Course Syllabus of Information Literacy

Course Overview

Credits: 2

Descriptions: Students will learn to locate, manage, critically evaluate and use information for scientific problem solving and research. Includes mathematical tools for data analysis and presentation and office and collaborative tools, as well. Information security, laws and etiquette related to use and access of information are covered.

Prerequisite: None

Purpose

This course is a required public course for our students. The course prepares students to 

• Make effective use of all Library facilities and services

• Pinpoint their information need: what / how much/ what type of information

• Explore a range of different academic information sources

• Identify information sources from a list of references

• Construct keyword searches to find relevant information

• Evaluate the quality of information

• Use the information effectively for an appropriate purpose

• Integrate new information with their own ideas and organise all information

• Structure their thoughts and writing

• Use information ethically and legally

Teaching Method

Primary emphasis is on wide reading, group discussion, and critical analysis. Oral and written 
assignments are designed to promote these activities. The assignment due dates are on the course schedule. Assignment instructions are in a separate handout. Attendance and constructive participation are required. 

Because it provides a sensitizing framework for understanding the concerns of the profession, this should be the kind of course that students find more useful five years hence, rather than on their first day as a new librarian or information specialist.

Topics Covered

• Question: Formulate a search question or statement，Understand what a keyword is，Identify keywords in your question understand and think of equivalent words or alternatives to keywords, which could also be used as search words.
• Sources: Dentify a range of information sources，Consider which sources are most likely to be useful for your search question，Understand why some information sources may be more helpful than others in the context of a particular information need.
• Find: Understand how to broaden and narrow your search using search engines, Understand general ways to broaden and narrow search, Understand how to combine search terms.
• Evaluate: Identify the qualities of good information - whether it is reliable, relevant and credible,Evaluate websites you find, Quality check information based on your information need.
• Combine: Understand how to organize your information, as well as use social bookmarking and tagging tools, Encourage the use of brainstorming and mind mapping to organize ideas and topics,Understand copyright, citations, references and plagiarism
• Apply: Understand the principles of knowledge sharing, Communicate knowledge clearly, Help you use your information in practice.

Teaching Content and Allocation of Hours

Content	Method			Total
	Lecture	Discussion	Experiment
Introduction	1			1
Unit 1 Question	1	1		2
Unit 2 Source	1	1		2
Unit 3 Find	1	1	2	4
Unit 4 Evaluate	1	1		2
Unit 5 Combine	1	1		2
Unit 6 Apply	1	2		3
Total	7	7	2	16

Requirements

Readings

The text is available in the UH Bookstore. Assigned reading from the text is on the syllabus, and required discussion questions are in the Weekly Preparations handout.Packets of required readings are available and instructions for obtaining them will be given in class. These readings and other assigned materials are in the Hamilton Library collection. The course bibliography lists many supplemental readings, and students are encouraged to read beyond the minimum 

requirements.

Assignments and Grading
Five short, analytical reaction papers (6 pages) 75
One oral group report 15
Participation in class discussions & exercises 10

Due Dates

No late work will be accepted, unless students have obtained proper documentation. Late submission of chapter summaries and related Q&A discussions may have a negative effect on student’s grades. If you miss class, you are responsible for obtaining notes from classmates and handouts from the instructor.

Participation Requirements

Students are required to participate in general and small group discussions of issues in class. In order to accomplish this, students must take written notes from the lectures and readings that address the weekly discussion questions, and verbally contribute constructive comments and reactions to the discussions on these questions. These notes will not be handed in, but they are necessary to facilitate active participation in class and to write the required papers. Prepare your answers to these questions before class. In order to promote thoughtful consideration of issues, students are expected to discuss the readings without flipping through articles during the discussion to locate "the answer." Full points will be awarded only if all participation requirements are met.

Grade Distribution

Tasks	Percentage
Five short, analytical reaction papers (6 pages)	50%
One oral group report	30%
Participation in class discussions & exercises 20	20%
Total	100%

Student Outcomes

Through applying the material learned in this course, students will be able to: 

•Determine the nature and extent of the information needed for research 

•Access information effectively and efficiently 

•Critically evaluate information and information sources, such as library, Databases, collections, or websites appropriate to the field of research 

•Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose or to complete a specific project 

•Understand the economic, social, legal, and ethical issues surrounding the access and use of information 

•Use information ethically and lawfully.

Plagiarism

The work you turn in must be your own. Do not copy work and present it as yours for any quiz, assignment, or discussion. Plagiarism is unacceptable and is punishable under the Student Conduct Code. Plagiarism includes (but is not limited to):

•When using someone else's words or ideas in your research paper, avoid plagiarizing by either quoting or paraphrasing them and then cite the author.

•Use direct quotes and paraphrasing to support your own ideas, not replace them — and be sure you always give the original author credit

•Quoting means using someone else's exact words.

•Paraphrasing is putting someone else's words or ideas into your own words.

•Citing means giving basic information about the original source you used—enough that someone else could track it down.