Location: Newton Gresham Library Room 157
Instructor: Mr. Joe Hardenbrook
Coordinator of Library Instruction
Assistant Professor, Newton Gresham Library
Sam Houston State University
Box 2179, Huntsville, TX 77341-2179
Office: NGL 133
Tel: 936-294-4567 or 936-294-1599
Fax: 936-294-3780
E-mail: lib_jah@shsu.edu
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 1-3:30PM and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of information access, search, retrieval and transfer. Emphasis will be placed upon the basic tools and skills of library research as well as the technologies which facilitate access to information. The course will include introduction to word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, e-mail and the Internet.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the course, the student should be able to:
1. Identify the role, power, and value of information in a democratic society.
2. Describe the variety of content and format of information.
3. Recognize and use standard systems for the organization of and access to information.
4. Retrieve information using a variety of techniques and formats.
5. Evaluate, organize, and manipulate information for a variety of purposes.
6. Send and receive email.
7. Create multimedia presentations using word processing and PowerPoint.
8. Design and create a basic web page.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. A number of assignments will be given throughout the semester. Assignments may take the form of worksheets, exercises, and quizzes. Students are required to complete the assignments and turn them in when due.
2. Semester Project: students will begin using the information presented in class to design and construct a web page that is primarily an annotated bibliography. The web page will be modified throughout the semester as new resources and skills are developed. This project serves as the final exam.
GRADING:
The final grade will be computed as follows:
A 450 - 500 pts.
B 400 - 449 pts.
C 350 - 399 pts.
D 300 - 349 pts.
F 0 - 299 pts.
The points used to compute your grade will be based on the following:
Class assignments 310 pts.
Group PowerPoint project & presentation 40 pts.
Semester project 150 pts.
COURSE POLICIES:
1. This class is a combination of in-class meetings and time to work on your assignments/projects. Class will meet at the scheduled time every Thursday morning. Assignments and skills will be explained and demonstrated on Thursdays. Class will not meet on Tuesdays (unless otherwise announced by the instructor), but the lab will be open for those wishing to complete assignments and work on projects. I will be in the lab on Tuesdays if you have any questions.
2. All grades, class information and announcements will be available using Blackboard. Check Blackboard daily.
3. There is a due date for each assignment/project. 1/3 possible points deducted for late submission.
4. Food and drink may not be brought into the lab.
5. Tobacco products may not be used in the lab.
6. Cell phones, pagers, alarm watches, etc. must be turned off during class. If there are special circumstances, please discuss it with me before class begins.
7. Basic college level writing is expected for all assignments. If you have any questions regarding your writing, e.g. style, format, grammar, etc., please go to the Writing Center.
8. Courtesy is expected.
9. Students who want or need assistance are urged to see me during lab time, during office hours or via e-mail.
10. There is no textbook for the class.
11. All assignments will be submitted through the Blackboard Digital Drop Box with the exception of the completion certificates for the tutorials. Those must be printed and turned in.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Academic dishonesty is not tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to plagiarism, cheating, and collusion. A full explanation of academic dishonesty is available in Section 5.3 of the SHSU Code of Student Conduct and Discipline, online at: http://www.shsu.edu/students/guide/dean/codeofconduct.html. Academic dishonesty will result in an "F" for the course and disciplinary action.
DISABILITY STATEMENT:
Students with a disability which effects academic performance are expected to arrange an appointment with the instructor so that appropriate strategies can be considered so that participation and achievement are not impaired. Students with physical limitations may contact the Chair of the Committee for Continuing Assistance for Disabled Students by telephone at 936-294-1720.
COURSE SCHEDULE
* Note: Course outline subject to change at the instructor's discretion.
Thursday, Jan. 13
Course introduction, Meet n' greet, Go over syllabus, Blackboard intro, Set up for computer account, e-mail and Microsoft Office, Complete Assignments 1.0 and 1.1 in class.
Tuesday, Jan. 18
Lab time
Thursday, Jan. 20
Discussion of e-mail, SHSU computing acceptable use policies, Discussion of Netiquette, listservs, Complete Assignment 1.3 in class.
Tuesday, Jan. 25
Lab time
Thursday, Jan. 27
Introduction to word processing and spreadsheets, Discussion of academic dishonesty and plagiarism.
Tuesday, Feb. 1
Lab time
Thursday, Feb. 3
Introduction to PowerPoint, including design issues. ASSIGNMENTS 1.2, 1.4, 1.5 DUE.
Tuesday, Feb. 8
Lab time
Thursday, Feb. 10
Work on group PowerPoint projects. You will be assigned a topic and a team to work with. ASSIGNMENTS 1.6, 1.7 DUE.
Tuesday, Feb. 15
Lab time
Thursday, Feb. 17
Present your group PowerPoints (Assignment 1.9) to the class. ASSIGNMENT 1.8 DUE.
Tuesday, Feb. 22
Lab time
Thursday, Feb. 24
Web authoring and web design, Introduction to Dreamweaver, including design issues. Explanation of final project.
Tuesday, Mar. 1
Lab time
Thursday, Mar. 3
Overview of Library website, Tour of the Library, Discussion of the classification systems used to organize materials in the Library: Dewey Decimal classification system, the Library of Congress classification system and the Superintendent of Documents classification system. ASSIGNMENT 1.10 DUE.
Tuesday, Mar. 8
Lab time
Thursday, Mar. 10
Discussion of search strategies, including Boolean searching, Truncation searching. ASSIGNMENTS 1.11, 2.0, 2.1 DUE.
