College of Computing & Information, University at Albany, SUNY

College of Computing & Information, University at Albany, SUNY

Department of Information Studies

IIST 601 (11128) Information Environment (3 Credits)

Fall 2010 Syllabus (13 Pages), Prepared 8/30/2010

Instructor: Frank D’Andraia Class Meets: Mondays, 12:20PM – 3:10PM

Office: 141A Draper Classroom Location: HS204

Phone: 518.442.5118

Email:

Office Hours: Monday, 4:00PM-5:00PM; Tuesdays, 10:00AM-5:00PM; Wednesdays, 4:00PM-5:00PM; Thursdays, 10:00AM-NOON; and By Appointment

For Whom Planned: This is a required course (no pre-requisites) for students enrolled in the master’s degree program in Information Studies.

Course Description: This course provides a theoretical background for students entering the information science professions. Through guest speakers, field trips (virtual), a variety of readings, class discussion, lectures, presentations, and writing assignments, students gain knowledge of the critical themes in the field, such as information seeking, users, environments, policies, and ethics.

Learning Outcomes/Objectives:

By the end of this survey course students should be able to accomplish the following:

Identify the relationships and roles that information centers and professionals fulfill in society throughout history and into the future;
Assess the various dimensions of the profession, including an understanding of the scope and dimensions of your area of interest/specialization and the requisite needs and requirements;

Identify, assess, and use the major sources of information and literature pertaining to information science in class discussions, oral reports, and written assignments;
Formulate personal judgments regarding the profession and develop some facility in expressing these judgments clearly and succinctly in class discussions and oral and written assignments;
Discern current issues facing information professionals and express points of view on these challenges in class discussions, oral presentations, and written assignments;
Develop capacities for research and critical thinking and gain experience in working in teams and in making informative presentations to peers;

Teaching Strategies: The course will be conducted in a lecture/discussion format which will require active class participation. Students make team presentations, write short essays, and prepare several executive summaries. Class sessions will involve discussion of the assigned readings and current issues in information studies. You owe it to your colleagues to come to class prepared to discuss assigned readings and to provide feedback on class reports.

Attendance Policy/Obligations/Expectations: Students are expected to come to class on time and remain for the entire class session. Students are expected to advise the instructor if there are any accommodations necessary due to disabilities. Absences of two (2) or more without prior permission or reasonable excuse will be considered excessive and will reduce your final grade by three (3) points. Students are to advise the instructor in advance when it is necessary to be absent from class. Class participation does not mean monopolizing class discussion, but being prepared as well as actively contributing to discussion in a reflective way.

Students are expected to adhere to the Community Rights and Responsibilities and to give proper credit in the presentation of ideas (Graduate Bulletin: ).

Examinations and Note Taking: There are no examinations.

You should take good notes of lectures and discussions. I do not make copies of my lecture notes available. My experience indicates that note taking dramatically increases your recall and keeps you more involved in class deliberations.

Cell phones: Please turn off your cell phone and pagers during class.

Late Submission: Assignments submitted late will be marked down one letter grade.

Email Communications: The instructor will reply to student e-mail within 72 hours.

Required Text:Bobinski, George S. (2007) Libraries and Librarianship: Sixty Years of Challenge and Change, 1945-2005. Lanham, Maryland, Scarecrow Press.

Another text (not required) you may find helpful is as follows: Lester, June and Koehler, Jr., Wallace C. (2007) Fundamentals of Information Studies; Understanding Information and Its Environment. 2d ed. New York, Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.

You may purchase the required textbook at Mary Jane Books (corner of Quail and Western), or through Amazon.com. The required text will be supplemented by additional readings.

A number of readings will be placed on electronic reserves. These readings are designed to get you into the literature. You are expected to delve further into the literature on various topics. The pass word for class E-Reserve materials is provided on the first day of class.

