED 427777). (Available through URSUS)

Issue paper topic due today; brief in-class presentation about your topic. Submit a half-page description about your topic
Written assignment due today: Submit brief (1-2 pages) reading response to ILT chapters 1 & 2

Week 3: January 29, 2008 - Classifying information
Read before class and be prepared for in-class discussion:

ILT Chapter 3

Wolbers, D. (2002). Outline of knowledge. Retrieved January 04, 2008 from http://www.smccd.net/accounts/skylib/lsci100/lesson2_1.htm

Library of Congress. (n.d.). Library of Congress classification system. Retrieved January 7, 2008 from http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/lcco.html

TNRD Library System. (n.d.). Dewey decimal classification system. Retrieved January 8, 2008 from http://www.tnrdlib.bc.ca/dewey.html

Griffin, L. (2002). An explanation of the Superintendent of Documents classification system. Retrieved January 03, 2008 from
     http://www.gl.iit.edu/govdocs/sudoc.html

The U. S. Government Printing Office. (n.d.). The government documents classification system. Retrieved January 9, 2008 from
   http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/explain.html

Legacy Library. (2004). Understanding call numbers. Retrieved January 07, 2008 from http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/legacylib/callno.html

Annotated bibliography topic due today; brief in-class presentation about your topic. Submit a half-page introduction to your topic
Written assignment due today: Submit brief (1-2 pages) reading response to ILT Chapter 3

Week 4: February 05, 2008 -  Libraries and Collections
History of libraries
Open access/Closed stack
Collection development policies
Collection development tools
In-class assignments

Read before class and be prepared for in-class discussion:

Cochrane, L. S. (2007). If the academic library ceased to exist, would we have to invent it? Educause, 42(1), 6-7. Retrieved January 12, 2008 from
      http://connect.educause.edu/Library/EDUCAUSE+Review/IftheAcademicLibraryCease/40684

Marcum, D. (2003). Requirements for the future digital library. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 29(5), 276-279.

Roach, R. (2007). U. S. Library of Congress and United Nations to build World Digital Library. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, 24(20), 53.

Written assignment due today: Submit brief paper (1-2 pages) about digital libraries.

Week 5: February 12, 2008 - Research process

How do ordinary people seek information?
How do researchers seek information?

What is research?
A model of the research process http ://www.smccd.net/accounts/skylib/lsci100/lesson2_4.htm
Original vs bibliographic
Quantitative vs qualitative
Primary sources vs secondary sources
Institutional Review Board (http://www.orsp.umesp.maine.edu/HumanSubjects.htm) (http://www.orsp.umesp.maine.edu/IACUC.htm)
Grey literature
Selecting and searching databases
Controlled vocabularies
Research bias
Keywords; Subject headings; Descriptors

Readings:

Read before class and be prepared for in-class discussion:

ILT Chapters 4 & 5

Wessel, C. B., Tannery, N. H. & Epstin, B. A. (2006). Information-seeking behavior and use of information resources by clinical research coordinators.
      Journal of the Medical Library Association, 94(1), 48-54.

Written assignment due today: Submit brief (1-2 pages) reading response to ILT Chapters 4 & 5
Due today: Draft of issue paper.

Week 6: February 19, 2008 - Academic integrity

Quiz #1

University of Maine policy on academic integrity
Importance of citations
Plagiarism http://library.umf.maine.edu/plagiarism/
Academic integrity
Citation styles – ALA; MLA; Turabian

Readings:

Read before class and be prepared for in-class discussion:

Burkill, S., Abbey, C. (2004). Avoiding plagiarism. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 28(3), 439-446.

Copyright trap. New Scientist, 192(2574), 62.

University of Maine. (n.d.). Academic honesty and dishonesty. Retrieved January 12, 2008 from http://www.umaine.edu/studentaffairs/jad/honesty.asp

Writing Tutorial Services. (2004). Plagiarism: What it is and how to recognize and avoid it. Retrieved January 12, 2008 from http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml

Written assignment due today: Submit brief (1-2 pages) response to this week's readings about plagiarism.

