LIBR 500: Foundations of Information Technology – Course Syllabus (3)
Subject to Change
Program: Master of Library and Information Studies
Year: 2014-2015, Winter session, Term 2
Course Schedule: offered via web-based delivery. Optional IT labs on selected Wednesdays, 9:00-11:00
Instructor: Mary Sue Stephenson
Office location: IBLC room 486
Office phone: 604-822-6392
Office hours: Monday/Wednesday 11:00-12 and 1:00-2:00. You can generally count on my
being at SLAIS all day Monday, and Wednesday-Friday. I will not be at SLAIS on most
Tuesdays. In any case, if you want to be sure I'm going to be available then I suggest you make a firm
appointment - otherwise just pop in if I'm in my office and the door is open..
Email address: susie.slais@ubc.ca
SLAIS iSchool Central Portal: http://www.connect.ubc.ca
Course Goal: This is a course about computers and the internet, but it is not just about computers and the
internet. Even a cursory look at the recent history of technological development reveals that the computer as a
device and the internet as both a technology as well as a phenomenon, have together fundamentally altered
how people interact with the world as a whole, their own societies, information in its many manifestations, and
each other.
In order for information professionals to comprehend the implications of information and technology in this
evolving world, it is necessary to first have a broad basic understanding of both technology and information.
This course will examine the history, development and use of computer-based technologies, as well as the
development and impact of internet-based technologies beyond the confines of information-based
organizations. After completion of the course students should be able to intelligently discuss current
information technology, the internet as both technology and as a phenomenon, and the combined impact both
are having and will continue to have on society as a whole. Through the subsequent courses taken as part of
their degrees, students should also be in a position to extend this broad-based understanding to the planning,
implementation, and use of technology and information in their careers as information professionals within and
beyond information-based organizations.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course students will be able to:






Reach an understanding of the foundations on which information technologies are built that goes beyond
developing applied technical skills (1.3);
Understand and discuss the historical and current development of various information technologies (1.4);
Understand and discuss major social issues associated with information and information technology(1.3,
1.4);
Understand, discuss, and critique current perspectives and points of view on the topics covered in the
course (1.4);
Acquire an understanding of the capabilities and concepts of information technologies that will support the
understanding of new advances and issues (1.1, 1.3);
Be able to use relevant information technologies in order to investigate and solve problems and challenges
faced by information professionals (1.3, 1.4.
Course Topics:



Information Technologies & Representation
Networks, the Internet & the WWW
Information Retrieval



Web Design, Information Architecture and HCI
The Social Web
Database Design
Co-requisites and/or Course Restrictions: MLIS and Dual MAS/MLIS: LIBR 501 is a co-requisite. MAS:
students should take ARST 500
Format of the course: Class delivered via the web using the Connect/Blackboard software. On selected
Wednesdays optional Information Technology Labs will meet in the SLAIS Terrace IT lab from approximately
9:00-11:00. There is one required on-campus class meeting the first week of the term.
Required and Recommended Reading:

Required and recommended readings from selected websites will be provided from within the online
Connect Learn course modules.
Course Assignments, Due dates and Weight in relation to final course mark:
Assignment
Due Date
Weight
Topic for Assignment 2
February 2
NA
#1 – Presentation Software Assignment
February 6
20%
#2 - WWW Presentation
March 16
40%
#3 – Database Assignment
April 15
30%
Online Class Discussions/Participation/Keeping Up in the Course
on-going
10%
Online Discussions
All members of the class are required to make at least one substantive posting for each Content Module. The
first posting for each module must be made during the week or weeks when that module is “running”. It’s OK to
add additional postings to a given module even after we’ve moved past it on the class schedule, but the initial
posting must be done during the initial period covered by the module. Additional information is available in
Module 1 in the online Connect Learn course website.
Keeping Up in the Course
Reading and responding to the content modules at their scheduled points in the course is a required element
of the course. I certainly would not expect that any of you would just read/post discussions and do the
assignments without actually reading the content modules. However if this should occur it would be
grounds for a failure or much reduced mark in the course irrespective of what marks are earned on the
assignments. Of course I know that sometimes the unexpected occurs and in a given week you might get a
bit behind in keeping up with the content modules. If this happens to you must let me know via email ASAP:
susie.slais@ubc.ca. Depending on the circumstances I will decide if a penalty will be imposed.
Course Schedule:
Week
Topic Module
Technical Modules
Required On-Campus Working with
meeting Terrace
Connect Learn
January 5- Instructional Lab
11
Introduction to Course
and Connect Learn
1
Learning Activities & Assignments
Online Discussion – Student “Bios”
Module 1: Introduction
to the Course
2
Module 2: Information
– Technologies &
January 12- Representation
18
Presentation
Software
Online Discussion
Module 3: Networks,
the Internet & the
January 19- WWW
25
Presentation
Software
Online Discussion
3
4
Module 4 : Information No lab
Retrieval
Online Discussion
January 26
– February
1
Module 5: Web
Design, Information
February 2- Architecture and HCI
8
5
Web Page Design
Online Discussion
Choice of topic for Assignment #2 [Web
Presentation] due by noon on Monday,
February 2 – send Susie an email
susie.slais@ubc.ca [don’t use Connect]
Assignment #1: Presentation Software
assignment due by noon on Friday,
February 6
Module 5: Web
Design, Information
February 9- Architecture and HCI
15
6
Web Page Design
Online Discussion
Online Discussion
February
16-22
Mid-Term Break
7
Module 5: Web
Design, Information
Architecture and HCI
Web Page Design
Module 5: Web
Design, Information
Architecture and HCI
Web Page Design [if Online Discussion
needed]
Module 6: The Social
Web
No lab
February
23-March1
8
March 2-8
9
March 9-15
Online Discussion
Social Media for
Information
Professionals
Workshop
Online Discussion
Module 7: Databases
Database Design
Online Discussion
Module 7: Databases
Database Design
Online Discussion
13
Module 7: Databases
No lab
Online Discussion
April 6-10
Course Wrap-Up
10
Module 6: The Social
Web
March 1622
11
Assignment #2 [Web Presentation] due by
noon on Monday, March 16
March 2329
12
March 30April 5
April 15
Assignment #3 [Database] Due by noon on
Wednesday, April 15
Attendance: The Calendar states: “Regular attendance is expected of students in all their classes (including
lectures, laboratories, tutorials, seminars, etc.). Students who neglect their academic work and assignments
may be excluded from the final examinations. Students who are unavoidably absent because of illness or
disability should report to their instructors on return to classes.”
Because this offering of LIBR 500 is web-based, attendance at on-campus classes (with one exception as
noted above on the Course Schedule) is not required. Most of this policy therefore does not apply. However,
students “who neglect their academic work and assignments” in other ways than by non-attendance will be
penalized, up to including a failing mark in the course. For instance, late submissions for assignments or other
activities such as discussion postings may not be accepted or may be given a failing grade unless there are
exceptional circumstances and other arrangements have been made and agreed to in advance. Likewise,
failure to read the content modules within the time allotted in the course schedule could result in a failing mark
in the course irrespective of the marks earned on the assignments.
Evaluation: : All assignments will be marked using the evaluative criteria given on the SLAIS web site
Assignments will not be accepted late unless prior arrangements are made with me. Consideration will be
given to legitimate emergencies. If an extension is granted, a late penalty may be imposed at my discretion -this will be discussed when you request an extension. Please see note above on class attendance
requirements as related to course marks. All assignments will be awarded letter grades using the evaluative
criteria given on the SLAIS web site. If you receive a mark such as A-/B+ you should interpret it as a low A-,
likewise a mark of B+/A- should be interpreted as a high B+. [The top mark represents the awarded letter
grade, and the bottom mark indicates the relative position of the numerical equivalent in the range for the letter
grade on the SLAIS web site].
Prior arrangements must be made with the instructor for assignment extensions. Late penalties may be
imposed; this will be discussed when extensions are requested. At the instructor’s discretion, students who
miss deadlines may be required to submit medical or other relevant documentation in support of a request for
an extension.
Written & Spoken English Requirement: Written and spoken work may receive a lower mark if it is, in the
opinion of the instructor, deficient in English.
Access & Diversity: Access & Diversity works with the University to create an inclusive living and learning
environment in which all students can thrive. The University accommodates students with disabilities who have
registered with the Access and Diversity unit: [http://www.students.ubc.ca/access/drc.cfm]. You must register
with the Disability Resource Centre to be granted special accommodations for any on-going conditions.
Religious Accommodation: The University accommodates students whose religious obligations conflict with
attendance, submitting assignments, or completing scheduled tests and examinations. Please let your
instructor know in advance, preferably in the first week of class, if you will require any accommodation on these
grounds. Students who plan to be absent for varsity athletics, family obligations, or other similar commitments,
cannot assume they will be accommodated, and should discuss their commitments with the instructor before
the course drop date. UBC policy on Religious Holidays:
http://www.universitycounsel.ubc.ca/policies/policy65.pdf .
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism
The Faculty of Arts considers plagiarism to be the most serious academic offence that a student can commit.
Regardless of whether or not it was committed intentionally, plagiarism has serious academic consequences
and can result in expulsion from the university. Plagiarism involves the improper use of somebody else's words
or ideas in one's work.
It is your responsibility to make sure you fully understand what plagiarism is. Many students who think they
understand plagiarism do in fact commit what UBC calls "reckless plagiarism." Below is an excerpt on reckless
plagiarism from UBC Faculty of Arts' leaflet, "Plagiarism Avoided: Taking Responsibility for Your Work,"
(http://www.arts.ubc.ca/arts-students/plagiarism-avoided.html).
"The bulk of plagiarism falls into this category. Reckless plagiarism is often the result of careless research,
poor time management, and a lack of confidence in your own ability to think critically. Examples of reckless
plagiarism include:







Taking phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or statistical findings from a variety of sources and piecing them
together into an essay (piecemeal plagiarism);
Taking the words of another author and failing to note clearly that they are not your own. In other words,
you have not put a direct quotation within quotation marks;
Using statistical findings without acknowledging your source;
Taking another author's idea, without your own critical analysis, and failing to acknowledge that this idea is
not yours;
Paraphrasing (i.e. rewording or rearranging words so that your work resembles, but does not copy, the
original) without acknowledging your source;
Using footnotes or material quoted in other sources as if they were the results of your own research; and
Submitting a piece of work with inaccurate text references, sloppy footnotes, or incomplete source
(bibliographic) information."
Bear in mind that this is only one example of the different forms of plagiarism. Before preparing for their written
assignments, students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the following source on
plagiarism: the Academic Integrity Resource Centre http://help.library.ubc.ca/researching/academic-integrity.
Additional information is available on the SAIS Student Portal http://connect.ubc.ca.
If after reading these materials you still are unsure about how to properly use sources in your work, please ask
me for clarification.
Students are held responsible for knowing and following all University regulations regarding academic
dishonesty. If a student does not know how to properly cite a source or what constitutes proper use of a source
it is the student's personal responsibility to obtain the needed information and to apply it within University
guidelines and policies. If evidence of academic dishonesty is found in a course assignment, previously
submitted work in this course may be reviewed for possible academic dishonesty and grades modified as
appropriate. UBC policy requires that all suspected cases of academic dishonesty must be forwarded to the
Dean for possible action.