Grading and Due Dates Summary: There is no final examination in this course. You are graded on weekly class participation and the completion of oral and written assignments (see outline) that have specific due dates and they are as follows:

Activity/Assignment Weighting - Due Dates

Class Participation 15% - Weekly

Executive Summaries -Assignments 6; 11; & 14 – November 1; & 29, & December 6

Hot Topics - Assignments 2; 7; 9; & 10 – September 20; November 1; 15; & 29

(Your active participation in class discussions and sharing of information is essential. Executive summaries and Hot Topics assignments, while not graded in themselves, these activities are used in determining the final assessment for the class participation component of the final grade.)

Essay Assignments

Professional/Scholarly Publications Paper - Assignment 1 - 10% - September 13

Leaders in the Field (Biographical) Paper - Assignment 4 - 10%- October 11

Career Goals Paper - Assignment 12 - 10% - November 29

Issue Paper (five (5) pages) - Assignment 13 - 15% - December 6

Team Presentations

Professional Associations - Assignment 3 - 10% - September 27 & October 4

Virtual Field Trip - Assignment 5 - 15% - October 18 & 25

Information Ethics - Assignment 8 - 15% - November 8 & 15

Letter Grade / A / A- / B+ / B / B- / C+ / C / C- / D / E
Scale / 95-100 / 90-94 / 86-89 / 83-85 / 79-82 / 75-78 / 71-74 / 68-70 / 60-67 / 0-59

Course Outline

August 30 (Week 1): Orientation & Scholarly Publications

Introductions/Syllabus Review (Format, Expectations, and Communications; Assignments & Due Dates; Grading)
Resources
Reserve
Scholarly Publications

September 6 (Week 2): CLASSES SUSPENDED

September 13 (Week 3): Professional &Scholarly Publications

Due Today:

Assignment 1: Paper on Professional and Scholarly Publications

Discussion on Professional & Scholarly Publications

Reading Assignment:

Bobinski, Chapter 8, pp 125-127.

September 20 (Week 4): “Hot Topic;” Perceptions and the Profession; & Professional Associations

Due Today:

Assignment 2: “Hot Topic” Discussion (Perceptions)

Reading Assignment:

Bobinski, Chapter 5, pp 81-94.

Bobinski, Chapter 6, pp 95-102.

Seale, Maura. (2008, v.9 no. 1 (Spring)). “Old Maids, Policemen, and Social Rejects: Mass Media Representations and Public Perceptions of Librarians.” E- JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship. Retrieved 13 August 2010, from

September 27 (Week 5): Professional Associations

Due Today:

Assignment 3: Team Presentations 1 through 5on ProfessionalAssociations

October 4 (Week 6): Professional Associations – (Continued)

Due Today:

Assignment 3: Team Presentations 6 through 9 on Professional Associations

Reading Assignment:

Bobinski, Chapters 2 and 3, pp 23-65.

October 11 (Week 7): Leaders in the field and Virtual Field Trips

Due Today:

Assignment 4: Paper on Leaders in the Field

Discussion on Leaders in the Field

Reading Assignment:

Bobinski, Chapter 9, pp 129-146.

October 18 (Week 8): Virtual Field Trip

Due Today:

Assignment 5: Team Presentations 1 through 5 on Information Organizations

October 25 (Week 9): Virtual Field Trips – (Continued)

Due Today:

Assignment 5: Team Presentations 6 through 9 on Information Organizations

Guest Speaker: Lynne King, Director Schenectady Community College Library (Speaker and Date subject to change). Ms. King will speak on Community College Libraries.

November 1 (Week 10): Information Ethics Assignment and “Hot Topic”

Due Today

Assignment 6: King Executive Summary

Assignment 7: “Hot Topic” Discussion(Future of Libraries)

Reading Assignment:

Bobinski, Chapter 1, pp 7-22 and Chapter 8, pp 113-124

Thomas Frey, “Newsmaker,” interview by Tom Sloan, American Libraries, no. 8(August 2010): p. 21.

