Instructor: Jim Kinnie Telephone: Office Hours: TBA Office: Library - Room 124

Transcription

1 Syllabus LIB350: Current Issues of the Information Age Spring 2016 Mondays/Wednesdays 3:00 4:15 pm Library, Room LL 12 Instructor: Jim Kinnie Telephone: Office Hours: TBA Office: Library - Room 124 Course Description Critical current issues concerning the use of information are examined and explored through the use of the research process. Students will collaborate to create projects detailing research in areas of global concern. Emphasis will be placed on the interdisciplinary nature of information and on the use of research techniques as a foundation for informed citizenship. In a 1986 article titled, Four Ethical Issues of the Information Age for Management Information Systems Quarterly, Richard Mason wrote that there were four ethical issues of the information age: Privacy, Accessibility, Property, and Accuracy.* Almost thirty years later, we are still grappling with those issues only in a much more global environment. LIB350 will explore topics related to these four themes in order to identify how they will affect future citizens. This course will introduce you to college level information research skills and to the URI University Libraries information resources. A series of graded skills exercises will prepare you for the research work. LIB 350: Issues of the Information Age encompasses four modules, with Module 1 consisting of Information Research Skills (IRS) and Modules 2, 3, and 4 being interchangeable in terms of when they are offered during the semester allowing timely global topics to be presented. Students will work individually on the Information Research Skills exercises and will collaborate with classmates on the problem- based projects in Modules 2-4. Each succeeding project will increase in complexity, requiring the use of library resources and the information literacy skills practiced during the semester. * Mason, Richard O. "Four Ethical Issues of the Information Age." MIS Quarterly 10.1 (March, 1986): 5. Retrieved April 16, 2009, from JSTOR, University Library, URI, Kingston RI. <

2 Course Goals This course will prepare students to conduct university- level research to address current global information issues and beyond that, to develop skills necessary for life- long learning. Textbook(s): Jackson, Brooks and Jamieson, K.H. unspun: Finding Facts in a World of Disinformation New York: Random House. Wacks, Raymond. Privacy: a very short introduction Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press Warburton, Nigel. Free Speech: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press Student Learning Outcomes After successfully completing LIB 350, students will be able to: Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information Examine current information issues from the perspective of an informed global citizen Determine the extent of information needed in order to recognize and articulate a research problem Develop appropriate and effective search strategies in order to efficiently locate and retrieve information sources from retrieval tools Critically evaluate information within the context in which it is published Organize and synthesize information in order to present a coherent product General Education Student Learning Outcomes This course has been approved for Information Literacy Global Responsibilities Grand Challenge Course Objectives (from IDEA Student Evaluation of Teaching) Essential Objectives: Learning how to find and use resources for answering questions or solving problems Learning to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view Important Objectives Learning to apply course material (to improve thinking, problem solving, and decisions) Acquiring skills in working with others as a member of a team Developing skill in expressing oneself orally or in writing

3 Grading Information Research Skills exercises Project 1 Accuracy Project 2 - Privacy Project 3 Access & Property Attendance/Participation 30% 20% 20% 20% 10% Final Course Grades will be given on the following standard scale: A B C D A B C D B C F below 60 Project #1 Project: Accuracy Project: Truth or Consequences? You ll go behind the curtain to investigate and discover the level of accuracy and credibility behind the multiple sides of a current global information issue. The goal of this project is to identify and verify authoritative unbiased truth and share that information with a target audience. (20%) Project #2: Privacy Revolution! - What are our privacy rights? In the United States? In other countries? How do you define privacy? What about your self- identity is private vs. public? How much of our lives are available and accessible to others known and unknown (both in terms of public data and simply by who knows the information?) How do privacy rights differ in the global community? (20%) Project #3 Free the Internet! - Access to information plays a considerable role for developing citizenship aspects of our global society. What challenges exist that forestall open access and use of information in all its forms? How do these challenges affect individual rights to participate in the global society? This project will challenge you to advocate for maintaining, developing, and developing information policies and practices for all citizens of the world. (20%) Policies Grading - Each project will be graded on a group basis with part of the group grade based on peer evaluation. Attendance and successful completion of the online exercises will be graded on an individual basis. Evaluation - Group projects will evaluated using a rubric distributed prior to the assignment. Individual exercises will be assessed on a point scale valued at 25 points of the course grade. Projects & Assignments: Basic Guidelines All assignments and projects will be submitted via the Sakai Assignments tool unless otherwise stated in class or the assignment document. Do not e- mail me your assignments. If you are having trouble uploading your assignment (i.e. Sakai issues), get in touch with me ahead of time and we will make arrangements. Assignments should be turned in as attachments in either.doc,.docx, or.rtf (rich text) format. Do not submit your work as a.pdf or other format!

