The University of Southern Mississippi School of Library and Information Science

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1 The University of Southern Mississippi School of Library and Information Science LIS 489: Library Practicum Fall 2011 Professor Dr. Teresa S. Welsh, Associate Professor Cook Library, Room 206H Phone: Fax: or Office hours: Monday-Thursday 1:30-4:30pm or by appointment Drop Dates: Last date to drop a class with a refund is September 7, Last date to drop a class without academic penalty is October 5, Course Prerequisites: This is a capstone course (a capstone is the crowning achievement or finishing stone of a structure) and should be taken during the senior year. Students must have satisfactorily completed the following courses before they may be considered for a practicum: At least 70% of the general education core CSC 100: Introduction to Computing or LIS 201: Introduction to Information Literacy ENG 333: Technical Writing or BTE 380: Organizational Communications LIS 401: Introduction to Reference Resources and Services LIS 405: Cataloging and Classification LIS 411: Development of Multi-Media Collections LIS 416: Media Utilization SLIS faculty member Dr. Teresa Welsh will serve as their faculty practicum director. The specifics of the practicum must be reviewed and accepted by the faculty director, the student s advisor, and SLIS Director Dr. M.J. Norton. Nature of Course: Required for all undergraduates seeking a Bachelor s degree in library and information science; writing/speaking intensive course and capstone course. LIS undergraduates are required to complete no less than 3 credit hours of practicum experience (150 hours contact) and a minimum grade of C is required. Grading rubrics will be used to evaluate writing and speaking assignments. Nature of Students: Undergraduate Format of Course: The course is a practicum capstone which involves students in supervised individualized practical experiences. Course Description/Overview: The purpose of the practicum experience is to provide the student with experience under the supervision of an information professional in a library or 1

2 information-related environment with the added guidance of a library faculty member. As a capstone course this experience requires formal and informal writing, formal and informal oral presentations. Catalog Description: This course consists of supervised work in a library to provide the student with operational library experience. Course Generally Scheduled/Offered: Every semester. LIS undergraduates are REQUIRED to complete no less than 3 credit hours of practicum experience, 150 hours contact. Required Text: None Conceptual Framework Addressed in Course: The overarching theme of the College of Education and Psychology and NCATE Unit conceptual framework is Freeing the Power of the Individual. The Unit s conceptual framework is by design aligned with the university s mission. The conceptual framework is consistent with the university s historical roots as a normal college and with the university s future. The University, since our founding in 1910, has been committed to outstanding preparation of teachers, counselors, administrators, and other school personnel. In accordance with this history and the present vision of the University, the mission of the Unit is seven-fold: a) preparing Mississippi teachers; b) promoting cutting-edge research; c) creating a healthier region; d) leading in economic development; e) taking Mississippi to the world; f) enhancing the cultural environment; and g) educating the whole student (University Mission). Within these mission statements, the Unit has embedded the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to enable its members to prepare effective educational leaders to serve a variety of roles in the P-12 setting. With this in mind, the outcomes in the areas of knowledge, skills, dispositions, and diversity goals all educational leaders graduating from The University of Southern Mississippi are to possess include the following. Within these outcomes lie the expected target competencies for all professional education students, encompassing the vision and mission of the Unit. Power of Knowledge to Inform Power to Inspire Power to Transform Lives Empower Community of Learners The library science program values the power of information, reading and libraries to inform, inspire, and transform lives. GEC Student Learning Outcomes GEC: 1a. Students will demonstrate the ability to develop and focus on one topic in writing assignments and present ideas in an organized, logical and coherent form. 1b. Students will demonstrate the ability to develop and focus on one topic in speaking assignments and present ideas in an organized, logical and coherent form. 2