November 8 (Week 11): Ethic Assignments

Due Today:

Assignment 8: Team Presentations 1 through 5 on Information Ethics

November 15 (Week 12):Information Ethic Assignments – (Continued) &“Hot Topic”

Due Today:

Assignment 8: Team Presentations 6 through 9 on Information Ethics

Assignment 9: “Hot Topic” Discussion (OCLC Reports)

Assignment 10: Filstrup Executive Summary

Reading Assignment:

OCLC is a “nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization” headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. OCLC has taken the initiative to publish a series of in-depth Membership Reports (studies and topical surveys) that assist professionals to “understand issues and trends that affect the profession and plan for the future.” For this assignment you are to examine one of the nine (9) Membership Reports that may be found online:

November 22 (Week 13): Career Goals and “Hot Topic”

Due Today:

Assignment 10: “Hot Topic” Discussion (E-books)

Reading Assignment:

Julie Bosman, “Quick change In Strategy For a Bookseller: Barnes and Noble Retools to Stay Relevant as E-Books Take Off,” New York Times, August 12, 2010, sec. B (Business Day), pp B1 and B4.

Guest Speaker Christine E. Haile, Chief Information Officer, University at Albany, State University of New York (Speaker and Date subject to change). Her focus will be on the evolving relationships between academic libraries and IT, with an emphasis on trends, issues, and opportunities.

November 29 (Week 14): Career Goals

Due Today:

Assignment 11: Haile Executive Summary

Assignment 13: Essay on Career Goals

Discussion on Career Goals

Guest Speaker Jason Kramer,Executive Director of the New York State Higher Education Initiative or NYSHEI. (Speaker and Date subject to change). His focus will be on NSHEI legislative activities.

Reading Assignment:

Bobinski, Chapter 10, pp 147-159

December 6 (Week 15): Wrap-up

Due Today:

Assignment 13: Issue Paper

Assignment 14: Kramer Executive Summary

Discussion of Issue Papers

Assignments

(Papers are due at the start of class. Papers submitted late will be marked down one letter grade)

Assignment 1: Professional and Scholarly Publications Review/Analysis paper, due September 13th

The purpose of this assignment is to become familiar with professional and scholarly publications and encourage you to identify resourcesin an area of interest and/or specialization.

Prepare a three (3) page paper that is a summary and analysis of your research. Choose a periodical listed in Library Literature and Information Science (Ref.Z666C211). Review several recent issues of the periodical you select that were published during 2009 or 2010. (NOTE: The UA Libraries do not subscribe to all the periodicals indexed in Library Literature and Information Science.) As you look through these recent issues observe the following: audience and focus; frequency of publication; make-up of the editorial board; publisher affiliation; and regarding articles, what types of articles appear; and do you consider the periodical a scholarly journal and why.

Papers should be double-spaced (12 point font), paged in the upper right hand corner, stapled in the upper left. A cover page should include your name, the title of the assignment, the course number and date. No binders, etc. please.

Evaluation: Formal written work must be word processed or typed and reflect use of a style manual. There are style guides available in Dewey and on the University Library webpage.

Papers will be evaluated on the basis of content (clarity, organization, originality, ideas developed); composition (use of appropriate sources, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and attribution); and the level of analysis.

Papers are due at the start of class. Papers submitted late will be marked down one letter grade.

Assignment 2: “Hot Topic,” due September 20th

The purpose of these assignments is to get you into the literature, to insure your active participation in class discussions and to share information, as well as gain different perspective on current trends and issues.

A “Hot Topic” is periodically assigned by the instructor. To assist you in this assignment an article on the topic is provided. After reading the article begin your research. Your goal is to find an appropriate professional or scholarly article that addresses the “Hot Topic” (pro or con). Be prepared to discuss your article in class. At the close of the discussion provide the instructor with a formal citation regarding your source.

“Hot Topic” citations may be single-spaced (12 point font) and you do not need to use a cover page, but do include your name, the title of the assignment, the course number and date on your submission.

