SCHOOL of LIBRARY SCIENCE

University of Arizona

Fall, 1996: LIS688: Advanced Issues in Information Resources

Margaret Higgins, Professor
Tue and Thu 9:30-10:45am, CCtr 309
Office: rm 14, phone: 621-5223
email: margaret@ccit.arizona.edu
Office Hours: Tue and Thur 11-12

Course Objectives

The course aims to introduce students to the steps involved in planning programs of instruction and in identifying related information necessary to support and enhance the learning. A primary emphasis of 688 will be to recognise interrelationships between program goals, the steps required to achieve these goals, and the information needed at each step.

Outcomes

By the end of the course students will be able to a) develop a program of instruction, and b) effectively aid others who are developing such programs. Students will also be able to identify and select information resources appropriate for such programs.

Expectations & Evaluation
Evaluation is thus based on 50% individual effort and 50% teamwork.

Grading

A: 100-85
B: 84-70
C: 69-55
D: < 55

(the suffix '+' will reflect the high end of the range; the suffix '-' the lower end; and no suffix will indicate the middle of the range. Graduate School will of course only see A, B, C...).

Academic Code of Integrity

Students are expected to abide by The University of Arizona Code of Academic Integrity. The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student submitted work must be the student's own.

Class Structure

The class will be conducted as an interactive seminar, with input coming from both the instructor and regularly from the students. It will be hands on and practical: in fact, a real live program for real live students will be developed. Groups will be formed according to the number of students and alternative forms of the program will be developed according to the views of the students in the various groups. The 'best' program will be awarded a prize. It is expected that, on a weekly basis, the first class of the week will be a general discussion of that week's subject, and the second class of the week will be each group's 'personal' take on the subject the week.

The nature of the subject and of the class precludes dogmatic authoritarianism: academic freedom means that the content of a program of instruction can vary according to the beliefs / wishes / views of the faculty member involved. Thus, I will not be 'lecturing' or telling you what to include- my involvement will be more of coach & guide. What this means is that students in this course must be able to tolerate some degree of ambiguity.

Class Schedule

Week/ Dates/ Subject

  1. Aug 22/Introduction, course outline, and group formation
  2. 27 & 29/Sociology: what is it?
  3. Sep 3 & 5/Information: what is it?
  4. 10 & 12/Sociology and Information: interconnections
  5. 17 & 19/Goal setting principles
  6. 24 & 26/Audience characteristics
  7. Oct 1 & 3/Program goals; and program content
  8. 8 & 10/Program content
  9. 15 & 17/Information resources: to support content
  10. 22 & 24/Information resources
  11. 29 & 31/Information resources
  12. Nov 5 & 7/Information resources
  13. 12 & 14/Learning outcomes: what's expected?
  14. 19 & 21/Format of instruction: best ways?
  15. 26/Evaluation of learning: best ways?
  16. Dec 3 & 5/Group presentations of programs

Requirements in more detail

Essay: In 4 double spaced pages, synthesize the literature on the development of courses of instruction at tertiary education level, and present your own perspective on how it could be done to most effect. Please use APA style.

Due date: Sept 10 Worth: 20%

Interview: Select and interview a faculty member, from beyond your own school, with a view to finding out how that person personally goes about developing a new course of instruction. Write up the interview in 3 double spaced pages. Preferably find someone who teaches at undergraduate level.

Due date: Oct 1 Worth: 15%

Participation: From week 7 (and including that week), each group will outline its program's content and it will provide a copy of each information resource chosen to support the content. I expect noisy debate by the other groups as to the appropriateness of each groups' program content, order, and chosen supporting information resources.

Due date: Ongoing Worth: 15%

Presentation: In groups, present your program outline to the class. Identify the goals of the program and justify its format and outline with respect to these goals.

Due date: Dec 3 or 5

The Program Present a nicely bound copy of the program of instruction, complete with a listing of all the supporting information resources. Clearly identify which resources match which portion of the program. State the goals of the program and explain how these goals have been met by the presented program.

Due date: Dec 3 or 5

The presentation and the program are collectively worth 50%