Week 7: February 26, 2008 - Patents and trademarks

Guest Lecture by Martin Wallace - Fogler Library Patents Librarian

Readings:

Read before class and be prepared for in-class discussion:

General information concerning patents http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/

Basic facts about trademarks http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/doc/basic/

Written assignment due today: Write a one-page guide to patents for college undergraduate students.

Week 8: March 04, 2008 - No class - Spring Break

Week 9: March 11, 2008 - No class - Spring Break

Week 10: March 18, 2008 - Publishing

Guest lecture by Jim Bird

Acceptance rates; Cabell’s; Faculty tenure; Publish or perish; Impact factor; Open access

Readings:

Read before class and be prepared for in-class discussion:

Cockerill, M. J., Tracz, V. (2006). Open access and the future of the scientific research article. Journal of Neuroscience, 26(40), 10079-10081.

Gropp, R. E. (2006). Senators propose fundamental change to scholarly publishing. Bioscience, 56(8), 648.

Hoey, J. (2006). Are journals doing enough to prevent fraudulent publication? CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal, 174(4), 431.

Written assignment due today: Submit brief (1-2 pages) paper about the problems students encounter when doing college research

Week 11: March 25, 2008 - Evaluating information
Critical evaluation of print and electronic sources
Readings:

Read before class and be prepared for in-class discussion:

Barker, L. (2006). Evaluating web pages. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www.acu.edu/academics/library/webeval.html

Browne, M. N.. (2000). The importance of critical thinking for student use of the Internet. College Student Journal, 34(3), 391-398.

Ormondroyd, J. (2004). Critically analyzing information sources. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from
        http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill26.htm

RUSA Machine-Assisted Reference Section. (2006). Best free reference web sites 2007 : Ninth annual list. [Electronic version]. Reference & User
        Services Quarterly, 46(1), 34-39. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from
        http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaourassoc/rusasections/mars/marspubs/marsbestref2007.cfm

Written assignment due today: Write a one-page guide for college undergraduate students about Wikipedia

Week 12: April 01, 2008 - How information is used in society

Issue paper due today and presentation of issue paper in class

Read before class and be prepared for in-class discussion:

Bartlett, J. C. & Toms, E. G. (2005). How is information used? Applying task analysis to understanding information use. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from
       http://www.cais-acsi.ca/proceedings/2005/bartlett_2005.pdf (Read sections 1 to 3.1)

Written assignment due today: Submit a brief (1-2 pages) paper about how information is used in society.

Week 13: April 08, 2008 – Citing information

Style manuals

Read before class and be prepared for in-class discussion:

ILT Chapter 7

Written assignment due today: Submit a one-page guide for undergraduate college students about citing information.

Week 14: April 15, 2008 Thinking about information

Copyright
Intellectual property
Privacy issues
Phishing
Ethical/Unethical use of information
Censorship

Readings:

Read before class and be prepared for in-class discussion:

ILT Chapter 8

Written assignment due today: Submit brief (1-2 pages) reading response to ILT Chapter 8

Week 15: April 22, 2008 Government Documents/Access to information

Readings:

Read before class and be prepared for in-class discussion:

Government Printing Office. (2007). GPO facts. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from http://www.gpo.gov/factsheet/index.html

Griffin, L. (2002). Explanation of the Superintendent of Documents classification scheme. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from
        http://www.gl.iit.edu/govdocs/sudoc.html

U. S. General Services Administration. (2006). 508 law. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from
        http ://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=3

U. S. Access Board. Section 508 facts: Understanding Section 508 and the Access Board's standards. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from
        http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/brochure.htm

Written assignment due today: Write a brief (1-2 pages) paper about the role of information literacy in society.

Due today: Annotated bibliography and individual presentations

Week 16: April 29, 2008 - Final class day

Guest lecture: Richard Hollinger
Evaluation
Post test
Wrap-up

Readings:

Library of Congress. (2000). Bach to baseball: Preserving the nation’s heritage at the Library of Congress. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from
        http://www.loc.gov/preserv/bachbase/

Wiggins, R. (2001). Digital preservation: Paradox & promise. Library Journal, Net Connect, 26(7), 12-15.Retrieved January 11, 2008 from
        http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA106209.html

Final Quiz

Revised: 04/01/2008

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