Evaluation: Hot Topic assignments, while not graded in themselves, are used in determining the final assessment for the class participation component of the final grade.

Assignment 3: Team Presentation on Types of Professional Associations, due September 27th and October 4th

Depending on the size of the class there will be several group reports given in two (2) regular sessions of class. Topics and timelines are assigned by the instructor. Approximately twenty (20) minutes should be allotted to each team report (remember to set aside time for asking or responding to questions and/or providing clarification). You are strongly encouraged to be creative on this project.

The purpose of this assignment is to allow you to become familiar with a variety of professional associations in the information science field.

Each team is to visit your assigned associationwebsite and prepare a presentation to share with your classmates on one or more of the following points: (1) History and focus of the organization; (2) Data on or about the association; (3) Significant accomplishments of the associations; (4) Requirements for membership; (5) Membership opportunities, value, and benefits; and (6) Other pertinent information that may warrant attention (for example, does the organization have regional affiliates).

Evaluation: Every member of the team receives the same grade for the presentation. The team report is graded on the diversity and use of sources and professional literature; quality of the team’s thorough grasp and analysis of the issues; delivery (including clarity), creativity, originality, accuracy, and organization of ideas; and the level of thoughtful evaluation and reflection used in addressing the assignment and answering questions from peers.

Also, each team member is required to complete and return to the instructor a self evaluation form (distributed during class) on the day they present. The self assessment form is part of the evaluation process.

Assignment 4: Leaders in the Field (Biographical) Paper, due October 11th

The purpose of this assignment is to become acquainted with individuals who had a profound impact upon the development of the profession and to develop capacities for research and critical thinking.

Identify an important information professional and write a three (3) page essay that addresses the following: individual’s background; and lasting contribution(s) to the profession. Be prepared to give a five minute executive summary of your paper in class with emphasis on the significance of the individual’s contributions to the profession, including why you selected the individual.

Evaluation: Formal written work must be word processed or typed and reflect use of a style manual.

There are style guides available in Dewey and on the University Library webpage. Papers are evaluated on the basis of content (clarity, organization, originality, ideas developed); composition (use of appropriate sources (at a minimum, three (3) citations from three (3) different sources), grammar, spelling, punctuation, and attribution); and the level of analysis.

Papers are due at the start of class. Papers submitted late will be marked down one letter grade.

Assignment5: Team Presentation on Virtual Field Trip Analysis, due October 18th and 25th

Depending on the size of the class there will be several team reports given in two (2) regular sessions of class. Topics and timelines are assigned by the instructor. Approximately twenty (20) minutes should be allotted to each report (remember to set aside time for asking or responding to questions and/or providing clarification). Possible formats include; lecture, power point, and/or poster session, etc. You are strongly encouraged to be creative on this project.

Your objective is to compare organizations and point or similarities and differences, as well as unique activities. Sample questions to be answered might include: What are the organizations historical origins? What is unique about this type of information agency? What kind of data is available and how does it reflect upon operations and services? What is different about the types of users and financial support it attracts or is dependent upon and do these factors influence the programs, collections, and services. What are the problems most pressing or are most likely to be especially relevant in the future? When you present,identify distinguishing characteristics that set your organizations apart.

Assignment 6: King Executive Summaries, due November 1st

The purpose of these assignments is a practical exercise to hone your synthesis and thinking skills while enhancing your writing abilities.

You are to hand in an Executive Summary for each guest lecturer. In preparing your summary use the following structure: Providethe main points presented by guest speakers; write a simple declarative sentence for each of the main points; add supporting or explanatory sentences as needed, avoiding unnecessary technical material and jargon. You want readers to be able to skim the summary without missing the main points. The job of the executive summary is to present the essential facts . Executive summaries are limited to 2 pages. Resist the temptation to pad. Do not include any biographical information about the speaker in your summary.

Summaries should be double-spaced (12 point font), paged in the upper right hand corner, stapled in the upper left. A cover page should include your name, the title of the assignment, the course number and date. No binders, etc. please.