4 All assignments should have your name on the front page. Read over all assignments and spell check before turning them in. Take pride in your work! All information sources used in this class MUST be accessible either online or on the shelves of the URI Library. If I cannot access the full and complete information source, I will assume that you cannot either and this is considered fabrication. Fabrication is considered Academic Dishonesty and will not be tolerated. Late Assignments All assignments are due on the scheduled date. Do not assume that late work will be accepted! IF there is ever a time when serious, critical, extenuating circumstances prevent work from being due on time it is the responsibility of the student to contact me BEFORE the assignment is due to discuss the possible extension. Much of the work in the course is group work and depends on YOU to create successful and timely products. You must do your share, do it on time, and do it with your very best ability. Course Requirements Daily access to a computer with Internet connection. Daily access to Sakai course management system. Daily check your URI e- mail/sakai messages this will be the main method of communication for any class notices, reminders, and other important messages! Familiarity with Google Docs (attached to your URI account) for storing and sharing work. Note: If you do not have a computer at home/in your dorm, plan to use the computers available at the URI Library either in the computer lab or the laptops that are available to check out at the Circulation Desk. Lack of a computer is not an excuse so do not wait until last minute in case you encounter technological issues. Classroom Behavior Expectations - Be courteous and respectful to fellow students and the instructor. - Cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc. should be stored away during class time in your bag or under the desk. - Participate fully by completing readings and assignments on time and by engaging in class discussions and group work. - No food or drink in the classroom! ATTENDANCE POLICY READ CAREFULLY! Any absence from class beyond two will reduce your overall semester grade in the following manner:

5 2 absences = are not recommended but will not affect grade 3 absences = ½ letter grade penalty 4 absences = 1 letter grade penalty 5 absences = 1 ½ letter grade penalty 6 absences = Course Failure Attendance is expected at all times. Attending class means being on time to class, participating in class, and staying in class for entire class period. Attendance is your path to success. This course involves student group collaboration so your presence is vitally important to your partners. Missing class will impact your individual and group grades and thus will lower your overall course grade. URI Campus Class Cancellations: In case of inclement weather (snow/ice storms, tornadoes, floods, wide- spread pestilence, etc.), please refer to the University s Official memoranda and announcements. Be sure you are signed up for University Alerts so you ll be notified of any emergencies or class cancellations. The following web site explains how the University decides whether to cancel classes Absence from class for University sanctioned events: Sections & of the University Manual states ( /> html ): Students who plan to be absent from classes or examinations for religious holy days that traditionally preclude secular activity (see for how such information is made available) shall discuss this with the appropriate instructor(s) in advance of the holy day. The instructor(s) shall then make one of the following options available: a. the same quiz, test, or examination to be administered either before or after the normally scheduled time; b. a comparable alternative quiz, test, or examination to be administered either before or after the scheduled time; c. an alternative weighting of the remaining evaluative components of the course which is mutually acceptable to the student and instructor(s) Students who expect to be absent from classes or examinations for University sanctioned events shall discuss this with the appropriate instructor(s) at least one week in advance of the sanctioned event(s). The instructor(s) concerned shall then offer the student an alternative listed in section For these purposes University sanctioned events shall be those events approved for class excuses by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, a Vice President, a Dean, or the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. No event shall be regarded as University sanctioned until the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs has been notified. Disagreements over the validity of an event being categorized as University sanctioned shall be mediated by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. If agreement cannot be reached, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs shall decide the matter and that decision shall be final.

6 Communication and Availability Please use the Sakai Message function if you need to contact me outside of class for questions on assignments or extra help. I will be checking Sakai daily. If you want to ensure that I see the Sakai message promptly, check the button in your message to have a copy sent to my e- mail. While I ll try to get back to you as quickly as possible, it may take up to 24 hours to get a response during weekdays and possibly longer on weekends so plan accordingly. Should Sakai be down for any reason (maintenance, technical issues, etc.) and I need to get in touch with you, I will send an e- mail to an alternate e- mail address you provide me. Office Hour: Please plan to visit me during my office hour [TBA], sometime during the semester, and especially if you have any questions or need clarification. If you are not able to visit during my scheduled office hour but would still like to meet in person, please contact me to schedule an appointment. Academic Integrity/Plagiarism/Cheating/Fabrication will not be tolerated. Students in this course are expected to be academically honest, and you are responsible for knowing the University s applicable policies. Please read the sections on Plagiarism and Cheating: Section in the University Manual, online at See Section Any instances of plagiarism, fabricating, or cheating, will cause you to earn a zero on the exercise, assignment, or exam in question. In addition, I reserve the right to pursue further penalties in accordance with the University s policies. In serious cases you may fail the course. If you are confused about what constitutes plagiarism or cheating, please ask me before handing it in. After the fact is not the best time for a defense. From the Office of the University Provost: Students are expected to be honest in all academic work. A student s name on any written work, quiz or exam shall be regarded as assurance that the work is the result of the student s own independent thought and study. Work should be stated in the student s own words, properly attributed to its source. Students have an obligation to know how to quote, paraphrase, summarize, cite and reference the work of others with integrity. The following are examples of academic dishonesty. Using material, directly or paraphrasing, from published sources (print or electronic) without appropriate citation Claiming disproportionate credit for work not done independently Unauthorized possession or access to exams Unauthorized communication during exams Unauthorized use of another s work or preparing work for another student Taking an exam for another student Altering or attempting to alter grades The use of notes or electronic devices to gain an unauthorized advantage during exams Fabricating or falsifying facts, data or references

