Spring 2009

INLS 200-002: Retrieving & Analyzing Information

[Overview] [Schedule & Reading] [Blackboard]

[Research Question] [Source Evaluation] [Research Project: Final Report]

[Research Database Review]

Course Syllabus  

Course Information

• Credit hours: 3 credits
• Primary audience:

∙          Prerequisite for the information science major

∙          Required for minor in information systems

• Class Date & Time: Mondays & Wednesdays, 2:00-3:15 pm
• Classroom: Manning 117 (Computer lab in SILS library)
• Course Website: http://www.unc.edu/~shoh/spring_2009/syllabus.htm

Instructor Information

§         Name: Sanghee Oh

§         Email: shoh {at} email {dot} unc {dot} edu

§         Office hours: Mondays & Wednesdays, 1:00-2:00 pm or by appointment

                              (Find me at the SILS library)

Course Description

In this course, students will learn how to identify their own information needs, access information sources, critically evaluate those information sources, and use the information accessed to fulfill those information needs. The information sources utilized in this course will be predominantly commercial databases and web search engines. Students will learn to formulate effective search strategies, will master basic search logic and commands, and will gain hands-on experience in database searching. Students will learn to access information in both bibliographic and non-bibliographic resources, including citation, full-text, numeric, image, and multimedia databases. The assignments will enable students to focus on information resources in a field of their choice.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this semester, students will be able to:

• identify and access library catalogs, article databases, and search engines,
• formulate effective search strategies and master basic search logic,
• evaluate print and electronic information, and
• acquire hands-on experience on information searching for resources

Course Materials

• Readings, either required or recommended, will be assigned on the course schedule. All readings will be available on the free web, on the Library as an e-journal, or on the Blackboard site.

Course Competency

• Class attendance/participation 

Students are expected to attend every class and arrive at each class on time. Students are encouraged and expected to participate actively in group activities as well as class discussions. The class discussions will be based on the reading assignments and activities.

I will apply the in-class activities and exercises to the class participation grade. Students who miss the classes won’t be able to participate in class activities. Thus, they will be penalized in their class participation grades.

• Reading assignments

All reading assignments should be completed before class. Students are required to post at least one discussion question related to the readings for each session on the Blackboard. The instructor will open the discussion forum, titled “Posting Discussion Questions,” on the Blackboard. Each session number, date, and reading information will be displayed. Click the appropriate session link, click the replay button, and leave your questions there. These questions are due at 8:00 AM on the day of the sessions. Whether postings were appeared each week will be counted and the result will be included in the class participation grade. Students may ask additional questions before, during or after the class or make an individual appointment with the instructor.

Students are also required to post a paragraph summary of the class on Blackboard after every class ends (See the "Class Summary Posting" forum on Blackboard"). It needs to include what they learned from the class, what they was able to find about the questions that they posted, what other questions or issues they want to address after the class, etc. The instructor will give you a five-minute to refresh what you leanred and discussed during the class and wrap up the class as writing the summary at the end of the class. Students can use this 5-minutes to post the summary or post it later when they have time. But it should be posted within a day after the class.

• Group activities

Partnership or small group activities will be encouraged during the class to discuss ideas and issues with peers. Please use the group activity time effectively, focusing on the topics given by the instructor. The small group activities will be followed by class discussion. So, be prepared to share in group work during class.

• Homework assignments

The assignments are listed in the course syllabus. It is necessary to submit the assignments by 5:00 pm on the due date. Late assignments will lose 10% of the timeliness points each day they are late. No assignment submitted more than one week after the due date will be accepted. These penalties will not apply to students who know in advance that they will be submitting an assignment late with reasonable excuses (e.g., family emergency, sickness, etc.) and let me know in advance. "In advance" means up until 24 hours before the class session in which the assignment is due.

Class Etiquette

• Cell phones

All cell phones must be silenced before entering the classroom. In addition, instant messaging is not allowed during class.

• Computer use

Students will have every class in the SILS computer lab, 117 Manning Hall. The computers in this room are arranged for the lecture materials, in-class exercises, or group activities, not for personal entertainment. Turn off the monitor of the computers unless the instructor asks you to turn it on for activities. Please be mature about using computers.

Course Evaluation

The assignments are due by 5:00 pm on the due date. Late assignments will be downgraded.

Grading Scale

Each assignment is worth a set number of points, as described on the assignment sheet.  These assignments, along with your class participation grade, collectively sum to 100.  Semester grades are based on your cumulative total of points awarded for all assignments and class participation, which are then converted to letter grades according to the traditional UNC scale:

A                      94 - 100 

A-                     90 - 93

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B+                   87 - 89 

B                      84 - 86 

B-                    80 - 83 

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C+                   77 - 79 

C                     74 - 76 

C-                    70 - 73 

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D+                   67 - 69 

            D                     60 - 66 

F                      59 and below

An “A” grade at the undergraduate level means that a student is doing outstanding or excellentwork. The student attends class regularly, hands in all of the course assignments anddemonstrates a thorough grasp of the material. To receive an “A” grade a student must go wellabove and beyond the basic expectations for the course.

A “B” grade at the undergraduate level means that a student is doing above average work. Thestudent attends class regularly, hands in all of the course assignments and demonstrates (at thevery least) a strong grasp of the material. In most courses, a majority of students would beexpected to achieve at this grade level.

A “C” grade at the undergraduate level means that a student is doing at least satisfactory work,and meeting the minimum requirements for the course. The student attends class regularly,hands in all of the course assignments, and demonstrates a basic level of understanding of thecourse concepts.

A “D” or “F” at the undergraduate level means that a student is doing unacceptable work,demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of course concepts.

Academic Integrity: Honor Code

The Honor Code, which prohibits giving or receiving unauthorized aid in the completion of assignments, is in effect in this class. It should be noted, however, that students are expected to receive (and provide) some assistance regarding the identification of information sources and the use of hardware and software in the computer lab. Students should NOT receive (or provide) major creative assistance or continuous minor support.

The Honor Code can be read in full at: http://instrument.unc.edu/

How to Succeed in This Course:

Here are several tips that may help students succeed in this course.

1. Prepare for class:  Complete the readings before coming to the class. The readings help students to be familiar with the major concepts and issues as well as with the new terminologies and glossary, which will be covered in the lecture. The lecture will not simply repeat the readings. Rather, it explains and analyzes how the readings are useful and applicable to build new knowledge fitting the lecture topic.
2. Attend the class and come to the class on time: Each session is designed to be a block building the big picture. There is no chance of reviewing missed sessions later. In addition, it is impossible to learn and understand the extensive content of the lecture and discussion from merely reviewing readings and lecture materials. Thus, attending every session of the class is required. Late arrivals disturb other students in the classroom. 
3. Participating during class: Class participation is important in this course since the instructor’s lectures and discussion are blended during the sessions. Feel free to offer thoughts and concerns. Classmates may have similar concerns and problems. In addition, speaking out helps oneself to know what he/she understands and doesn’t understand. 
4. Assess learning periodically: The course content and study assignments will grow like a snowball as the course progresses. It is the student’s responsibility to check his/her progress and status of learning regarding the course. Many assignments are given in this course. Check the submissions and returns, and report to the instructor immediately if you find a problem. 
5. Use the office hours: Consult with the instructor about any issues or questions regarding the course. The instructor is willing to offer any type of resources to help a student understand the course and in developing projects.  

Course Syllabus Creation Contribution:

This course syllabus was created based on the contribution of the previous instructors, Barbara Wildemuth, Jeffrey Pomertanz, Lili Luo, David West, & Ron Bergquist.

Last Updated: 01/07/2009