Information Literacy

EDT 601

Course Description

This course is designed to help you become a more comprehensive participant in our information society. It will enable you to be able to think more critically about research and research strategies, recognize when and what information is needed, locate and critically evaluate information, and use information effectively.

 

Objectives

 

Curriculum Design

This course will emphasize the importance of information literacy in our society and prepare the student to be a competent user of information. Information literacy functions include defining the need for, locating, evaluating, organizing and communicating information in a legal and ethical manner.

 

Time Requirements

This course will be offered in an Introduction and ten modules over a 15-week period and is a 45-hour 3 credit graduate course.

One semester credit equals fifteen (15) hours of online class time. Each course is equivalent to three (3) semester credit hours.

A minimum of one hundred thirty five (135) hours should be anticipated for completion of the course. This includes forty five (45) hours of direct contact and ninety (90) hours in preparation and study; three (3) and six (6) per week respectively.

 

 

Hardware and Computer Skill Requirements

Students may use either a Macintosh computer or a PC with Windows 2000 or higher. Students should possess basic word processing skills and have Internet access as well as an active email account. Students also are expected to have a basic knowledge of how to use a Web browser, such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, etc.

 

Course Materials

100% Information Literacy Success by Terry Taylor (2007) is the required textbook for this course. Online readings and Web site reviews will be assigned during the course to enhance learning. These readings will be presented as annotated Web sites within the course content.

 

Module Outline

Introduction:

• Students will become familiar with and utilize the University e-mail system and the Maestro communications and information system.
• Students will become familiar and interact with the  and other students in the class.

Module 1: What is Information Literacy?

• Differentiate between the concepts of knowledge and information.
• Develop a definition for Information Literacy.
• Identify, examine and justify the steps necessary to process information in an Information Literate way.

 

Module 2: Intellectual Property and Ethics

• Develop definitions of intellectual property and intellectual property rights
• Discuss the differences between industrial properties and copyright.
• Discuss the concepts of academic honesty including plagiarism.
• Properly cite a resource in APA style

 

Module 3: The Research Process

• Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research.
• Discuss the characteristics of good research.
• Construct an outline for a properly designed research project.

 

Module 4: Library Information Resources

• Compare and contrast primary and secondary sources of information.
• Construct a chart listing and describing resources available in a library.
• Discriminate between popular and scholarly publications.
• Justify the use of scholarly as opposed to popular publications in research.

 

Module 5: Finding Information

• Compare and contrast the four ways to search for information online.
• Discuss Boolean Operators and why they are helpful when searching.
• Compare and contrast search directories and search engines.

 

Module 6: Judging Information Quality

• List and describe factors to look at when determining the credibility of online resources.
• Verify the credibility of an online resource.
• Defend the credibility of an online resource.

 

Module 7: Organizing Information

• List and describe reasons for organizing information.
• Describe strategies that will help you organize information.

 

Module 8: Sharing Information

• List and describe the steps in writing a research paper.
• List and describe the steps involved in making a PowerPoint presentation.

 

Module 9: Information Literacy in the Classroom

• List and describe steps necessary to produce a good lesson plan.
• Create an Information Literacy lesson plan.

 

Module 10: Pulling it all together, the Invisible Web

• List and describe the reasons why the Invisible Web is ‘invisible’ to normal search engines.
• Select and evaluate Invisible Web sites on a chosen subject.

 

Student Requirements

1. Students write and submit weekly reflections.
2. Students will participate in all Forum activities.
3. Students will develop an Information Literacy lesson plan to be used with their students.

 

Grading

100-93       A

92-85         B

 

Credit hours

One semester credit equals fifteen (15) hours of online class time.  Each course is equivalent to three (3) semester credit hours.
A minimum of one hundred thirty five (135) hours should be anticipated for completion of the course. This includes forty five (45) hours of direct contact and ninety (90) hours in preparation and study; three (3) and six (6) per week respectively.

 

Student Academic Integrity

Principles of academic integrity refer to cheating and plagiarism. Participants guarantee that all academic class work is original.  Any academic dishonesty or plagiarism is a violation of student academic behavior standards and are subject to disciplinary action. Plagiarism is defined as taking ideas, writings, etc. from another and offering them as one’s own. Academic dishonesty is defined as practicing dishonesty or misrepresentation of facts. All forms of dishonesty and intent to defraud through falsification are considered cheating. Violation of these principles will merit a failing grade in the course in which the violation is documented.

 

 

Bibliography

American Library Association. (2004). Information literacy competency standards for higher education. (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm)

American Library Association. (1989).  Presidential committee on information literacy. Final report. (Chicago: American Library Association)

Kanwar, M. (2008). Intellectual property – its meaning and development in india. ( http://www.linkroll.com/Intellectual-Property-Legal--4973-Intellectual-Property-Its-Meaning-And-Development-In.html)

Shapiro, J.J., Hughes S.K. (1996). Information literacy as a liberal art. Educom Review. ( http://net.educom.edu/apps/er/review/review/Articles/31231.html)

University of Idaho, (2008). What is information literacy? (http://www.webs.uidaho.edu/info_literacy/) 

------ (nd), What is information literacy and why should we care? ( from http://wwwlsdst.org/shs.library/infolit.html)