Course Syllabus
Title: Information Sources and Services for School Library Media Centers
Credits: 3 - 1 credit = 15 contact hours
Instructor: Anna Bolognani
Meeting dates and times: Fall 2012
Blackboard Online and Vermont Interactive Television
Location: First and last class at Bailey Howe Library – Online and every other Saturday using VIT
Course Description:
This course focuses on the school librarian's role in selecting print and non print reference materials for the library media center, and as an information specialist who guides students in the development of critical thinking and information searching skills using a variety of print and digital formats within the library collection, both physical and virtual.
Goals:
Participants will explore current strategies and theory in Library Information and Resources, and will learn to critically evaluate print and non print reference materials. The resources will include a variety of available formats to meet curriculum and personal interest needs of 21st Century learners, as reflected in the American Association of School Librarians Standards for the 21st -Century Learner (2007):
· 1.0 Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge.
· 2.0 Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create new knowledge.
· 3.0 Share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society.
· 4.0 Pursue personal and aesthetic growth.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will:
· select and evaluate information resources appropriate for school library media centers.
· develop information searching skills (reference interview and search strategies) that focus on student centered instruction.
· use technology applications and formats to create resources for student centered instruction.
· Identify and explore current issues and trends in information work.
General Course Information
Course Policies/Expectations:
Students will:
· Visit the Blackboard site at least three-four times per week.
· Complete assignments and post by due date.
· Contribute to weekly online discussions and bi-weekly interactive television discussions.
· Complete a final group project web site of information sources.
Attendance Expectations:
Students are expected to attend bi-weekly class meetings via an interactive television studio near where they live.
The official policy for excused absences for religious holidays: Students have the right to practice the religion of their choice. Each semester students should submit in writing to their instructors by the end of the second full week of classes their documented religious holiday schedule for the semester. Faculty must permit students who miss work for the purpose of religious observance to make up this work.
Contributions in Class:
Students are expected to participate online and in class.
Academic Honesty & Professionalism:
All students are required to be familiar with and adhere to the “Academic Honesty Policy Procedures” delineated in the most recent edition of “The Cat’s Tale”. (http://www.uvm.edu/~dosa/handbook/).
Accomodations:
Accommodations will be provided to eligible students with disabilities. Please obtain an accommodation letter from the ACCESS office and see one of the instructors early in the course to discuss what accommodations will be necessary. If you are unfamiliar with ACCESS, visit their website at http://www.uvm.edu/access to learn more about the services they provide. ACESS: A-170 Living Learning Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405. PH: 802-656-7753, TTY: call 711 (relay), Fax: 802-656-0739, Email: , Instant Messenger: UVMaccess. General office hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday through Friday. Call to make an appointment.
Required and/or recommended readings:
Texts:
Harper, Meghan. Reference Sources and Service for Youth. NY: Neal-Schuman. 2011.
Lanning, Scott and John Bryner, Essential Reference Services for Today's School Media Specialists. (2nd edition) Greenwood Village, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2010.
Articles
Berger, Pam. “Student Inquiry and Web 2.0.” School Library Monthy. Vol.XXVI, Number 5/January 2010.
Brichacek, Andra. "Do Schools Still Need Brick-and-Mortar Libraries?." ISTE Community Ning. 17/08/2009. ISTE, Web. 19 Jan 2010. <http://www.istecommunity.org/group/landl/forum/topics/readers-respond-doschools>.
Cooper, Linda. " A Case Study of Information-seeking Behavior in 7-year-old Children in a Semistructured Situation ." Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology. (2002): Print.
Hammond, Joanne K. "Entice Your Audience Into Your Web: The Role of the School Library Media Specialist in Technology Integration." Knowledge Quest Web Edition 35.5 (2007): Web. 19 Jan 2010.
Cynthia A Keller “Collection Development: Electronic or Print Subscription Resources?”
School Library Media Activities Monthly; May 2006; 22, 9; Teacher Journals pg. 56-59.
Roncevic, Mirela. "E-Reference Comes of Age." Library Journal (2008): Web. 19 Jan 2010.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6586251.html?nid=2671&source=title&rid=758011468
.
Sheldrick Ross, Catherine. "The Reference Interview: Why It Needs to Be Used in Every (Well, Almost Every) Reference Transaction." Ref User Serv Q. 43.1 (2003): Print.
Silverstein, Joanne. “Just Curious: Children’s Use of Digital Reference for Unimposed Queries and Its Importance in Informal Education.” Library Trends 54.2 (Fall 2005): 228-44.
Singer, Carol A. "Weeding Gone Wild Planning a Review of the Reference Collection ." Reference & User Services Quarterly. 47.3 256-264. Print.
Taylor, Robert S. “Question-Negotiation and Information Seeking in Libraries.” College & Research Libraries 29.3 (1968): 178-94.
Volkman, John “Inspiring the Use of Databases: Going Beyond Google.” School Library Monthly, Vol. XXVIII, Number 3/Dec. 2011
Electronic Submissions/Internet Use: - If applicable
Students in this course will use wikis to collaborate on a final project.
