LIS 1002: Electronic Research Strategies (Online / 1 credit hour)
Summer 2008: May 12- July 18

Instructor: Jorge Perez
Office Phone: (727) 791-2415
Email: perez.jorge@spcollege.edu
Office Hours: TBA

Course Description:
This course is designed to develop information literacy skills and to help students become full participants in the Information Age. It introduces students to the core concepts of information retrieval, essential techniques for locating, analyzing, organizing and presenting information, and essential components of computer and information ethics and security. Emphasizing both technological skills and critical thinking abilities, the course teaches strategies for using a variety of electronic resources and for coping with the changing nature of information resources. 16 contact hours.

Required Text Book: No Required Textbook. Readings will come from class folders.

Suggested Reading:
100% Information Literacy Success by Terry Taylor
ISBN: 1-4180-4818-6

Course Objectives:

The student will demonstrate:

  1. the ability to define and focus a topic for academic research.
  2. the ability to develop and implement an effective search strategy.
  3. the ability to differentiate among numerous information sources in order to
    identify resources most appropriate for a selected topic.
  4. the ability to use a variety of electronic resources to locate information for a
    selected topic.
  5. the ability to critically assess the value of resources for specific information
    needs and purposes.
  6. demonstrate knowledge of the legal and ethical use of intellectual property.
  7. the ability to maintain online privacy and to communicate effectively in an
    online environment.

Course Objectives Stated in Performance Terms:

1. The student will demonstrate the ability to define and focus a topic for academic research by:

  • selecting a topic which is neither too broad nor too narrow.
  • applying pre-writing techniques such as clustering, concept mapping, or
    brainstorming to develop a thesis statement.

2. The student will demonstrate the ability to develop and implement an effective search strategy by:

  • selecting appropriate keywords and descriptors for a selected topic.
  • applying Boolean searching techniques when appropriate.
  • recognizing when a strategy is ineffective and revising as necessary.

3. The student will demonstrate the ability to differentiate among numerous information sources in order to identify resources most appropriate for a selected topic by:

  • analyzing the content and coverage of information resources.
  • analyzing the relative strengths and weaknesses of various Internet tools and directories.
  • analyzing the relative strengths and weaknesses of various electronic databases, including free and fee-based.
  • distinguishing between general and scholarly publications.

4. The student will demonstrate the ability to use a variety of electronic resources to locate information for a selected topic by:

  • locating materials via online library catalogs.
  • locating periodical articles using electronic databases.
  • locating Internet resources using subject directories and search engines.

5. The student will demonstrate the ability to critically assess the value of resources for specific information needs and purposes by:

  • applying evaluation criteria to determine authority, accuracy, and overall appropriateness for purpose and audience.
  • eliminating sources of lesser quality and relevance.

6. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the legal and ethical use of intellectual property by:

  • defining intellectual property, copyright, fair use, piracy and plagiarism.
  • identifying laws that protect against copyright infringement.
  • identifying types of information that are protected under current copyright laws.
  • appropriately paraphrasing, quoting, and citing copyrighted material.

7. The student will demonstrate the ability to maintain online privacy and to communicate effectively in an online environment by:

  • defining the basic principles of internet etiquette
  • identifying acceptable and unacceptable online communication behavior.
  • creating secure user names and passwords
  • complying with SPC policies on acceptable use of information technology.

Grading Policy:

  • A = 900 points and above
  • B = 800-890 points
  • C = 700-790 points
  • D = 600-690 points
  • F = 590 points and below

Graded Quizzes:
Note: All quizzes must be taken even if extra credit points are earned. Dates of quizzes can be found on the Course Schedule. Questions for the quizzes come mainly from the Content modules and a few from the Useful Web Sites.

Graded Exercises:
Due dates for exercises can be found on the schedule/calendar. The exercises should be sent back to me after completion via the Assignment Drop Box in ANGEL. If there are any problems getting the drop box to work, they can be attached to an email and sent to me via the faculty email within ANGEL. Do not send any assignments to my spc email (perez.jorge@spcollege.edu). Assignments are usually graded within a week or less after due date.

Important: Please post your questions to the main class discussion board. Your classmates might have the same question or can assist you. If you have a specific question for me, please e-mail me within ANGEL and I will answer you within 1-2 days.

Attendance Policy: Regular online class participation is essential for the successful completion of this course. Attendance will be recorded every week as you turn in the weekly discussion board postings, quizzes, or assignments.

Withdrawal: If you wish to withdraw from this course please email me and let me know then go to MySPC and withdraw yourself from the course. (Log in to MySPC and choose "Drop/Withdraw from a class" on the right under Academics. Select the term and follow the directions to withdraw.) Students should familiarize themselves with the college's withdrawal dates, policy and procedures that are explained in the catalog. Your grade will be determined by the amount of points accumulated at the time of the last class you attended.

Important Dates:
Online Classes Begin: May 12
Online Drop Date with Refund: May 16
Online/Teleweb Withdraw Date (with W): June 21
Session Ends: July 17

Financial Aid recipients: If you totally withdraw from the college anytime on or before the dates of your term, you may have to incur repayment of Federal Financial Aid funds

Academic Integrity
All assignments and test answers must originate from the individual student. Noncompliance will result in a grade of "F" being assigned. Please consult your student handbook and the college catalog for further information concerning academic honesty.

Help Desk
If you need technical assistance call (727) 341-4357
email: onlinehelp@spcollege.edu
web page url: http://www.spcollege.edu/helpdesk/

Help Desk Hours:
Monday thru Sunday: 7 a.m. – 12 a.m. (midnight)

Special Accommodations:
If you wish to request accommodations as a student with disability, please make an appointment with the Learning Specialist on campus. The Office of Disability Resources can be reached at:

Clearwater Campus: (727) 791-2710
Gibbs Campus: (727) 341-4758
Seminole Campus: (727) 394-6108
Tarpon Springs Campus: (727) 712-5789
Allstate Campus (727) 341-4532

If you have a documented hearing loss, please contact the Program for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing at (727) 791-2628.