Informatics Research Review
INLS 706, Fall 2007
Tuesday, 12:30 pm - 1:30pm, 214 Manning Hall
School of Information and Library Science

Course Objectives
Class Policies and Grading
Schedule (dates and presentors) 
Schedule (talk details) 
SILS Bioinformatics Home Page

Course Objectives

The goals of this course are to develop the student's understanding of the information and library science research issues in the domain of informatics, and especially bioinformatics. This is accomplished by review of journal articles and critical group discussions. Students are expected to read one (or more) articles that will be discussed each week. They are expected to critically review the articles, the scientific methods of the studies, and the conclusions of the articles. Each week someone will be responsible for presenting the article. Students registered for the course will be responsible for presenting two articles themselves (possibly three depending on enrollment). Students will write up summaries of the class discussion and conclusions from their presentation days. Students may select their articles themselves, or in conjunction with the instructor. Additionally, guest lecturers may provide occasional talks on research in the field. The last one or two classes are reserved for practicing to be a journal reviewer (we all do mock reviews of a journal article).

While this course is primarily aimed at SILS graduate students, it is open to any UNC graduate students, and undergraduate students by permission of the instructor. Additionally, anyone is encouraged to attend at any time, whether for the whole semester, or for only a single talk of interest to you. This is an open "brown bag lunch journal club seminar" :-). We are informal, and you are welcome to attend, and bring your lunch if desired! The course is one credit hour.

Occasionally, we will focus on a certain topic for a semester.

Schedule--UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Class Policies and Grading

Class Policies

1. I will always be prepared for class and will start class on time. If unforeseeable circumstances prevent this for any reason, I will try to notify you beforehand if at all possible. I expect the same of my students: be prepared for class, be ready to start class on time, and try to let me know by email if you can't be there.

2. Class notes and most materials, as well as the class syllabus, policies, and schedule are available on the web. (This web page or the SILS Bioinfomatics Journal Club web page).

3. Presenters should submit their their paper and an electronic link to the paper(s) at least 1 week prior to their presentation. Presentation materials from the presentation (powerpoint slides) and the discussion summaries (Word document) must be submitted to the instructor or his/her designee within 2 weeks after their presentations.

4. All seminars will be advertised on the SILS bioinformatics web pages (Calendar) and via the SILS bioinformatics email list.

5. You are expected and encouraged to participate in discussions in class. I will ask students to explain portions of the readings, or comment on the readings, as well as to critically review the journal articles. Part of your grade will be determined by the quality of your participation and your willingness to participate.

6. Given the small number of people in the class, we will correspond by email. I will email the whole class at the beginning of the semester so you will have everyone's email addresses. Please also be sure to subscribe to the bioinformaticsjournal club listserv if you haven't already. This listserv serves those generally interested the information and library science topics in bioinformatics. Click here to join the SILS Bioinfomatics Journal Club Listserv. On the form just fill in your email address; leave the other fields set to their defaults, then click Save to add yourself to the list. To send a message to the listserv, you send it to "bioinfo_sils@listserv.unc.edu", and it will be distributed to everyone on the list. Sign up on the listserv before the 2nd class!

7. If there is something you don't understand, please ask about it! If you don't want to ask during class, you may ask me during office hours, come see me at some other time, post your question to the listserv, or ask me over email.

8. Honor Code: The principles of academic honesty, integrity, and responsible citizenship govern the performance of all academic work and student conduct at the University as they have during the long life of this institution. Your acceptance of enrollment in the University presupposes a commitment to the principles embodied in the Code of Student Conduct and a respect for this most significant Carolina tradition. Your reward is in the practice of these principles. Your participation in this course comes with the expectation that your work will be completed in full observance of the Honor Code. Academic dishonesty in any form is unacceptable, because any breach in academic integrity, however small, strikes destructively at the University's life and work. (From the 8/1/1992 letter to the faculty, signed by Paul Hardin, Chancellor, and John Moody, Student Body President). View the current honor code .

9. SILS Resources: Most all resources used in this class will be available electronically at your desktop. Should you need to use materials from the SILS library and lab during the course of the semester, please remember that many of your fellow students also need to use the same material. Follow the proper checkout procedures and return materials promptly to be a good SILS citizen. (SILS Information Resources Committee)

Grading

All assignments and your final grade will be graded on the following scale:

Resources

SILS Bioinformatics Web Page . This contains all the information related to our bioinformatics program in SILS, related programs on campus, and summaries of bioinformatics programs at other institutions..

Anita Coleman's Bibliography.

Dihui Lu's Bibliography.

John Macmullen's Bibliography.

This page was last modified on Jan 11, 2007, by Bradley Hemminger. Address questions and comments about this page to him at bmh@ils.unc.edu
© Bradley M. Hemminger