LIS 651
Introduction to Information Science
Online, Spring 2008

Instructor
Dr. Teresa Welsh
The University of Southern Mississippi
School of Library & Information Science
Cook Library, Room 206H
Office Hours: Tues-Thurs, 1:30-4:30pm or by appointment
Phone: 601.296.0528
Teresa.Welsh@usm.edu
http://ocean.otr.usm.edu/~w146169/

Course Description
This 3 hour course is a survey of information science as a field of study; it examines the role of the library as an information transfer model and the associated implications to the profession and the future.

  • Prerequisites: LIS 501, LIS 505, and LIS 511 or permission of the instructor. Basic computer skills are assumed and access to web-based computer resources is required.

  • Instructional methods will include but not be limited to online lecture notes, directed readings, virtual classroom discussions, discussion board postings, and a bibliometric research project.

  • Virtual Classroom sessions: students will select one night and time and attend each week a session is scheduled: Tuesdays 6:30-8:00pm or 8:00-9:30pm, Central
Drop Dates
Last date to drop with refund is January 28th.
Last date to drop without academic penalty is February 27th.

Required Texts
  • Dertouzos, M. L. (1997). What Will Be: How the New World of Information Will Change Our Lives. Harper Collins: New York. ISBN 0-06-251479-2

  • Harris, R. A. (2005). Using Sources Effectively, Second Edition. Pyrczak Publishing. ISBN 1-884585-38-8

  • Norton, M. J (2000). Introductory Concepts in Information Science. Information Today, Inc. ISBN 1-57387-087-0

You may order the books from: USM Textbooks or another source such as Barnes & Noble or Half.com.

Other readings will be required; resources will be available via the university library databases and e-reserves.

Course Goals
This course introduces students of Library and Information Science to the basic practical and theoretical concepts of the nature of information while examining the impact of the information age on society and its institutions. Information technology has changed the way in which information, technology and the traditional library tasks and environments are viewed. The implications of these changes must be considered to prepare professionals for the continuing challenges and future roles the technology will foster in the library/information profession.

Students will demonstrate via production of graduate quality research, annotated bibliographies and reading reports the following:

  1. Understanding of the practical concepts of information in the forms of its creation, organization, dissemination and retrieval, specifically in relation to information technology.

  2. Ability to articulate the various interpretations of 'data', 'information' and 'knowledge' and the implications of these differences including the impact communications issues have upon the status of information, both in theory and practice.

  3. Ability to apply bibliometric methodology as an evaluative tool in research.

  4. Ability to evaluate and discuss issues of information policy, information economics, professional roles and ethics within the context of library and information science.

  5. Understanding of the role and implications of technology relevant to information and information management.

  6. Ability to apply various electronic information tools in performing course work, including electronic mail, electronic bulletin board access, Internet use and software programs.

Weekly Schedule of Topics (Subject to Revision)

Week 1: Course Introduction, History of Information Science, Nature of Information
Course Syllabus
Online lecture notes, Bush article

Week 2: Foundations of Information Science
Norton, Chapters 1, 2

Week 3: Communication & Information
Norton, Chapter 3; Boulding article

Week 4: Communication as Culture
Reichel article, Atkinson article

Week 5: Information Organization & Retrieval
Norton, Chapter 4; Smith article

Week 6: Information Technology, Boolean Processes
Dertouzos Appendix, Schaffner article

Week 7: Bibliometrics: Measuring Information
Norton, Chapter 5, Penland article

Week 8: Bibliometrics: Citation Analysis, Publication Patterns
Smith article, Herring article

Week 9: Spring Break Week

Week 10: Bibliometrics: Scholarly Literature, Practical Implications
Research Articles

Week 11: Citation Indexing
Tenopir article
Bibliometric Research Proposal Due

Week 12: Privacy, Confidentially and Individual Rights
ALA Information Policies

Week 13: Information Infrastructure, Information Marketplace
Dertouzos, Chapters 4, 10-12
Annotated Bibliography Due

Week 14: Information Power
Dertouzos, Chapters 5-9
Draft Bibliometric Research Paper Due

Week 15: Economics of Information
Norton, Chapters 6, 7
Final Bibliometric Research Paper Due

Week 16: Information and Future Technology
Norton, Chapter 8
Dertouzos, Chapters 1-3

Evaluation
Grades will be based upon:

  1. Research paper proposal [500 points]

  2. Research paper using a bibliometric methodology on an approved topic [1000 points].

  3. Annotated bibliography with 5 keyword descriptors for each annotation [500 points].

  4. Assigned readings (100 points apiece) 1000 points
    1. discussion of two key points in each reading (20)
    2. discussion of the readings' relevance to library and information science (20)
    3. discussion of how aspects of the readings could be specifically applied (where and how) in a library environment (20)
    4. full citations and annotations [annotated bibliography] for two other readings related to the same area (40)
    Failure to submit one assignment will result in a 250 point penalty, failure to submit two assignments will result in a 500 point penalty, failure to submit three assignments will result in a failing grade. If a student believes he/she has extenuating circumstances she/he must contact the instructor within three days of the due date of the assignment in question.

  5. Participate in a chat room or discussion board as directed in the assignment, at least one for each topic area. Penalty points will be taken for missing a chat or discussion board, missing three will result in a failing grade. If a student believes he/she has extenuating circumstances she/he must contact the instructor prior to or immediately after the chat. (500)

Note about virtual classroom sessions:
The virtual classroom is used to provide an interactive forum for the students to discuss the readings with other students. It is the alternative to a physical classroom. It is in the sharing of information that human knowledge has the most opportunity to be expanded. The virtual classrooms will be used to encourage students to engage in exploring new ideas, challenging old ones and having experiences which will aid their studies. These sessions are required. There will be occasions when a discussion bulletin board may be added to supplement or replace the virtual session.

Grading
You can not receive a passing grade in this course without submitting ALL of the above. This means that even if you are late with an assignment, it MUST be submitted. A late assignment may receive no more than 80% of the possible points, and will not be graded if it is more than three days late. Failure to submit ALL of the assignments may result in an F.

Grade Distribution:
A3325-3500
A-3255-3324
B+3185-3254
B3010-3184
B-2940-3009
C+2870-2939
C2625-2869
C-2555-2624
D+2485-2554
D2310-2484
D-2240-2309
F0-2239


Course 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 stops attending class and does not complete the appropriate withdrawal papers or procedures with the registrar, that student will be assigned an F. If this is the only class a student is taking then the student must call the USM graduate school to properly withdraw.

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.

Virtual classroom attendance and participation is expected. Participation is a large part of the grade and consists of the virtual classroom participation and discussion.

Students are required to subscribe to listnews, the LIS listserv. Subscribe to lisnews by completing the online form available at https://mailman.usm.edu/mailman/listinfo/lisnews

All assignments should be saved in .doc or .rtf format and posted to the Digital Drop Box. Work not turned in on time will be assessed a penalty of 10% per week without prior approval from the instructor.

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.

Academic Code of Conduct
Students are expected to follow the Academic Code of Conduct, which includes mutual respect and academic honesty.

"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." USM Graduate Bulletin, p. 35.

"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. 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.
  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." USM Graduate Bulletin, p. 35.

Disability Statement
If a student has a disability that qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act 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. Mailing address: 118 College Drive, # 8586; Telephone: 601- 266-5024; TTY: 601-266-6837; FAX: 601-266-6035.



Note: This is an abbreviated version of the course syllabus.
The complete syllabus is posted on the Blackboard LIS651 course site.

Webpage Design
Teresa S. Welsh
e-mail: teresa.welsh@usm.edu
Updated 1/10/2008