THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
SCHOOL OF INFORMATION
INF 322T (27690) Children’s Literature –Fall 2010
Wednesdays 6:00-8:45 p.m. in FAC 21
Dr. Amanda Williams, Assistant Adjunct Instructor
Office – UTA 5.460**
Office Hours: After class or by appointment
Telephone:
415-9430 (cell phone)
Email: utkiddielit@yahoo.com
Michalle Gould, Teaching Assistant
Office – UTA 5.460**
Office Hours: To Be Announced
After exams additional hours will be posted on Blackboard
Also available by appointment – please email to arrange an appointment
Telephone: 471-4374 (w) DURING OFFICE HOURS ONLY
Email: michalle@mail.utexas.edu
**The School of Information has moved to the University Administration Building
(UTA) which is located off campus at 1616 Guadalupe.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND REQUIRMENTS
Description: INF 322T - Children's Literature and Related Materials: A survey course in the
evaluation, selection, and proper and creative use of books and other media with children ages
0 to 12. Extensive reading of children's books. Intended to help students develop a frame of
reference for working with children's materials. Instructor’s emphasis and expertise is the
literature and media for young children.
Requirements: There will be 3 examinations administered in class, a site visit report, and one
optional comprehensive final. The questions for exams will be taken from materials discussed or
viewed in class, assigned readings from course packet, and reading of children's books as listed
under the assignment for each class day. If you choose to take the final, the 3 best grades will
be used to compute your final test average.
Site Visit Report: At sometime during the semester, each student must participate or
observe an event or program that is an educational program for children ages birth to 12 yearsold. Based on that experience, the student will write a three page response paper detailing the
experience.
Exam Format: The class will be divided into two sections for each in class exam, but there will
be only one section of the final. Consult the Class Calendar for your three exam times. Exam
times cannot be changed unless you have a letter from the Office of the Dean of Students or
you have made special arrangements.
Exams (90 points): The questions on the 3 exams and optional final will be objective--either
matching or multiple choice. Exams will consist of 30 questions and be worth 1 point each.
Scantrons will be provided. You have two weeks see your exam answers during office hours
or by appointment. Inquiries about grades must be made within two weeks after the
exam date. After two weeks, students cannot view exams. For example, exam I is
on Sepetember 22 so a student can look at exams until October 6th. Grades are
usually posted by the Monday after the exam unless there is a problem. You may
request to have your exam brought to class for your review. Email Michalle to arrange for this.
Make-up exams are given in emergency situations only. (Remember you have the option to
skip an exam and take the final.) If you have a letter from the Office of the Dean of
Students that entitles you to special exam taking options, effort will be made to
accommodate your needs. University of Texas rules in regard to academic dishonesty are
enforced in this class.
Site Visit Project/Report (10 points): Every student will participate in a site visit
experience this semester. The objective of this project is to view and respond to a live program
that involves children’s literature. This semester students may attend a Storytime program or
an Afterschool program at the Austin Public Library or a Storytime program at the Round Rock
Public Library. Students may choose alternative locations and programs if approved by Dr.
Williams.
Specific places should be visited:
1.
The Austin Public Library:
www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/
This Web address is a link to the main web page of the Austin Public Library. Choose Youth
Services to find a schedule of storytime or afterschool programs. You may choose a Storytime
or Afterschool Program to observe. Make sure it is a book based program and not a puppet
show or gaming event.
2.
The Round Rock Public Library: www.roundrocktexas.gov/library
Choose Youth Services at the Library then Children’s Calendar with information
about Spanish bilingual storytime, babytime, toddlertime, and storytime.
Please limit your program observations to babytime, toddlertime, or storytime, or Spanish
bilingual storytime at the Round Rock Public Library.
The Paper:
A formal double spaced three-page paper is required after the student has attended a library
program or a similar program approved by the Professor. This paper is due on or before
November3, 2010. The paper should be placed in the professor’s mailbox in UTA 5.460 or
delivered to class.
The report should be a response paper, which includes your personal feelings about the
program and its success as well as detailed information about what occurred. The paper should
include the basic who, what, when, where, and how. At least one page of the paper should be
your own thoughts about what you observed.
When visiting a library program, be sure and include titles of all books featured no matter what
format they were presented. For example, if the Three Billy Goats Gruff is told as a read-aloud
using the book, a puppet play, or a game, it is still considered a use of literature. Other
activities that occur should also be described – crafts, songs, finger play activities, etc. Age
level and how the children respond are also important information.
When you attend the program, verification is required. Please arrive early and identify yourself.
You must have a signed note that includes the date, location, and signature of the person in
charge of the program. You will have to wait until the storytime provider has said goodbye to
all the children to get the signed note. The note should say -- On “the date,” “your name”
attended the “title of program” at the “location.” Verified by “Provider’s name.”
The Youth Services Staff of the Austin Public Library have requested that no more
than 5 students observe a program at one time. This semester students have additional
choices since the Afterschool, literature-based programs can also be observed. Please utilize all
of the Austin Public Libraries programming opportunities, don’t wait until the last week, and
realize that you may be asked to come back if more than 5 students are already at the
program.
The Austin Public Library’s Youth Services Staff feels that this observation/paper is a valuable
experience for the Students of INF 322t and are committed to making the important connection
between public libraries and children’s literature. Please be respectful of their requests and
understand that more than 5 students observing a program can be intimidating to a group of
preschoolers.
Grading: Grades are based on 3 exams, a site visit report, and one extra credit option.
Students may take the optional final and drop one test grade.
Exam I
Exam II
Exam III
Site Visit Report
30
30
30
10
points
points
points
points
The grading scale for this class will be as follows:
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = Below 60
Students taking the class CR/F must earn at least a 60 average to earn a CR. (Graduate
students must earn at least a 70 average to earn a CR.) An 89 requires an extra credit
paper to become an A. The grade of X (incomplete) will be given only in cases of
emergencies that have been reported at the time of the emergency. No plus or minus
grades will be given.
Blackboard and UT Direct: Please refer to Blackboard if you need to access Course Packet
Documents and Lecture slides. UT Direct is for accessing grades. Course Packet articles are not
available through Blackboard. A current Course Packet is on reserve at PCL.
Extra Credit Options: Students may earn one extra credit point during the semester. Extra
credit options are described in the course packet.
Any student who successfully completes one and only one of the two choices of extra credit
assignments mentioned in the Course Packet will receive one point extra credit (one point
added to class average).
Course Packet: Available at Speedway Copying in Dobie Mall (478-3334).
Students with Disabilities Information: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon
request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more
information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259 or 471-4641 TTY.