School of Library and Information Sciences
University of North Texas

SLIS 5000/4000
Introduction to the Information Profession

Last update on 04/29/05

Instructor

Dr. Philip M. Turner, Professor and Vice Provost for Learning Enhancement and Professor, SLIS
University of North Texas
School of Library and Information Sciences
Chilton Hall, Room 112C
P.O. Box 310889
Denton, Texas 76203-0889
Voice: (940) 565-4462
Fax: (940) 369-7619
pturner@unt.edu

Catalog description

Basic concepts covered in this course include: the impact of information technology on the individual; the history, role, and scope of the information professions; intellectual freedom/privacy; issues of diversity. Course strategies will emphasize team building and a variety of leadership skills.

Course Goals

• Provide an overview of the foundations and major issues of the information professions.
• Provide an opportunity for students to acquire and enhance leadership skills.

Course Objectives

At the completion of this course, students will have engaged in activities and created projects that:

• Demonstrate understanding of major issues that impact the information professions.
• Demonstrate leadership qualities.
  Demonstrate the ability to use technology and to work cooperatively in teams.

Course Structure

The class will begin with an on-site session at University of North Texas.  Attendance to this one-time meeting is mandatory and cannot be made up. Attendance at the entire institute is mandatory for a student to continue in the class online for the remainder of the semester.  If an emergency arises that requires absence from the institute, the students should withdraw from the course and retake it in a later semester. Students will receive an introduction to the program and obtain WebCT access accounts, purchase course reading packets, meet the faculty, create work teams of 3-5 persons, and receive WebCT training.  Note:  Sections .001 and .005 will meet on May 28th and Sections .002 and .006 will meet on June 2nd.

Methodology

This course will be delivered through a variety of means. Most of the readings will be available in paper format. The course will use WebCT as an organizational structure, as a mechanism in which to post assignments, and as a place for class discussions. Students MUST have access to the Web (See http://www.unt.edu/slis/students/techreq.htm for the minimum technology requirements) and should make sure that they have the correct browser and the correct browser settings. Browser information can be found at:
http://www.webct.com/exchange/viewpage?name=exchange_browser_tuneup

Student Information Notification

This course utilizes a Learning Management system that provides the faculty with a variety of information regarding student activity.  This information includes times and duration of logins, number of emails and discussion postings, number of content pages visited, etc.

Assignments

• Article Critiques and Discussions (50%)
  
  
• Article Critiques
  
  Students are required to post a 250 word critique of one of the assigned articles for each topic area (total of 5 critiques).   Post the critique using the WebCT bulletin board topic for the specific topic
  
  
• Discussion Postings
  
  Students are required to post one response to the discussion questions given by the instructor for each section OR respond constructively to someone else's posting (minimum of at least 1 postings and/or response for each topic).
  
  This class is heavily oriented toward a discussion environment.  Students should keep up with the postings of other students in the class in the discussion topic.  You do not have to reply to every posting, but please read and consider each of them.
  
  NOTE: For one discussion topic, each student must contact a practicing professional (may be face-to-face or through telephone or email) and pose a discussion question to the practitioner.  The student should describe the practitioners position (e.g., head of public services at a large academic library) Do not give the practitioner's name. The student should summarize the practitioner's response to the question in a posting to the topic.
  
  These assignments will be graded based on completeness, timeliness, quantity and quality of postings, quantity of reading of postings, and evidence of intellectual growth. Postings must be made during the date allotted in the calendar for the given topic. Late work may result in lowering of grade.

• Leadership Activity (25%)
   

  For all students:

  Discussion Group Leadership: Each student will provide discussion leadership for one question.  A matrix of questions and leaders will be posted shortly after the start of the course.  Click on the "Assignments Overview" icon in the course for more details.
   

  For students taking the course for graduate credit:

  (This assignment is optional for students taking this course for undergraduate credit and will be counted as extra credit if carried out.  NOTE: For students who are taking this course as part of a "leveling sequence" for admissions into the master's, doing this assignment is highly recommended.)
  
  Each student should chose activity from category A or B below:

  1. Participate in one of the following leadership activities:
     • Arrange a presentation for one of the five class topics.
     • Join a committee, become a committee chair, or give a speech in a professional organization.
     • Take a leadership role in a student chapter of an information organization (includes UNT-LISSA).
     • Take a leadership role in a social, civic, or religious organization.
       
     Each student should post to the leadership topic a brief description of their leadership experience (no more than 200 words) and relate it to the leadership readings. The assignment will be graded based on completion evidence of leadership growth.
     