7 Facilitating or aiding another s academic dishonesty Submitting the same paper for more than one course without prior approval from the instructors.

8 Late Assignments Late work is not accepted without prior communication from student. Assignments will lose 10% of the grade per day late (unless a legitimate reason is given to the instructor). Any student needing special accommodations should contact the URI Office of Student Life, Disability Services at (401) , TTD (via RI Relay) , or on the Web at Please Read the URI Student Manual sections on the use of Computing Facilities, The Academic Enhancement Center The AEC offers a comfortable environment in which to study alone or together, with or without a tutor. AEC tutors are your peers; they have taken your courses, and can answer questions, clarify concepts, check your understanding, and help you to study. You can make an appointment or walk in anytime during office hours - - Monday through Thursday from 9 am. to 9 pm, Friday from 9 am to 1 pm, and Sunday from 4 pm. to 8 pm. For a complete schedule go to call (401) , or stop by the fourth floor in Roosevelt Hall.

9 LIB 350 Spring 2016 Course Schedule *SUBJECT TO CHANGE* Date January 27 Topics Welcome/Introductions/Sakai Site/ Assignments See Details in Sakai! Complete Syllabus Critique; Read Mason article (in Sakai- Assignment section) Due Date 2/1 February 1 February 3 February 8 Information Age/Mason article discussion/ Issues/Information Research Skills Information Research Skills: Finding, Evaluating& Citing Books Skills Exercise: Concept Map & Research Question 2/8 Skills Exercise: Books 2/10 February 10 Information Research Skills: Finding, Evaluating & Citing Articles (news, magazines, & journals) Skills Exercise: Articles 2/15 February 15 February 17 February 22 Information Research Skills: Finding, Evaluating & Citing Web Sites I came to College to be taught! / Group Rules Project 1 Poll Results in Class Project 1 Introduction Information Accuracy: Truth or Consequences Groups finalize "unspun" presentations. Skills Exercise: Web Sites 2/17 Group Work Ground Rules Document Reading Assignment: unspun Group Assignment, see Sakai 2/22 2/24 February 24 Groups Report on Reading, unspun / Project 1 Information Accuracy: Truth or Accuracy Project- Groups write Information Accuracy 2/29 Guidelines, post in Sakai by 2/29 9:30 a.m.

10 Consequences- Work on "Accuracy Guidelines". Project 1 Information Accuracy: Truth or Consequences February 29 Introduction to Project 1: (TBA) Groups research and develop "Terms and Connections"& will share with class, 2/26 Accuracy Project Groups/Project Terms and Connections 3/2 March 2 March 7 Project 1 Share Terms & Connections; Project 1 Information Accuracy: Work Day Accuracy Project Information Accuracy Identify Web Site, YouTube, or Vimeo for Rating; Begin background research & rating. Accuracy Project More team work. 3/7 Presentations due 3/9 March 9 Project 1 Information Accuracy: Truth or Consequences Group Presentations Today! March 14 Project 2 Privacy Revolution! Introduction Readings- Privacy: A Very Short Introduction Due March 16 March 16 Project 2 Privacy Revolution! Answer Essential Questions Reading discussion/ Group Work Due March 28 SPRING BREAK: March March 28 Project 2 Privacy Revolution! Develop Projects/ Develop Projects/Research March 30 Groups work on privacy projects. April 4 Project 2 Privacy Revolution! Group Work/Research Prepare Project and Presentations April 6 Project 2 Privacy Revolution! Group Work/Research Prepare Project and Presentations Presentations, 4/11

11 April 11 April 13 Project 2: Privacy Revolution! Group Presentations Today Discussion of Reading Intro to Project Reading: Freedom of Speech: a very short introduction 4/13 April 18 Group Work April 20 Group Work April 25 April 27 May 2 Group Work Presentations due 4/27 Group Work Presentation continue 5/2 Presentations today. Evaluations/ Farewells