Blogs will be used for student reflection.
Email and chat will be used for communication between instructor and students.
All papers will be submitted electronically.
Basic principles of web design will be utilized for the final project.
Student Evaluation/Assessment
Grading:
97-100 points=A+; 94-96=A; 90-93=A-; 87-89=B+; 84-87=B; 80-83=B-
Participation in class exercises 10%
Written assignments 70%
Final project 20%
Description of Class Assignments:
Students will critically evaluate print and non print resources and write brief responses to discussion topics on required weekly readings. They will complete individual and group exercises for class presentations.
Student will complete an exercise on imposed questions vs self-generated questions.
Students will practice conducting a reference interview.
Students will conduct a child information search behavior observation and write a 2-3 page paper on their own observations and conclusions, and relate the information to current research.
Students will observe a librarian’s interaction with patrons and visit a library and to ask for information. They will write a 2-3 page paper on their findings and conclusions and relate the information to current research.
Students will produce a final project.
The final project: Students will build a web site of information resources, annotated print and digital. They will work in groups based on age/grade level (elementary, middle, high school), small/large school, geographic area, or other common ground. Each group member will be responsible for a section of the web site. The information will be high quality sources that are carefully selected and evaluated using criteria learned in this class.
Scoring Rubrics:
attached as pdfs
Percentage Contribution of Each Assignment:
Weekly written responses 10%
Evaluation of information sources 10%
Child information search behavior paper 25%
Librarian observation paper 25%
Imposed vs self-generated questions 10%
Final project 20%
Instructional Sequence: - List the course topics for each scheduled class meeting date including readings and assignment due dates.
Saturday, August 25
Library Instruction Center, Bailey Howe Library, UVM, Burlington 11:00-3:00
Course introduction, Reference and Information Basics
Week 1
August 27- September 2 BlackBoard (BB) online
Library Organization and Catalogs
Reading assignment – Lanning, Chapters 1, 2, & 6
Harper, Chapter 1
BlackBoard discussion
*Week 2
September 3 – 9 BlackBoard (BB) online
Encyclopedias & Wikipedia
Encyclopedias reviewed and evaluated for discussion
Reading assignment: Harper, Chapters 2 & 3
Week 3
September 10-16 BB online
Philosophy, Psychology, and Religion
Philosophy, psychology, and religion information resources reviewed and evaluated.
Reading assignment: Lanning, Chapter 12
Harper, Chapter 5
Evaluation of reference services.
Information Seeking Behavior Study Due
* Week 4
September 17-23
VIT 10:00-Noon Sat. 9/22
Reference Interviews and Nonverbal Communication
Reading assignment: Lanning, Chapter 5
Harper, Chapter 4
Final project groups identified
Week 5
September 24 - 30 BB online
Social Sciences
Social sciences information resources reviewed and evaluated for discussions
Reading assignment: Harper, Chapter 6
Set up wiki for final project and begin posting ideas
* Week 6
October 1-7
VIT 10:00-Noon Sat. 10/6
Indexes, Abstracts, and Full Text
Index/abstract/full text products reviewed and evaluated for discussion
Reading assignment: Lanning, Chapters 7 & 8
Week 7
October 8-14 BB online
Languages and Dictionaries
Your School Library Online – basic web standards & usability guidelines
Dictionaries reviewed and evaluated for discussion
Reading assignment: assorted web based on web site publishing standards
Informal final project outline due
Reference Behavior study completed
* Week 8
October 15-21
VIT 10- Noon Sat. 10/20
Imposed Questions
Imposed versus self-generated questions
Reading assig': assorted web based journal articles
Web site evaluation
Week 9
October 22-28 BB online
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Natural sciences an mathematics information resources reviewed and evaluated
Reading assignment: Lanning, chapters 9-11
Final project progress report due
Imposed versus self-generated questions report due.
* Week 10
October 29 – November 4 BlackBoard (BB) online
Google Generation
Search Engine Basics
Technology and Applied Sciences
Reading assignment: Harper, chapter 7
Technology and applied science information resources evaluated for discussion
Week 11
November 5-11
VIT 10- Noon Sat. 11/10
Arts & Literature
Arts & Literature information resources reviewed and evaluated
Reading assignment: Harper, chapter 9
Final project progress report due
* Week 12
November 12-18 BlackBoard (BB) online
Geography, Maps and Atlases
Geography, maps and atlases reviewed and evaluated for discussion
Reading assignment: Harper, chapter 8
Copyright review
Final project progress report due
November 17 – 24
Thanksgiving Week – no new assignments.
* Week 13
November 26 - December 2 BlackBoard (BB) online
Biography and History, Vermont and Local Information
Biography and history information resources reviewed and evaluated
Reading assignment: Harper, chapter 10 & core collection
Vermont and local information resources reviewed and evaluated
Final Class December 8 @ UVM, Burlington 11-3
Course conclusion and Evaluation
Presentations of final group projects
Group evaluations due
Wrap up and course evaluations