Tuesday, Mar. 15
SPRING BREAK, No Class
Thursday, Mar. 17
SPRING BREAK, No Class
Tuesday, Mar. 22
Lab time
Thursday, Mar. 24
Primary vs. Secondary Sources, Discussion of the Library's online catalog, How to find books, Print Resources, Visit the Library Reference Area. ASSIGNMENTS 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 DUE.
Tuesday, Mar. 29
Lab time
Thursday, Mar. 31
Scholarly vs. Popular Resources, How to evaluate information, Discussion of Library databases, How to find articles, Visit Current Periodicals, bound journals, and Microforms.
Tuesday, April 5
Lab time
Thursday, April 7
Discussion of Library databases, continued. ASSIGNMENTS 2.7, 2.8 DUE.
Tuesday, April 12
Lab time
Thursday, April 14
Internet searching and legal issues, Citing sources.
Tuesday, April 19
Lab time
Thursday, April 21
Advanced Internet searching, Evaluating Internet content.
Tuesday, April 26
Lab time
Thursday, April 28
Web site evaluation (Last Lecture Day). ASSIGNMENTS 2.9, 3.0 DUE.
Tuesday, May 3
Lab time
Thursday, May 5
Lab time. ASSIGNMENTS 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 DUE.
Tuesday, May 10
Final Project must be submitted into the Blackboard Digital Drop Box by 8:30AM.
LIST OF ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECTS, DUE DATES, EXTRA CREDIT INFO
All assignments and projects must be submitted into the Blackboard Digital Drop Box by 8:30AM on the day that they are due unless otherwise noted. Assignments and projects are graded for content, grammar, and timeliness.
| ASSIGNMENT TITLE | DUE DATE | POINTS |
| 1.0 Student Information Worksheet | Completed in class on Thursday, January 13 | 5 |
| 1.1 Student Agreement | Completed in class on Thursday, January 13 | 5 |
| 1.2 Computer Account Maintenance Worksheet | Thursday, February 3 | 10 |
| 1.3 E-mail Topic/Listserv | Completed in class on Thursday, January 20 | 5 |
| 1.4 Netiquette Worksheet | Thursday, February 3 | 10 |
| 1.5 Word Processing Worksheet | Thursday, February 3 | 10 |
| 1.6 Spreadsheet | Thursday, February 10 | 15 |
| 1.7 Academic Dishonesty Worksheet | Thursday, February 10 | 10 |
| 1.8 Individual PowerPoint | Thursday, February 17 | 25 |
| 1.9 Group PowerPoint | Thursday, February 17 (In-Class Presentations) | 40 |
| 1.10 Web Site Design Worksheet | Thursday, March 3 | 10 |
| 1.11 Creating a Web Site | Thursday, March 10 | 25 |
| 2.0 Bibliography Worksheet | Thursday, March 10 | 15 |
| 2.1 Library Tour Worksheet | Thursday, March 10 | 10 |
| 2.2 Library Classification Worksheet | Thursday, March 24 | 15 |
| 2.3 Information Literacy Tutorial | Print out completion certificate and give to me in class on Thursday, March 24 | 10 |
| 2.4 Call Number Tutorial | Print out completion certificate and give to me in class on Thursday, March 24 | 5 |
| 2.5 Search Strategy Worksheet | Thursday, March 24 | 10 |
| 2.6 Library Catalog Worksheet | Thursday, March 24 | 15 |
| 2.7 Print Resources Worksheet | Thursday, April 7 | 20 |
| 2.8 Library Databases Worksheet | Thursday, April 7 | 20 |
| 2.9 Citing Sources Worksheet | Thursday, April 28 | 10 |
| 3.0 Basic Internet Research Worksheet | Thursday, April 28 | 15 |
| 3.1 Internet Tutorial | Print out completion certificate and give to me in class on Thursday, May 5 | 5 |
| 3.2 Advanced Internet Research Worksheet | Thursday, May 5 | 15 |
| 3.3 Web Site Evaluation Worksheet | Thursday, May 5 | 15 |
| FINAL PROJECT | Tuesday, May 10 | 150 |
TOTAL POINTS | 500 |
EXTRA CREDIT
There are three opportunities to earn extra credit for this course.
1. Attend a Library Workshop - 5 pts.
The Library offers workshops on how to search the Library's databases. Workshops include: Research Databases in the Humanities, Research Databases in the Social Sciences, Research Databases in History, Research Databases in Science, and News & Current Events Databases. The instructor will inform the students of the workshop schedule early in the semester. Limit one workshop per student. Workshops last approximately 30-45 minutes.
2. Watch the Virtual Instruction Series - 5 pts.
The Library's "Virtual Instruction Series" contains online instructional videos of how to search the Library catalog and databases. It is located at: http://www.shsu.edu/~lib_www/resources/virtinstruct.html. You must watch the following two videos during lab time when the instructor is present: "Using the Online Library Catalog, SAMCAT" and "Searching the Library's Databases." Watching the two videos takes approximately 20 minutes.
3. Birthday Newspaper - 5 pts.
Many newspaper and magazine articles are on Microform--the Library has two kinds of microform--microfiche and microfilm--we will talk more about these in class. Pick a newspaper and use the Microform reader machine to locate and print out the front page of a newspaper from the day you were born. Note: It costs 25 cents to print out a page from the Microform reader. More information about Microforms will be given in March.