ART OF INQUIRY - LIB 100
COURSE SYLLABUS - Fall, 2006
· Basic Information
Textbook - NONE
Dates of Course: October 25 - December 13 (7 weeks)
Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:00 PM to 2:50PM.
Instructor: Angela Weiler
Office: Coulter Library C108-A (main floor, to the left of the main entrance)
Phone: 315-498-2340; Fax: 315-498-7213
E-mail: weilera@sunyocc.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday - 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Library)
Webpage: http://myhome.sunyocc.edu/~weilera/LIB100.htm
· Grading:
Grading will be accomplished within the framework of college policies and will be based on:
Class Participation / In-class Projects: 25%
Assignments / Quizzes: 50%
Final Research Strategy Project: 25%
· Attendance/homework:
Participation = 7 possible points per class
Assignments = 100 points each
Late assignments = - 5 points penalty for each weekday after the due date, up to one week. (After one week, assignment is considered MISSING)
MISSING assignments = 0 points
Assignments should all be submitted typewritten in a standard font (Times, Courier, etc.) 12 point type – double spaced. If this is a problem, see the instructor.
NOTE: MISSED QUIZES CANNOT BE MADE UP!
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NOTE: The Office of Services for Students with Special Needs (OSSSN) at Onondaga Community College is available to assist students who have a documented disability.
If you require special accommodations for this class, visit the OSSSN in Academic Rm. 108, or call them at 498-2245. In addition, please see me to be sure that you have the resources you need to successfully complete this course.
Course Outline:
Class 1: [C108] Introduction to Information Theory
1. Basics: Course Policies, Syllabus – overview of content
2. Organization of Information:
a. What is "information," and why organize it? How is it difference from knowledge?
b. Classification Systems – how they are used to organize information (catalogs, indexes, databases)
3. Tour of Coulter Library
Class 2: [Lab - C346] Intro to Using a Database - The Online Catalog
1. The Coulter Library Website: Online Catalogs
Finding Books: Aleph, WorldCat, “other libraries”
Exercise: Online Catalog
Class 3: [C108] Characteristics and Formats of Information
- Factual - (indisputable data) vs. analytical (opinion, theory)
- Objective (facts from both sides; no opinions) vs. Subjective (opinions, fiction, fantasy etc.)
- Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
- Formats - the "containers" of information
Class 4: [Lab - C346] Online Databases
QUIZ - RESEARCH TERMS
1. What is a database? What is the difference between a database and online information?
2. Britannica and Gale Virtual Reference Desk vs. free online encyclopedias
Exercise: Online encyclopedias
Class 5: [C108] Introduction to Research - Creating a Search Strategy
1. The topic - being specific
2. How to begin
3. Reference resources: dictionaries, directories, almanacs, encyclopedias
Exercise: Steps of research
Class 6: [Lab - C346] Electronic Searching (Databases)
1. Types of electronic searches – when and how to use them
2. Cutting to the chase
3. Finding magazines, newspapers, and journal articles - Online Databases
Exercise: Picking keywords and alternate keywords; finding articles
Class 7: [C108] Browsing and “Serendipity”
1. Books: Why?
Depth, organization, authority
Table of contents, indexes, appendices
2. Types of magazines, newspapers, and journals -- finding articles
3. Evaluation of books and articles
4. Creating a bibliography (handout)
Exercise: Evaluating Information
Class 8: [Lab - C346] The Internet – Basic Concepts
QUIZ: EVALUATING INFORMATION
1. Introduction to searching the web – search engines, basic search techniques: Finding words that work.
2. Using electronic search methods online
Exercise: Picking keywords and finding websites
Homework - Exercise: SUNY Albany Web Site Evaluation Tutorial
Class 9: [C108] The Internet – Evaluating
1. Finding up-to-date, authoritative websites - the problem of quality with web information
2. Basic and Advanced Searching
3. The “Invisible Web”
Homework - Exercise: Evaluating Web Sites
Class 10: [Lab - C346]
QUIZ: EVALUATING WEB SITES
Class 11: [Lab – C346] Copyright
1. Introduction to copyright concepts
2. Introduction to Fair Use
3. Trends
Class 12: [C108] Introduction to Scientific Research and Primary Sources
Exercise (Group): Fair Use Checklist
1. Sampling, Reliability, Validity
2. Resultant Statistics – and problems
Class 13: [C108]
QUIZ: COPYRIGHT AND FAIR USE
FINAL PROJECT (25% of grade): Locate and select resources
Class 14: [Lab - C346] : FINAL PROJECT: Type up evaluations
Due: Friday, December 15, 2006 at 4 pm
(Hand it in at the Library)