LS 102

LS 103

Microsoft Word version of LS101 Syllabus

Library Science 101 - Research Problems Winter 2003
Tuesday Jan 21 (library), Feb 11 (bldg 17, rm 32) & 25 (TESC-T) 6p-8:30p

Instructor: Syd O. Sullivan email: sullivan@tacomacc.edu
Office: Bldg. 7, Library Phone: 253.566.5103
http://www.tacomacc.edu/home/sullivan/
http://library.tacomacc.edu

Course Description
Tame your fear of libraries! Acquire the basic computer skills needed to use the library's electronic resources. Learn how to choose a research topic and use the basic features of the library catalog, reference collection, magazine databases and the Internet to gather and properly cite high quality information.

Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Develop a basic search strategy for a given research problem
• Demonstrate mastery of the basic computer skills necessary to use electronic research tools and communicate via e-mail
• Use standard reference tools to obtain background information, define terms, identify experts, collect statistics, and focus the scope of a topic
• Use the library catalog to identify and find useful resources
• Use the basic features of at least one periodical database to identify and retrieve periodical articles
• Demonstrate familiarity with the features of TCC library's home page
• Use at least one Internet search engine or directory site to identify and retrieve useful information from the World Wide Web
• Understand the importance of evaluating and citing resources
• Demonstrate the ability to collect relevant information and record it for citation

Learning Outcomes and Activities
The content and activities of this course were designed to accomplish various learning skills that a student should have after taking this course. These skills are the six learning outcomes/criteria that TCC has chosen to ensure student's success:

1. Communication -- to listen, speak, read, write and use non-verbal and technological means to make connections between self and others.
(students will discuss and present on various topics to facilitate the exchange of ideas, and will communicate via email)

2. Critical thinking -- to define tasks and resolve problems by gathering, organizing, analyzing and evaluating information and ideas. (students will learn to logically plan a course of action for different research needs)

3. Information and technology -- to locate, evaluate, and use needed information and technology. (students will participate in activities throughout the course using various online tools)

4. Living and working cooperatively -- to develop an understanding of the uniqueness of self and others, demonstrate an openness toward diverse points of view, and draw upon knowledge and experience of others to function as a team member in a multicultural world. (students will participate in small group exercises)

5. Core of knowledge -- to acquire a substantial body of knowledge related to students' degree objectives, from a broad-based curriculum for the Arts and Sciences degree, or from program-specific curricula and related studies for the Applied Sciences degree. (students will acquire a working knowledge of processes involved in research)

6. Responsibility -- to recognize, understand and accept ownership for learning by demonstrating and evaluating behaviors that support the life-long learning process. (students will demonstrate the skills necessary to independently and collaboratively complete high quality work in a timely manner)

Textbook
Perrin, Robert. Handbook for College Research. Houghton Mifflin College, 2002.
Expect to spend $2-5 for print-outs and photocopies.

Students with disabilities
Reasonable accommodation will be made to meet the special needs of students with documented disabilities. The student must obtain appropriate documentation from Dave Howard, Disabilities Specialist, in the Counseling Office in Bldg 18.

Academic Honesty
"Students at Tacoma Community College are expected to be honest and forthright in their educational endeavors. Cheating, plagiarism, fabrication or other forms of academic dishonesty corrupt the learning process and threaten the educational environment for all students. The consequences of academic dishonesty may vary…. If a student is guilty of or admits to academic dishonesty, an instructor may impose sanctions up to and including administrative withdrawal from the course and/or an "E" grade for the course." (p.19 -- TCC Catalog'99-01)

Annotated Bibliography & Research Diary - the Culminating Project
The final project is due next quarter in LS103. The learning this quarter will focus on basic information literacy in order to create an annotated bibliography and research diary on an aspect of interest from the larger group project (family research/interview). The annotated bibliography and research diary will represent a sampling of the best materials found on the chosen research topic and will reflect the student's learning through identification and listing of materials from a wide variety of resources.

Grading:
Attendance 10%
Research Diary 50%
Assignments and activities 40%

Grading criteria for class activities and homework assignments
A: Complete all assignments and activities with indications of mastery of research strategy. Contribute significantly to class discussion.

For Research Diary
Recognize and explain value of all resources to project. Present information of value to intended audience clearly, in proper format, with few or no typos. Document appropriately, correctly and accurately.

B: Complete all assignments and activities. Show understanding of effective search strategy. Make some significant contributions to class discussion.

For Research Diary
Choose appropriate resources for project. Present most information clearly, in proper format, with some typos and very few spelling errors. Document appropriately, correctly and accurately with few errors.

C: Complete more than half of the assignments and activities. Make contributions to class discussion. Use search strategies effectively in most cases.

For Research Diary
Recognize value of resources to project. Present most information clearly, in proper format, with some typos and some spelling errors. Document, for the most part, correctly and accurately with some errors.

D: Complete less than half of the assignments and activities. Make almost no contributions to class discussion. Use search strategies effectively in most cases.

For Research Diary
Recognize value of resources to project. Present some information clearly, in proper format, with typos and spelling errors. Document incorrectly, inaccurately with many errors.

E: Complete less than half of the assignments and activities. Make no useful contributions to class discussion. Use search strategies that are ineffective.

For Research Diary
Use few and inadequate resources. Present information unclearly, without proper format, with many typos and spelling errors. Document incorrectly, inaccurately with many errors.