3 1c. Students will demonstrate the ability to use Standard English grammar, punctuation, spelling and usage. Additional Course Objectives: 1. Graduates will have and demonstrate suitable reading, writing, and other communication skills 2. Students will demonstrate the ability to connect course content to other disciplines and/or to real world situations. 3. Students will demonstrate the ability to operate successfully in a library or other information environment as cooperative and productive members of the work unit. 4. Students will demonstrate competencies in using technology for communication and information purposes ( , word-processing software, presentation software). Teaching Techniques/Methods Used in Course: Supervised, hands-on work experience in a library; informal, formal written assignments; informal and formal oral presentations. Assignments: 1). Informal Writing Assignment: Reflective Journal (15% Each practicum student is required as part of the credit for the practicum to maintain a time log and report a weekly reflective journal. Both the log and journal are to be written in informal, Standard English, in complete coherent sentences using proper grammar and spelling. Students may use personal pronouns and contractions in informal, reflective writing. Failure to maintain and submit these logs will result in the student receiving a failing grade in the practicum regardless of any other evaluations. The time log will include the number of hours worked each day. The journal summarizes the week and should report the tasks, learning experiences, activities and opportunities. The journal should include the reflections of the student upon the various experiences, detailing the relationship between what the student has learned in the classroom and what occurs during the practicum. The student should identify what has been learned that was not previously known or understood, how this information will be useful in the field and how it was applied in the practicum situation. The logs and journals will be transmitted weekly to the faculty practicum director as an attachment in software the faculty practicum director specifies (Microsoft Word or equivalent; double-spaced) OR it may be posted in an online blog. The student is responsible for keeping a copy of all material submitted. More detailed instructions and grading rubric are available in a separate document. 2. Formal Writing Assignment: Scholarly Paper (15%) 3

4 A 4,000 word paper on an approved topic is due at the end of the semester. The paper is to be written in formal, Standard English, in complete coherent sentences using proper grammar and spelling. Detailed instructions and grading rubric are available in a separate document. 3. Informal Oral Presentation (5%) Students will schedule a meeting with Dr. Welsh during midterm week and be prepared to give an informal oral report of practicum activities and to discuss paper topic (10 points). 4. Formal Oral Presentation (15%) Practicum students in LIS 489 (undergraduate) will also prepare a formal oral presentation to be given before a faculty committee, consisting of the practicum director, the Director of the School or her representative, and one other faculty member. This presentation should summarize the experience and should be about minutes in length. The student should accompany the presentation with PowerPoint or other graphic aids. Detailed instructions and grading rubric are available in a separate document. 5. Evaluation, Grade Recommendation by the On-Site Practicum Supervisor (50) Final grade will be an average of the on-site practicum supervisor s evaluation/grade recommendation and the graded assignments. The on-site practicum supervisor s midterm assessment form, final assessment form, and final evaluation/grade recommendation form are available as a separate document. Grading Scale A = B = C = D = F = 0-63 Student Resources for Writing and Speaking Assignments As a student at The University of Southern Mississippi, you have access to individualized assistance with writing and speaking assignments for any course through the University s Writing Center and Speaking Center on both the Hattiesburg and Gulf Coast campuses. The centers offer personalized assistance at any stage of the writing or speaking process. Whether you want help brainstorming for topic ideas, developing an outline, conducting research, or learning proofreading or presentation skills, the centers can help you become a more effective writer and speaker. The Speaking Center also offers practice rooms for recording presentations and working with delivery aids (PowerPoint and Internet access are available). The centers are centrally located in Cook Library on the Hattiesburg campus (first floor just past Starbucks) and in Gulf Park Library on the Gulf Coast campus. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call, come by, visit online or join us on Facebook. Speaking Center: Cook Library Writing Center: Cook Library Gulf Coast Speaking & Writing Center: GP Library

5 LIS 489 Schedule Weekly log and reflective journal due each Sunday night by midnight; submit journal and log as attachment to (or post to practicum blog once weekly). Week 1 Initial signed practicum agreement is due. Form can be faxed to or mailed to Dr. Teresa Welsh, University of Southern Mississippi, School of Library and Information Science, 118 College Dr. #5146, Hattiesburg, MS Week 8 Schedule a meeting with Dr. Welsh for informal oral report and discussion about paper topic; mid-term evaluation due from practicum supervising librarian. See above for fax and/or mail information. Week 15 Schedule a time to do oral presentations. (Dr. Welsh will coordinate this so that students can do their presentations at the same time.) Submit a copy of the paper to Dr. Welsh. Week 16 End term assessment and summary evaluation/grade recommendation due from practicum supervising librarian should be received by Dr. Welsh before the end of semester. Class Policies: Students are responsible for reading syllabus content and becoming familiar with course policies and procedures Students will not be granted an Incomplete for this course for failing to complete assignments. A student who receives an Incomplete will have only ONE semester in which to complete the work, and will not be eligible to receive an A. If a student commits plagiarism, that student will receive an F in the course. A student may not self-plagiarize or submit work done in another course unless receiving prior permission from the instructor. Any assignment that is self-plagiarized without prior permission from the instructor will receive zero points. Students are required to subscribe to lisnews, the LIS listserv. Subscribe to lisnews by filling out the form at: Failure to follow specific instructions for content and formatting of assignments will result in lower grades. Writing skills: all work must be in Standard English; inappropriate grammar, punctuation, and/or spelling will result in lower grades. General Rules and Guidelines for Practicum Students A: Basic Professionalism Be at work on time! When on duty you are expected to work. Do your part in keeping the practicum site clean, attractive, and orderly Be accurate in your work! Since you represent The University and the School of Library and Information Science you are to dress professionally and be clean and neat in appearance. On the job study is not permitted. Termination of the practicum will result from: a) Theft or dishonesty 5

