Spring '97 Syllabus

This document is much more than a syllabus... it will also serve to introduce and archive much of the information that will be used in our class.

Objective

The topic for LIS 688 this semester is the Internet. The audience is the student who has only a small amout of experience using the Internet (though there will be something of value for many different levels of student).

The overall goal of this online class is to provide the student with enough knowledge to gain a self-sufficient approach to further Internet explorations.

Course Description

This is an entirely online class. Thus, we will be utilizing several of the tools of the Internet to teach the Internet. Through a combination of e-mail, Web pages, MOOs, IRC and other tools, we hope to provide all students, no matter where they are geographically located, with a substantive, and rigorous learning experience.  

This introduction to the Internet will give the student a solid understanding of:

• The history and current structures of the Internet.
• A wide variety of Internet software (Web browsers such as Netscape or Internet Explorer, FTP clients, news readers, etc.).
• The most important information and indexing resources available via the Internet (such as Yahoo, Excite, Alta Vista, Magellan, DejaNews).
• The most effective Internet communication utilities (Usenet, EMail, IRC, MOOs, Internet voice tools).
• How to create and maintain Web pages.
• Internet language and concepts.
• The beginnings of an Internet marketplace.
• Emerging Internet social issues.

Course Schedule

The class schedule is the student's entry point into each lecture provided by the Instructor. As each week's topic is introduced, lecture materials can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate link below. Prior to the release of the lecture, you'll be able to access a short abstract of that week's topics.

Phase One: History and Tools

• Week One: Jan 20 - 24 : Internet History
  

• Week Two: Jan 27 - 31: Network Structures & Internet Tools
  
• Week Three: Feb 3 - Feb 7: Internet Communications: Tools and Methods
  
• Week Four: Feb 10 - Feb 14: Internet Information Access: Tools and Methods
  
• Week Five: Feb 17 - Feb 21: Internet Information Provision: Tools and Methods

  Feb 21: Exam One Distributed
  

Phase Two: Societal Implications of the Internet

• Week Six: Feb 24 - Feb28: Introducing Internet Social Issues
  
• Week Seven: Mar 3 - Mar 7: Copyright and Intellectual Property

  Mar 3: Exam One Due

• Week Eight: Mar 10 - Mar 14: Deviance & Culture Clash

  Mar 17-21: No Class: Spring Break

• Week Nine: Mar 24 - Mar 28: Privacy & Encryption
  
• Week Ten: Mar 31 - Apr 4: Technology & Equal Access

  Apr 4: Exam Two Distributed

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Phase Three: Impacts and Trends for Institutions

• Week Eleven: Apr 7 - Apr 11: Business

  Apr 14: Exam Two Due

• Week Twelve: Apr 14 - 18: Education
  
• Week Thirteen: Apr 21 - Apr 25: Libraries

  Apr 25: Class Project/Paper Due

• Week Fourteen: Apr 28 - May 2: Law and Government

  May 2: Exam Three Distributed

• Week Fifteen: May 5- May 7: Future Directions

  May 9: Exam Three Due
  

Answers to exam one

Exam two

Answers to exam two

Exam three

Class Projects

688 | Course Management | Pre-requisites | Media | Required Readings | Course Schedule | Grading | Academic Integrity | Registration | Important Dates | Contact Information