LIS1001 Syllabus

Course Information & Syllabus

Course Description: LIS1001 is designed to acquaint the novice researcher with both traditional and computerized means of classifying, storing, and retrieving information, and will focus on the library as an information storage and retrieval center. LIS1001 emphasizes critical thinking and research skills and is especially recommended to freshmen.

Text: Readings online.

Course Website: http://www.unf.edu/~alderman/BLISS

Prerequisites: None

Corequisites: Although there are no corequisites for LIS1001, students may find the course more useful if taken at the same time as a course requiring substantial research, such as English Composition or research methods courses within a student's degree program.

Course Goals: LIS1001 is designed to develop student competencies in the use of both traditional (printed) and computerized library and information resources. LIS1001 will provide students with a working knowledge of types of information resources available and how these resources enable efficient location of information in a university library. Skills developed in the course will transfer to any academic setting and will lay the groundwork for successful completion of research methods courses within the various academic disciplines.

Upon completion of LIS1001, students will be able to:

Find appropriate reference sources and indexes for identifying research materials
Efficiently use indexes and library catalogues, both printed and computerized
Understand the organization of a university library
Locate materials in any collection of a university library
Plan and organize a research project
Select and adequately narrow a research topic
Use critical thinking skills in evaluating sources
Demonstrate a facility for doing research and using libraries

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of LIS1001 students will: understand how knowledge is organized in library collections and in online databases;
be familiar with and understand the uses of major research tools necessary for successful completion of academic coursework (indexes, bibliographies, online services, Internet resources);
be able to do research in a university library using both traditional printed sources and computerized resources with minimal assistance from library staff;
and be able to choose and analyze the appropriateness of resources chosen on a given topic.

Transferrable Skills: LIS1001 will prepare students for better performance in a number of other core courses now offered at the university. In that the course develops research techniques, it will better prepare students for junior level research methods courses currently offered. LIS1001 will also complement research skills developed in ENC1101 and, if taken before ENC1101, should enable better performance in completing research projects required in that course.

Key Concepts Covered in LIS1001:

Systems of Classification and the need for such systems (Library of Congress, Superintendent of Documents, Dewey Decimal)
Guides to Classification Systems (print and online thesauri, subject headings, descriptors, key words, etc.)
Types of Materials to be used in completing research (monographs, serials, indices, abstracting services, electronic/online services, primary/secondary sources, reference works, microformat services, etc.)
Bibliographic Styles (MLA, APA, Turabian, Chicago, etc.)
Bibliographies/Annotated Bibliographies
Plagiarism (What it is and how to avoid it)
The Internet and the World Wide Web
Research Process (Its importance to intellectual growth; how to choose and narrow topics; how to select and evaluate material in support of a topic)
Information Retrieval Systems (library catalogs, online databases, Internet services)

Activities: The goal of all activities and exercises is to give students hands-on experience with as many research tools as possible. A strong emphasis will be placed on emerging technologies and the use of the Internet as a research medium. Heavy emphasis will be placed on evaluating materials for inclusion in a research project. Once students have completed the course, they should feel comfortable in any research environment and be able to quickly choose the appropriate tools for locating materials necessary for successful completion of their projects.

Written Assignments: Assignments may include periodic quizzes (announced in advance), exercises that reinforce learning, and discussion group postings in the course Blackboard site. Quizzes and exams (midterm and final) will be administered via Blackboard. Each weekly quiz will be available for exactly one week for completion and will become available immediately following the class session during which discussion of the material occurs until just before the next class meeting. Students complete quizzes on their own outside of class time and are responsible for meeting the quiz deadlines. Midterm and Final Exams will be given in class but will also utilize Blackboard.

Written assignments will include a project that will help to reinforce research skills and will be posted to Blackboard. Additional written assignments may be provided as necessary.

Course Requirements and Class Attendance: Class attendance is highly recommended. Attendance will count as part of the overall course grade. Each student begins with a score of 100 points for attendance. Points will be deducted from that score for each class missed. Each student will be allowed one absence without penalty. Additional absences, except in case of emergency, will count against the attendance grade. Students will be responsible for timely completion of reading assignments and written assignments and will be required to participate in class discussions and any group or individual presentations assigned during the semester.

Grading: The final grade for the class will be based on completion of the following criteria:

Assignments/Exercises/Projects 30%
Quizzes and Tests 60%
Attendance/Participation/Discussion 10%

Blackboard: LIS1001 takes advantage of the campus electronic course delivery system, Blackboard.

Faculty:
Jim Alderman, University Librarian & Instruction Coordinator
Cynthia Jordan, University Librarian
Lauren Newton, Assistant University Librarian

Meeting Time:
Monday, 12:00 to 12:50 PM.

Meeting Time:
Wednesday, 12:00 to 12:50 PM.

Location:
Building 12, Room 2102B

Office Hours:
By Arrangement

Updated 1/2012.