Catalog Description

Hours: 18 lecture
Description: Development of information literacy skills for academic and personal research. Emphasis on identifying, locating, evaluating and using information resources. (CSU)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Use efficient and effective search strategies to access information.
  • CSLO #2: Locate information in a variety of sources.
  • CSLO #3: Distinguish between different information source types.
  • CSLO #4: Critically evaluate the quality of sources by looking at authority, currency, relevancy, accuracy and purpose.
  • CSLO #5: Recognize several ethical and legal issues related to the use of information.

Effective Term

Fall 2018

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

18

Outside of Class Hours

36

Total Student Learning Hours

54

Course Objectives

1. Determine nature and extent of information needed based on assignment requirements
2. Use reference sources to gather background information
3. Identify different types of information sources such as books, eBooks, periodicals, videos
4. Use the library catalog to locate books
5. Use Academic Search Premier or other library database to find periodicals
6. Distinguish between popular and scholarly sources
7. Identify relevant keywords for topic
8. Describe the difference between keyword and subject searching in databases
9. Use limiters in Discover! to modify search results
10. Use database advanced search screen to focus and limit search results
11. Access and email full text resources through Discover!
12. Describe the use of interlibrary loan services for materials not available through the local library
13. Evaluate a web site based on the CRAAP test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose) or other evaluation criteria
14. Describe plagiarism and give a real-life example
15. Identify elements of a citation
16. Use MLA, APA or other citation style to create annotated bibliography

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
      • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
        • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)

          Articulation Information

          • CSU Transferable

          Methods of Evaluation

          • Classroom Discussions
            • Example: Find an example of a real-world plagiarism case. Some possible examples: Jayson Blair, Kaavya Viswanathan, Stephen Ambrose, Johnny Cash, George Harrison, Robin Thicke (or you can find your own example). Using a discussion board, describe the case. What makes it plagiarism? What were the consequences? Do you agree with the consequences? Comment on TWO other posts by classmates.
          • Objective Examinations
            • Example: Multiple choice quizzes on topics from the textbook and lecture. Example: You need to find articles about the latest research in skin cancer treatment. Which one of the following research databases would be the most appropriate source to use? a. Newspaper Source Plus b. The Library Catalog c. Health Source: Nursing /Academic Edition d. JSTOR
          • Problem Solving Examinations
            • Example: Provided with an example of an article from a popular magazine and a scholarly journal, students will identify characteristics of each type of publication.
          • Projects
            • Example: As a final project, students will prepare an annotated bibliography on a topic. This project will demonstrate that students can select credible, relevant sources in a variety of formats and organize them into a bibliography using a standard citation style. Students will use a rubric developed by the instructor.

          Repeatable

          No

          Methods of Instruction

          • Lecture/Discussion
          • Distance Learning

          Lecture:

          1. Online lecture and video tutorial on using Discover to search for information in a variety of formats. Special emphasis on identifying and limiting by source types. Student will gain searching skills and demonstrate understanding by doing a guided exercise on searching in Discover.

          Distance Learning

          1. Students will read online lecture and view video about plagiarism. Students will locate a real-world example of plagiarism and post on the discussion board. Explain what makes it plagiarism. What were the consequences?

          Typical Out of Class Assignments

          Reading Assignments

          1. Read chapter on, "Plan: Developing Research Strategies" in the course textbook and be prepared to discuss. 2. Use Discover! to locate and read the articles "Student Attitudes Toward Concealed Handguns on Campus at 2 Universities" and "When College Students Pack Heat, the Danger Grows." Use the provided worksheet to analyze both articles looking for purpose, bias and authority.

          Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

          1. Look up a topic of your choice in Wikipedia, Britannica Academic, and Gale Virtual Reference Library. Describe and compare the information you found in each source. Which did you find most useful? Why? 2. Go to the Buy Dehydrated Water web site (http://www.buydehydratedwater.com/). Using the C.R.A.A.P. test criteria, evaluate this web site.

          Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

          1. Prepare an annotated bibliography of 10 sources (minimum of 3 different source types) on a chosen topic.

          Required Materials

          • The Information Literacy Users Guide
            • Author: Deborah Bernnard, et. al.
            • Publisher: Open SUNY Textbooks
            • Publication Date: 2014
            • Text Edition: 1st
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:
          • 100% Information Literacy Success
            • Author: Glenn Wilson
            • Publisher: Cengage Learning
            • Publication Date: 2015
            • Text Edition: 3rd
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:

          Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.