ILR 260: Information Literacy
Course Outline (Syllabus)
(Prerequisite: ENG 101)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A cross-disciplinary course that teaches effective report and research paper writing through the use of key computer technologies. Topics include library and Internet research; information organization, evaluation, and synthesis; MLA and APA style formats; and the use of document-production, spreadsheet, image-editing, and presentation software.
STUDENT OUTCOMES
By the end of this course, students should be able to do the following:
- Demonstrate proficiency in communicating information using a variety of software applications and other digital tools.
- Navigate electronic library systems and the Internet to locate and use various interdisciplinary scholarly databases.
- Design and implement effective search strategies within various Internet and library information-retrieval environments.
- Critically evaluate information sources and information technologies.
- Generate exploratory research papers and reports that incorporate visual elements (such as tables and charts) as formal modes of explication and validation according to proper business, humanities, and science formats.
- Demonstrate awareness of ethical and social issues relevant to information technology, such as access, privacy, and intellectual property.
ASSIGNED READINGS
Our “textbook” will consist of readings drawn from a variety of sources, including several open/web-published textbooks as well as materials posted on this class site. (No commercially-published textbook is used in this course.)
See the Schedules at the top of each Week for specific reading assignments.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESOURCES
Adobe Reader – Allows you to view PDF files
Please make sure you have Reader installed:
Second browser (strongly recommended)
Often the quickest way to manage a Blackboard bug or trouble accessing a file is simply to switch to a different browser. If you don’t already have a second browser on your computer, please get one. For example, if you have only Explorer, install Firefox or Chrome as well. Some browser download pages:
- Firefox: http://mozilla.org/firefox
- Chrome: google.com/chrome
- Opera: opera.com/download
Office suite
Consider bookmarking one of the following websites, depending on which application suite you will be using this month. These sites contain tutorials that you can reference for help with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications:
- Microsoft Office:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/support/training-FX101782702.aspx
If you are not using Microsoft Office: In ILR 260—and in personal and professional contexts—you will need to re-save your work in Microsoft-compatible formats–.doc, .xls, .ppt. If you need help with this, please ask!
- OpenOffice:
http://www.tutorialsforopenoffice.org/index.html
Free OpenOffice download at: http://download.openoffice.org/
Free LibreOffice download at: https://www.libreoffice.org/download
- Apple Productivity (iWork):
http://www.apple.com/support/mac-apps/
Note: these applications have fewer features than the previously listed office suites.
OVERVIEW OF WEEKLY TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Week One
Beginning and Planning a Research Project
Activities, Discussion, Workshop, Project Introduction
Week Two
Gathering and Analyzing Sources and Using Library Journal Databases
Activities, Discussion, Workshop, Library Research Report
Week Three
Organizing, formatting, and drafting research projects; Using Spreadsheet Programs
Activities, Discussion, Workshop, Draft of Research Project
Week Four
Revising and Editing a Research Report; Presentations
Activities, Discussion, Final Research Project
For a complete “schedule of assignments” for each Week, see the schedules that appear at the top of each main content area (Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four). You are encouraged to print out these task checklists to keep track of your assignments.
ACTIVITIES
The weekly Activities will provide you with an opportunity to systematically develop the skills necessary for successful completion of this course and achievement of the course learning outcomes. They also serve as preparation for the weekly quizzes, the Project Introduction, the Library Research Report, the Draft, and the Final Research Project.
GRADING
Discussions, Workshops, and Activities
30%
End-of-Week Quizzes
10%
Project Introduction
10%
Library Research Report
15%
Draft
5%
Final Research Project
30%
Total = 100
Letter-grade equivalents of percentages
| A | 95-100 | B+ | 87-89 | C+ | 77-79 | D+ | 67-69 |
| A- | 90-94 | B | 84-86 | C | 74-76 | D | 64-66 |
| B- | 80-83 | C- | 70-73 | D- | 60-63 |
NU Definitions of Grades (undergraduate)
Please see: http://tinyurl.com/nu-grades
Late policy
Assignments must be completed by their due dates. Late assignments will receive lowered grades. Collaborative work (Discussions and Workshops) cannot be made up.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Civility
As a diverse community of learners, students must strive to work together in a setting of civility, tolerance, and respect for each other and for the instructor. Rules of classroom behavior (which apply to online as well as onsite courses) include but are not limited to the following:
- Conflicting opinions among members of a class are to be respected and responded to in a professional manner.
- Side conversations or other distracting behaviors are not to be engaged in during lectures, class discussions or presentations
- There are to be no offensive comments, language, or gestures
Diversity
Learning to work with and value diversity is essential in every class. Students are expected to exhibit an appreciation for multinational and gender diversity in the classroom.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas or work as one’s own. Students must give credit for any information that is not either the result of original research or common knowledge. If a student borrows ideas or information from another author, he/she must acknowledge the author in the body of the text and on the reference page. Students found plagiarizing are subject to the penalties outlined in the Policies and Procedures section of the University Catalog, which may include a failing grade for the work in question or for the entire course. The following is one of many websites that provide helpful information concerning plagiarism for both students and faculty: http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml
Ethics
Ethical behavior in the classroom is required of every student. The course will identify ethical policies and practices relevant to course topics.
STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES
National University is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. Student Accessibility Services (SAS) is the office that collaborates with students who have disabilities and faculty members to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations.
If you have, or think you may have, a disability (e.g., mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical), please contact SAS at sas@nu.edu or 858.521.3967 to arrange a confidential discussion regarding equitable access and reasonable accommodations. To receive any course-related adaptation or accommodation, the student must first be registered with SAS. Registration information and steps can be found by visiting www.nu.edu/sas. The SAS team works with students confidentially and does not disclose disability-related information without his/her permission.
