INFORMATION RESEARCH SKILLS - LIB 127
SYLLABUS

Instructor:       Dr. Tina Hovekamp
Office:             Second floor of the library, Room 218
Phone:            383-7295
E-mail:            thovekamp@cocc.edu
Office Hour:    Mon 11:00-noon and by appointment.

Course description:

This course introduces students to college-level information literacy. Covers library research skills, including the use of electronic periodical databases, online library catalogs, reference materials, government documents, and Internet resources. LIB127 is preparing students for classes such as WR123 and other courses requiring library research.

Course Outcomes: 

Students who successfully complete Lib 127 will be able to:

1. Recognize the value of information in personal, work and academic settings.

2. Articulate information needs by formulating a research question and developing effective search strategies.

3. Understand and differentiate between information resources and services available through libraries, other non-profit agencies, and for-profit interests.

4. Locate and retrieve required information using all appropriate resources and services.

5. Critically evaluate retrieved information based on standard criteria.

Specific skills include:

a) effectively using library classification systems to locate materials.

Course requirements and evaluation:

The achievement of the above course outcomes will be reflected in the completion of the following assignments:

Assignments    50%
Quizzes           20%
Final Exam      30%

This class assumes basic keyboarding skills. If you are lacking such skills, you may experience problems in this class.

Grades in this course will be assigned as follows:

10-9.0          = A
8.9-8.0         = B
7.9-7.0         = C
6.9-6.0         = D
below 6.0     = F

Class Policies:

Attendance: Absences, tardiness, and early departure will ultimately cause you lots of frustration and affect the quality of  the class experience. Students find that regular attendance and weekly homework are necessary to succeed in the course.  With both unexcused and excused absences, it will be  your responsibility to find out what lecture material, handouts, assignments, and announcements were missed. 

Assignments:

• Please note that you must work on your own on class assignments.  If you need help with any of the assignment questions do not hesitate to contact me!  If I can't be reached, our librarians at the reference desk may provide you additional help.

• Late assignments will be accepted only until the beginning of the next class period, with one full letter grade penalty. Assignments will not be accepted past that time, unless you have made prior arrangements with me.

Quizzes: There will be no make-ups for missed quizzes, but your lowest quiz score will be dropped prior to calculation of your final course grade (advice: save this for a quiz missed due to possible unanticipated absence).

Computer activities: During  class meetings, the computers in this classroom are only for activities related to the course.  Any other activities such as email, computer games, word processing, or surfing the web are not allowed unless they are part of a class assignment.  Students engaged in such activities during regular class will be asked to leave the room and go to the lab, if they wish to continue with their activities. 

Cell phones: No cell phones are allowed during class.