     Students are encouraged to identify additional methods of increasing their leadership activities. Feel free to be creative and to venture into cyberspace. As an example, you might lead a discussion on an electronic list or create a Web site on a particular issue. One of the options is to organize a presentation on one of the topics covered in this class. The presentation could be at your local library, civic club, or school. You may do this as a group project, and an outside speaker is permitted. The point is to increase your leadership experience. You will need to describe how the activity you engage in did this.
     
     Contact the instructor if you have questions. The leadership activity must be posted no later than the date given on the course calendar. See examples under the Content Icon on the front page of this class.
     
     
  2. This is a group exercise.  Read Kotter's article in your readings "Leading Change: The Eight Steps to Transformation."  Contact a leader in the library and information science profession, e.g., a library director/department head, president of an association, or administrator in an educational program.  Ask this person to join the SLIS 5000 class for a chat with your group in which you will ask them to describe briefly a change that they lead and how they accomplished at least three of the steps outlined by Kotter.  Contact the instructor for approval of the proposed leader and for the login information for the chat.
     
     Contact the leader early in the class and send them the steps from Kotter's article.   Tell the instructor when the Chat is scheduled.  Post a brief synopsis of the chat under the leadership activities topic by the date given on the course calendar.
     
     
• Annotated Mediagraphy (25%)
  
  Working in teams, students will create an annotated mediagraphy of at least 10 citations relevant to one of the topic area and post it to the mediagraphy topic. Items may include books, journal articles, CD-ROMs, and Web sites. Each annotation should be about 50 words long, highlighting unique and/or useful information contained in the sources. Each team should contact a faculty member to obtain approval of the topic selected.
  
  The assignment will be graded based on completeness, organization, clarity and creativity. It is due by the date given on the course calendar, but can be turned in anytime.
  
  There will be no written exams or term papers.

Grading Criteria

A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = 59 and below

Attendance

Because this class does not meet regularly or formally, physical attendance is not required, other than at the initial institute meeting. You will, however, be required to participate in the class through the various topics.

Academic Misconduct

Cheating and disciplinary action for cheating is defined by the UNT Policy Manual Code of Student Conduct and Discipline. 

All students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner.  While the frank interchange of ideas is a hallmark of graduate education, disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and will be dealt with as outlined in the UNT Policy Manual Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.

Cheating is an act of academic dishonesty. It is defined and will be handled as follows:

"Plagiarism and cheating refer to the use of unauthorized books, notes, or otherwise securing help in a test; copying tests, assignments, reports, or term papers; representing the work of another as one's own; collaborating, without authority, with another student during an examination or in preparing academic work; or otherwise practicing scholastic dishonesty."

"Academic dishonesty matters may first be considered by the faculty member who may assign penalties such as failing, reduction or changing of a grade in a test, course, assignment, or other academic work, denial of a degree and/or performing additional academic work not required of other students in the course. If the student does not accept the decision of the faculty member, he/she may have his/her case heard by the academic department chairperson or head for review of his/her case. If the student does not accept the decision of the academic department chairperson, he/she may then follow the normal appeal procedures listed in Disciplinary Procedures."

ADA Compliance

Anyone with a disability that will require accommodation under the terms of federal regulations must present a written accommodation request to the instructor within eleven days after the first class session. Copies of the school's ADA Compliance Policy, ADA Policy on Auxiliary Aids and Reasonable Accommodation, and the ADA Grievance Procedures are available through the main office of the School of Library and Information Sciences (ISB 205, telephone 940-565-2445). It is also recommended that you register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (University Union 318A, telephone 940-565-4323).

Important Notice for F-1 Students

A Final Rule with clarifications on the restriction can be found in a pdf file located at http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/lawsregs/fr121102.pdf

Within this document, refer to Section IX on page 9 with the subject header "Online and Distance Education Courses."

 To comply with immigration regulations, an F-1 visa holder within the United States may need to engage in an on-campus experiential component for this course. This component (which must be approved in advance by the instructor) can include activities such as taking an on-campus exam, participating in an on-campus lecture or lab activity, or other on-campus experience integral to the completion of this course.

If such an on-campus activity is required, it is the student’s responsibility to do the following:

(1) Submit a written request to the instructor for an on-campus experiential component within one week of the start of the course.

(2) Ensure that the activity on campus takes place and the instructor documents it in writing with a notice sent to the International Advising Office.  The UNT International Advising Office has a form available that you may use for this purpose.

Because the decision may have serious immigration consequences, if an F-1 student is unsure about his or her need to participate in an on-campus experiential component for this course, s/he should contact the UNT International Advising Office (telephone 940-565-2195 or email international@unt.edu) to get clarification before the one-week deadline.

Calendar

Readings

The list of readings for each topic changes frequently.  Please check under the Contents Icon and go to the individual topic for the list of current readings.