6 b) Insubordination c) Destruction of property d) Falsification of records e) Acts of moral turpitude f) Reporting to work under the influence of intoxicants g) Bringing onto or using illicit drugs on practicum premises h) Excessive tardiness or absences i) Conduct that imperils or threatens another. The practicum student is studying to become a professional and should conduct him or herself as if the practicum is a job. The student will follow the rules and regulations of the practicum site. Request the permission and direction of the practicum site supervisor. DO NOT ASSUME you know the rules or how the facility works. B. Work Performance Practicum sites have the authority to choose the best-qualified individual for a practicum. They also have the right to reassign any student who does not perform their work to their satisfaction. Since this is the first work experience for many students, it is recommended that the practicum site supervisor discuss poor work performance with their practicum students. Practicum site supervisors are encouraged to nurture and build a strong work ethic in these individuals. Any problems that cannot be resolved within the practicum site should be brought to the attention of the practicum faculty director. Practicum sites are not obligated to retain a substandard student worker. C. Benefits Typically practicum students are not eligible for employer-provided health insurance, state retirement, Social Security, accrued annual or major medical leave, or other hired employee benefits. D. Additional Guidelines Arrange practicum with the practicum supervisor and the faculty director during or before the pre-registration period of the prior semester Complete all requirements established by the practicum site and School of Library and Information Science Provide practicum supervisor with the SLIS practicum assessment and evaluation forms Be punctual and reliable in regard to established work hours Perform all tasks carefully and thoroughly. Follow directions provided Apply knowledge of principles and theories acquired as a result of prior coursework Communicate outcomes of practicum work to the practicum supervisor. Academic Honesty/Plagiarism: Plagiarism is serious. You must give credit for five or more words in a sequence by using quotation marks and indicating the source of the quote, and you must indicate the source of other factual information and ideas. Copying another student s work in part or whole is also plagiarism. Plagiarism in an assignment will result in a failing grade for the assignment. The following is from the USM Undergraduate Bulletin: Plagiarism is scholarly theft, and it is defined as the unacknowledged use of secondary sources. More specifically, any written or oral presentation in which the writer or speaker does not distinguish clearly between original and borrowed material constitutes plagiarism. 6

7 Because students, as scholars, must make frequent use of the concepts and facts developed by other scholars, plagiarism is not the mere use of another's facts and ideas. However, it is plagiarism when students present the work of other scholars as if it were their own work. Plagiarism is committed in a number of ways: 1) reproducing another author's writing as if it were one's own; 2) paraphrasing another author's work without citing the original; 3) borrowing from another author's ideas, even though those ideas are reworded, without giving credit; [and] 4) copying another author's organization without giving credit. Plagiarism is a serious offense. An act of plagiarism may lead to a failing grade on the paper and in the course, as well as sanctions that may be imposed by the student judicial system. Academic Honesty (from USM Undergraduate Bulletin): When cheating is discovered, the faculty member may give the student an F on the work involved or in the course. If further disciplinary action is deemed appropriate, the student should be reported to the Dean of Students. In addition to being a violation of academic honesty, cheating violates the Code of Student Conduct and may be grounds for probation, suspension, and/or expulsion. Students on disciplinary suspension may not enroll in any courses offered by the University of Southern Mississippi. Note: Students must send the instructor an stating that they understand USM's academic honesty policy and also understand that if they do not uphold the standards of academic honesty, the instructor will enforce all applicable punishment. Disabilities Statement: If a student has a disability that qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities covered by ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders. Students can contact ODA if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies. Address: The University of Southern Mississippi, Office for Disability Accommodations, 118 College Drive, # 8586, Hattiesburg, MS Voice Telephone: (601) , or (228) ; Fax: (601) Individuals with hearing impairments can contact ODA using the Mississippi Relay Service at (TTY) or Suzanne.Hebert@usm.edu. Syllabus revised 8/11/11 7