LIBR 200-12
Information Communities
Spring 2015
Dr. Michael Stephens
Office Hours:
Virtual office hours by appointment (BB IM, etc)
Course Description
Examines information users and the social, cultural, economic, technological, and political forces that shape their information access and use. The different resources and services that information professionals provide for their user communities will also be addressed as well as ethical/legal professional practice. LIBR 200 meets SJSU’s graduate writing assessment requirement.
Note: iSchool requires that students earn a B in this course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation. You must repeat the class the following semester. If -on the second attempt- you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified.
Course Requirements
Complete LIBR 203 Online Learning: Tools and Strategies for Success
This is a mandatory 1 unit course that introduces students to the various e-learning tools used in the iSchool program. For more information, see: http://ischool.sjsu.edu/current-students/courses/core-courses-and-electives
Writing Requirement
If the instructor finds that a student’s writing is unacceptable, the instructor will require the student to sign up for online writing tutoring. The student will ask the tutor to confirm with the instructor that he or she is attending sessions.
Blog Reports
Students will perform a series of activities relating to their community group (i.e., describe and evaluate a service, interview a community member about his or her use of new social media, etc.) and report their findings on their blog. Students will be expected to read and comment upon the blogs of other students. (SLOs 1, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Book Review
Students will read a book from a list provided on the course site and write a 350 word reflection or create a media-based presentation relating the topic and focus of the book to information communities, libraries or information environments, technology, community information systems and any topic that is relatable to course content. Students will publish the report as a post on their blog. Use images, video, and other media to enhance your submission.
Literature Review
Students will write a literature review based on 10 to 12 peer-reviewed books and articles about the community they’ve chosen to study. The literature review will assess the current research on the community by identifying the most influential authors and publications, major theories and findings, and continuing gaps. Students will publish the review as a post on their blog. (SLOs 1,2,3)
Information Sources Survey
Using LIS guides, databases, and other relevant professional resources, students will locate and describe 10 information sources created for and used by the community they are studying. The survey will include a critical description of each source and an assessment of its value to the community. Students will publish the survey as a post on their blog.(SLOs 1,5)
Research Paper
Students will write a final paper based on their reading in the scholarly and professional literature and the data collected for each blog report. The final papers should include a literature review and critically assess the findings of their blog research. The paper should be a minimum of 4000 words in length, the reference list should have at least 20 sources, and the formatting should follow the APA Publication Manual style (6th ed.). (SLOs 1,2,3,4)
Grading
| Assignment | Points | |
| 8 Blog Posts | 40 points | |
| Literature Review | 10 points | |
| Information Sources Survey | 10 points | |
| Book Review | 10 points | |
| Research Paper | 30 points |
Assignment Deadlines
All assignments are due on Sundays and must be turned in by 5 p.m. Late submissions
will be reduced by 20% of the total points possible for that assignment.
Calendar
| Week | Topic/Module | Assignment |
| 1 | Information Communities and the Social Construction of Knowledge: Introduction |
Reflection Blog: Personal Introductions |
| 2 | Information Users and Information-Seeking Behavior: Theoretical Overview |
|
| 3 | Information Seeking and Information Communities |
Reflection Blog: Information community choice |
| 4 | Researching Information Communities |
|
| 5 | Connecting Information Users with Information: Research- Based Information Sources and Services |
Reflection Blog: Report on the information-seeking behavior and information needs of chosen community |
| 6 | Community-Generated Information Resources and Services |
Literature Review Due |
| 7 | User Experience | Reflection Blog: Report on your community’s perceptions of information services |
| 8 | Ethical Issues and Information Communities |
|
| 9 | Intellectual Freedom and American law |
Reflection Blog: Report on an ethical or legal issue pertaining to your information community |
| 10 | Community Informatics | Information Sources Survey Due |
| 11 | TBA | Reflection Blog: Topic of Choice |
| 12 | Teaching and Learning | |
| 13 | Emerging Technologies | Reflection Blog: Report on your community’s use of emerging technologies |
| 14 | Creation Culture | |
| 15 | Course Wrap Up | Final Reflection Blog: Personal reflection on information communities |
| 16 | Research Paper Due |
Other Relevant Information:
Students will also be expected to use the course Web site multiple times a week to stay up to date with readings, assignments, and blogging. This is also a way for students to experience the emerging social nature of the web – similar systems are being used in library settings all over the world. Librarians are working, writing and sharing in open, online systems created for interaction with each other and with library users. The course site utilizes the WordPress software package to create an open, interactive environment for sharing and discourse. You must create an account on the site and publish an open blog but no one in class is required to share their full name, photo or any other details. The use of avatars and aliases is acceptable.