LIS 415: Information Organization

Communication Guidelines

Email is the best way to contact me. I will respond as soon as possible. Please include LIS 415 in the subject line of the email to ensure it grabs my attention.

When I email you, I will use your official simmons.edu address. To avoid missing important messages, ensure you check your Simmons email regularly or set it up to forward to an account you check frequently.

Requirements

At a minimum, students are expected to:

• Attend each class and lab session.
• Be prepared for class.
• Read the required materials.
• Watch the required video materials.
• Participate in in-class exercises.
• Complete all homework assignments on time.
• Participate fully in group or partnered activities.
• Check e-mail regularly.
• Participate in the class's Moodle site.

Attendance

Class attendance is expected each week, and roll will be taken. Attendance accounts for 5% of your grade. You should arrive on time (or early) and remain until the end of class. Habitual tardiness or more than one absence will lower your attendance grade.

Sometimes missing class is unavoidable. Students who must miss a class due to religious observance, work obligations, illness, or family emergency should notify the instructor by e-mail before class time.

Readings

Each unit in the course syllabus contains a list of readings: required readings, encyclopedia articles, and recommended readings.

You are only required to complete the readings listed as "required" and materials related to discussion boards.

Required readings are available via Moodle, in your textbook, on the web, or through the library. You may complete required readings before or after the corresponding class session. Determine the timing that works best for you.

Assignments

Assignments reflect the ideas and activities addressed in readings, lectures (live and video), and lab sessions/in-class exercises. They cover both conceptual and practical aspects of information organization.

Here are some guidelines:

1. Start Early: Begin assignments well in advance of the deadline to allow time for clarification if needed.While working on assignments, it can be helpful to review your notes from class.
2. Seek Clarification: If you have questions, contact me via email. Do not wait until the last minute, as I may not be able to respond in time. Please do not wait until one or two nights before the due date to contact me with questions related to the assignment. This substantially decreases the odds that I will get your message and be able to respond in time to assist you before the deadline.
3. Review Your Work: Ensure your work is complete. Missing pages or answers will result in lost points.
4. Follow Due Dates: Assignments are typically due two weeks after distribution, but refer to the syllabus calendar for specific dates.

You are expected to successfully complete every assignment in the semester. There are no make-up or extra credit assignments in this class. If you fail to turn in an assignment, you will receive a zero (0%) for that assignment. All assignments must be attempted and submitted to the instructor in order to pass this course.

All assignments must be completed and submitted via email by 9 a.m. on the due date. Files should be in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format only. Use the following naming format for files:

LastName1-LastName2-LIS415-Section#-Assignment-name.File extension

The last names should be in alphabetical order. For example, when you and a partner submit the first assignment, the file name should be similar to this:

Jones-Smith-LIS415-0#-Retrieval-Tools.docx

Graded assignments typically will be returned to students 1-2 weeks after submission. Although there is never enough time to go through the answers of the graded assignments during class time, I will gladly meet with you to discuss any questions you might have about your returned assignments.

Partners

You will work with partners throughout the semester. Each partner must complete the full assignment individually, then collaborate to resolve issues. Only one final version will be submitted. Students should not form larger groups unless explicitly assigned.

Partnerships will be randomly assigned for all assignments. To ensure a successful partnership:

• Communicate: Establish a plan and communicate effectively.

• Set Expectations: Agree on a schedule and deadlines.

• Check In: Ensure tasks are on track before deadlines.

• Be Responsive: Respond promptly to messages.

If problems arise:

• Document Communications: Keep records of messages and contributions.

• Involve the Professor: If the issue persists, seek guidance.

• Be Prepared: If your partner remains unresponsive, you may be required to submit the assignment individually, with a grade penalty (10%) applied to the unresponsive partner's paper.

Late Policy

Deadlines are crucial. In this class, all assignments are to be completed and submitted on time. No assignments will be accepted after the due date, unless the instructor has previously granted an extension. Extensions must be requested at least 24 hours before the due date and will not exceed three days in length.

