LIS 415: Information Organization

This course may include any of the following: lectures, discussions (in-class and online), in-class exercises, readings, homework assignments, essays, papers, exams, quizzes (announced and/or unannounced), presentations, and group projects.

The course structure and assignments will be set by the first class meeting. No assignments will be added after that time. This means, however, that until the first day/evening of the class, the course might change (and does change from semester to semester).

Expectations and Requirements

Students are expected and required to:

• attend each class session.
• be prepared for class.
• read the assigned textbook.
• read other required materials.
• participate in in-class exercises.
• complete homework assignments on time.
• participate fully in group or partnered activities.
• check your e-mail frequently (e.g., daily or at least 2-3 times per week).
• learn to use the Simmons Libraries Online Catalog, OCLC Connexion, appropriate LIS indexes, eLearning, and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Each unit in the course syllabus contains a list of required readings. Required readings are available via eLearning, course reserves, in the GSLIS collection, or on the Web. Only the required readings from monographs will be placed on reserve in the library. Additional readings may be added during the semester if a new useful resource is found.

The unit webpages also include lists of encyclopedia articles relevant to that unit. You are encouraged to read as many of these as you can, depending on the time you have. Some weeks, you may be asked to read an encyclopedia article for the discussion board.

There is also a list of related or recommended readings. These are articles, book chapters, and websites that would be useful in expanding your knowledge of a particular topic. I encourage you to read some of these if you have time based on your own interests (for example, an archives student may wish to read more about archives-related readings), BUT there are no expectations that you will be reading anything other than the required readings.

Readings for the class may be done either before or after the unit. Students should determine which approach works best for them. Some find that the reading ahead of time helps them to better understand concepts discussed in the lecture, while others find that the lecture helps them to better understand the readings. Either approach is fine, as long as you get the required reading done.

Grading Scale

For some assignments, letter grades may be used and for other you will receive grades based on percentages. The following table provides the breakdown of letter grades and percentages.

Due dates for the assignments are included in the syllabus. Assignments are generally due one or two weeks after being distributed. Larger projects will be assigned at least one month in advance of the due date. Assignments will be distributed in paper form and only hard copies of the completed assignments will be accepted on the due dates (exceptions may be made for unusual circumstances). Please review your work before turning it in on the due date.

You will be working with partners throughout most of the term. I strongly believe that having someone to work with is highly valuable in this course because the content is sometimes difficult to master when you are new to the LIS professions. I will not assign partners, but I will encourage you to switch partners at different points in the semester (don't get too attached to one partner). Paired assignments are to be done only with your partner. Only one version of the paper should be submitted from each pair with your agreed upon answers.

While there is never enough time to go through graded assignments during class time, I will gladly stay past the end of class time to discuss any problems or questions you might have about your returned assignments. I am also available to discuss assignments during office hours and by appointment.

All assignments are to be completed and turned in on time. If late work appears to be unavoidable, one should advise the instructor as to the circumstances as soon as possible. Late assignments are strongly discouraged and the grade will be reduced by 2% for each day that the assignment is late. There will be no exceptions.

If the assignment has not been received within 3 days of the original due date, you will receive a 0 (zero) for that assignment. Turning in an incomplete assignment is better than turning in nothing at all (partial credit is better than no credit).

There are no make-up or extra credit assignments in this class. If you do not complete or turn in an assignment, you should expect to get a zero for that assignment. If you do poorly on an assignment, that is the grade you will receive.

Attendance

Class attendance is mandatory, including the first session of the semester. You are expected to be on time (or early), and stay until the end of class for each session. Roll will be taken each week.

Students who must miss a class due to religious observance, illness, or other emergency should notify the instructor by e-mail before class time. Having more than one unexcused absence will negatively affect your participation grade.

Students are responsible for obtaining the class materials distributed during his/her absence. You should plan to get notes, handouts, etc. from your partner or another classmate.

Incompletes

Students who become ill, have a medical emergency, a death in the immediate family, extreme hardship, or unusual circumstances may request an incomplete from the instructor.

Students must be performing at a passing level to be considered. Students must work with the Assistant Dean for Student Services in order to request an incomplete. If approval is granted, the incomplete must be finished before the first week of the following semester (e.g., if you take an incomplete in the spring semester, you must finish the incomplete before the summer term begins).

If the incomplete is not finished by the deadline, you will receive a grade based on the assignments that you have completed thus far with zeros entered for the missing assignments.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is expected; cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. The work you turn in should be your own (yours and your partner's). If you are referencing the work of others, appropriate citations to that work must be made.

Cases of plagiarism/academic dishonesty will result in zero points for that assignment for all parties involved. There will be no exceptions. For more information, review the honor code at: http://www.simmons.edu/gslis/resources/honor.php

Special Needs

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for students with documented physical, sensory, systemic, cognitive, learning and psychiatric disabilities. If you have a disability and anticipate that you will need a reasonable accommodation in this class, it is important that you contact Disability Services at 617-521-2474 early in the semester. They will determine the accommodations needed and create a letter to be given to the instructor. Students with disabilities are also encouraged to contact their instructor to discuss their individual needs for accommodations.

Disclaimer: This syllabus is not a contract. The instructor reserves the right to alter the course requirements, schedule, and/or assignments based on new materials, class discussions, or other legitimate pedagogical objectives. Students will be given notice of relevant changes in class or via e-mail.

Copying of Student Products: Unless the student indicates otherwise by e-mail to the instructor, the instructor may be collecting copies of student work for use in the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education accreditation process. Student names will be removed from the student work prior to use.

SLTP: For more information about how this course meets the state requirements for students in the School Library-Teacher Program (SLTP), click here.