LIS 2004 - Introduction to the Internet as a Research Tool  

Instructor: Pat Barbier
Home Phone: 727-595-6161
Office Phone: 727-791-2603
Office Address: Rm. 113B Clearwater M.M. Bennett Library
Phone Hours: Until 8 P.M. daily
Office Hours: Posted on door of office
E-mail: Pat Barbier (barbier.pat@spcollege.edu)

Suggested Text:
Student Guide to Research in the Digital Age: How to Locate and Evaluate Information Sources (online access through the (Library Catalog) Use your student number as borrower id and the last 4 digits of your social security number as your PIN

Supplemental Text:
Web Savvy : Strategies and Shortcuts for Online Research by Barbara G. Friedman (on reserve at the CL Library and available via NetLibrary (ISBN 1410611361) To access through NetLibrary, go to Library Online 9www.spcollege.edu/central/libonline) and click on #1 Articles and Databases. Use the user name spc, and the current password. Connect to NetLibrary and search for the book by title or isbn.

Course Description:
This course is designed to develop the skills needed to use the Internet as a research tool. The course focuses on methods of accessing relevant information resources through the Internet. Students will learn to create search strategies and retrieve, evaluate, and cite Internet resources.

Major Learning Outcomes:

1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the Internet terminology and history.

2. The student will develop skills with Internet tools including email, chat, discussion boards, newsgroups, aggregate databases, and the World Wide Web, as appropriate.

3. The student will demonstrate the ability to develop effective Internet research strategies.

4. The student will exhibit the ability to locate, evaluate and cite relevant research materials on the Internet.

Course Objectives Stated in Performance Terms:

 1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of Internet terminology and history by:

a. defining common terms used in accessing and using the Internet.
b. describing the evolution of the Internet from the Arpanet to the development of the World Wide Web.

2. The student will develop skills with Internet tools including email, chat, discussion boards, newsgroups, aggregate databases, and the World Wide Web, as appropriate by:

a. using email to communicate with faculty and other students
b. participating in a reference chat or classroom chat experience.
c. participating in a course Discussion Group.

3. The student will demonstrate the ability to develop effective Internet research strategies by:

a. researching using newsgroups, subject guides and search engines to understand different information strategies.
b. utilizing different navigational techniques.
c. performing both key word and Boolean searches.
d. utilizing advanced search strategies such as wild card searching, truncation, and searching with filters.
e. comparing and contrasting different search engines and metasearchers.
f. utilizing tools such as Invisible Web, Google Print, and Google Scholar for specialized research.
g. understanding the difference between search engines and aggregate databases.

4. The student will exhibit the ability to locate, evaluate and cite relevant research materials on the Internet by:

a. evaluating individual sites.
b. analyzing search results.
c. synthesizing research into a final project. Criteria Performance Standard: Upon successful completion of the course, the students will, with a minimum of 70 percent accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through testing and assignments requiring the use of various Internet resources.

Tentative Schedule

Week 1 - Introductions. Introductory discussion or Chat Room

Week 2 - Assignment 1 Bloglines and RSS Feeds

Week 3 - Quiz 1 Email, ListservsQuiz 1)

Week 4 – Assignment 2 Search Strategy and Thesis statement

Week 5 - Assignment 3: Using Search Engines

Week 5 - Assignment 4: Using Subject Directories

Week 6 - Quiz 2 Search Engines and the Deep Web

Week 7 - Assignment 5: Subscription Databases

Week 8 – Assignment 6: Evaluating Websites

Week 9 – Quiz 3: Evaluating Websites

Week 10 - 11 – Final Exam

Week 11- 12  Technology Trends:  Podcasting Assignment (Extra credit),  Discussion forum.

Week 12 – Course Review.

Grading Policy

A= 90 points and above
B = 80-89 points
C = 70-79 points
D = 60-69 points
F = 59 points and below

Academic Integrity
Academic Honesty: Cheating, plagiarism, bribery, misrepresentation, conspiracy, and fabrication are defined in Rule 6Hx23-4.461, Student Affairs: Academic Honesty Guidelines, Classroom Behavior.

Special Accomodations:

If you wish to request accommodations as a student with disability, please make an appointment with the Learning Specialist on campus. If you have a documented hearing loss, please contact the Program for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing at 791-2628. The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities can be reached at 791-2710 (CL), 341-4758 (SP/G), 394-6108 (SE) 712-5789 (TS) or 341-4532 (AC)


Federal and State law requires a person designated as a "sexual predator or offender" to register with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The FDLE then is required to notify the local law enforcement agency where the registrant resides, attends or is employed by an institution of higher learning. Information regarding sexual predators or offenders attending or employed by an institution of higher learning may be obtained from the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction for the particular campus, by calling the FDLE hotline (1-888-FL-PREDATOR) or (1-888-357-7332), or by visiting the FDLE website at http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/sexual_predators. If there are questions or concerns regarding personal safety, please contact the Provost, Associate Provost, Campus Security Officer or Site Administrator on your campus.