All extensions will incur a 5% grade reduction per day that the assignment is late. If the assignment has not been received within three (3) days of the original due date, you will receive a zero (0%) for that assignment.

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 eligible for an incomplete. Students must work with the SLIS MS-Program Director in order to request an incomplete. If approval is granted, the incomplete must be finished before the first week of the following term (e.g., if you take an incomplete in the spring semester, you must finish the incomplete before summer classes begin). If the incomplete is not finished by the deadline, you will receive zeros in all outstanding assignments.

Zoom-taught Sections and Sessions

Not applicable to all sections!

Some sections of this course have Zoom as their classroom. For others, it may be used for lab sessions, snow days, etc. Regardless of the circumstances, students must maintain respect for our shared learning space. Activities inappropriate in an on-campus course should also be avoided in a Zoom classroom.

For Zoom-based classes, students are expected to attend synchronous sessions at the scheduled time.

Students should join from a safe, private environment conducive to learning, where they can focus, participate in discussions, and take notes. Avoid distractions such as driving or running errands during class time.

Reliable internet access and appropriate computing equipment are essential. If you experience technical issues, contact Simmons Technology for assistance. Many in-class activities will require opening multiple windows and using information tools with varying levels of success regarding adaptive design. The small screens of smartphones are inadequate for completing the activities.

I typically do not record the class sessions in Zoom. If a student knows they will be absent, the professor may record the session for later viewing, upon request.

I do not require students to be on-screen during the entire class session. I ask that you be on-screen during discussions and exercises. You may turn off your cameras during lecture portions of the class.

AI Policy

Unless otherwise specified, the use of generative AI tools (ChatGPT, GPT-based tools, text-generation software, etc.) to complete your assignments and the discussion boards is prohibited. The goal of this policy is to encourage deep engagement with the course material and to ensure that you gain the skills and knowledge essential to your future work in the Library and Information Science (LIS) field.

You are expected to submit work that you and your partner(s) have created independently, without assistance from AI. This helps to ensure that you fully internalize the concepts, tools, and skills that are critical to your academic and professional development. Although AI tools may become commonplace, over-reliance on them during this program can undermine your learning and ability to apply these concepts in real-world scenarios.

Why this matters: The purpose of this course is not just to earn a grade, but to help you develop competencies that will be essential for your career. Using AI to complete your assignments deprives you of the opportunity to genuinely learn and practice the skills you will need in the LIS profession.

If you have any questions about the policy, please feel free to reach out.

SLIS Student Policies

Simmons University Policies

For information regarding these Simmons University policies on Academic Integrity, Accessibility Services, Sexual Harassment Policy, and more, please see the Syllabus Policies website.

Other Information

Changes to the Syllabus: 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.

Digital Student Products: Any digital work produced in this course and maintained on a Simmons server will be erased 90 days after the end of the course. In some cases, a 30-day extension is available with the permission of the SLIS Tech Manager. SLIS Students are ultimately responsible for preserving the longevity of their digital coursework. You can do this most effectively by using the resources that are made available from SLIS Tech or SLIS faculty.

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 or the COA accreditation processes. Student names will be removed from the student work prior to use.

SLT: For more information about how this course meets the state requirements for students in the School Library-Teacher program, click the link.

Recommendations: I happily provide employment and scholarship references for students that do well in my advanced classes (LIS 416 and LIS 417). I do not, however, provide references for students who have taken only LIS 415 with me. Please understand that LIS 415 is an introductory-level course and I need to see more of your work, at an advanced level, to be comfortable providing a professional or educational reference.

Land Acknowledgment: Simmons SLIS acknowledges that the land on which we study and work is the rightful heritage of Indigenous peoples, including the Massachusett, Pawtucket, Pocumtuc, Nonotuck, and Nipmuck peoples. We honor their stewardship of this land and strive to remain accountable to their needs.