______North Seattle Community College ______

Library

Course Establishment Form

Outline

Effective date: Spring 2007

Division: / IISS / Program/Dept: / Library
Course Number: / LIB 150 / Credits: 2 / Variable:
Course Title: / Research in the Electronic Environment
Inst. Intent: / 5 Academic Transfer / CIP: / 9590
Fee: Yes No / Type CL
Degree/Certificate Requirement: / Yes / No: X
Name of Degree/Certificate: / None.
Distribution Requirement for AA/AS: / Not used in distribution, for elective credit only.
Transfer Status to 4-year institution: / Yes X / No:
If yes, please describe:
Tranferable as a Humanities elective.
Course length: / ½ quarter / Class Size: / 25
Course Contact Hours: / 22
Lecture: 10 hrs / Lab: / Clinical: / Other: 12 hours in on-line classroom / System:
Prerequisite: / Yes: X / No:
If yes, please describe:
ENG101 and IT101.
Required Placement Tests: / Yes / No X
If yes, please describe:
Comments:
Instructor permission.
Course Description:
This course provides an introduction to the research process using online library catalogs, periodical databases, and the Internet. The course will emphasize the selection and use of appropriate information resources, the development of effective search strategies, and evaluation and documentation of information. This course provides a foundation for academic research that can be applied to future courses.
NSCC General Education Learning Outcomes and/or Related Instructional Outcomes (for technical courses) Met by Course:
Outcome 4. Access, evaluate, and apply information from a variety of sources and a variety of contexts.
Course Outcomes/Learning Objectives:
At the end of this course students should be able to demonstrate that they:
·  Can develop and focus a research question
·  Can employ a variety of research strategies over the research process
·  Are familiar with a broad spectrum of information systems, resources, and modes of access
·  Are able to evaluate and apply information to explore problems
·  Can use a standard bibliographic format to document sources
Topical Outline and/or Major Divisions:

Unit 1: The library catalog: an introduction to databases and search strategies

·  Use the library catalog to effectively support academic research

·  Identify appropriate keywords and subject headings to develop strategies for database searching

·  Execute search strategies in different library catalogs in order to transfer knowledge and expand search

·  Evaluate search results to demonstrate effectiveness of search strategies

·  Understand how library classification systems operate

Unit 2: Periodical database skills

·  Understand the role of periodical databases in academic research

·  Apply effective search strategies to periodical databases

·  Evaluate search results in order to demonstrate effectiveness of search strategies

·  Compare the similarities and differences between a library catalog and a periodical database

Unit 3: Researching with the Internet

·  Understand the role of the Internet in the research process

·  Develop effective strategies for searching the Internet

·  Use subject directories and search engines to retrieve relevant information

·  Evaluate Internet sources

Course Requirements (Expectations of Students)
Students will be expected to participate fully in class activities and assignments, and to demonstrate that they have learned how to create effective search strategies, select and use appropriate databases, to evaluate information effectively, and to document their resources correctly.
Methods of Assessment/Evaluation:
Assessment and evalution comprise:
1.  participation: in-class and online.
2.  instructor grading of assignments
3.  student self-assessments through weekly email journals and final evaluation
4.  instructor grading of portfolio
Final grades are assigned according to published standards for the course.
Required Text(s) and/or Materials:
Online textbook, Research Methods and Strategies, which is available via the class web site, articles from online publications and selected web sites, or as determined by instructor.
Supplemental Text(s) and/or Materials:
Additional online materials may be suggested as extra-credit readings, as determined by instructor.
Outline Developed by: / Sarah Beasley / Date: / May 1995
Outline Revised by: / Dale Chase, Jennifer Wu, Connie McDowell, Karen Michaelson
Elinor Appel / Date: / May 2000
January 2007

Course Establishment Form 2001

le 10/11/01