Course Description
INLS 500 is a course that surveys human information interactions through broad examination of information science literature. Students examine cognitive, social, organizational/institutional, and behavioral approaches to understanding interactions between people and information. Emphasis is placed on the role of the information professional or information scientist as mediator, and students are encouraged to apply and analyze current events and situations.
This course undergirds much of the SILS curriculum because it introduces students to core concepts that have implications for the practice of information science and librarianship. It is expected that it will be taken during the first or second semester of the student's career at SILS.
Objectives
Students completing this course will:
- become familiar with the empirical and theoretical literature related to information seeking, including the recognition of information needs, actions taken to resolve those needs, the roles of intermediaries (both human and machine), and the retrieval and use of information;
- understand key concepts related to the ways in which information is created, structured, disseminated and used, with particular emphasis on scholarly information behaviors;
- be able to investigate the ways in which the context of an information interaction can affect the process and outcomes of that interaction;
- be able to investigate information behaviors and practices, including the impact of technology on human information interactions; and
- critically apply theories and empirical findings to the definition and solution of problems related to human information interactions.
Readings
As this is a "survey" course, students will be expected to complete readings in preparation for each class meeting. The assigned readings are listed on the course schedule and will be made available electronically through the UNC libraries, the Sakai site for the course. No textbook is required.
Assignments and Evaluation
Three individual assignments, one group project/paper and participation will be used to determine the grade for the course. The assignment page for the course provides the details, due dates (preliminary and final deliverables) and evaluation criteria for each assignment.
- Diary and analysis of an information-seeking event (20%): Each student will keep a diary of a personal information-seeking event and analyze the event in terms of the concepts and ideas discussed in the course.
- Evidence summary (15%): Each student will write an evidence summary of one study (using the EBLIP evidence summaries as a model which include implications for practice), will present it briefly in class, and will moderate an online discussion of it.
- System/service proposal (35%): Each student will select a particular population of interest and, based on a review of what we already know about that population, will develop a proposal for a new system or service for that population.
- Analysis of Scholarly Communication (20%): Each team of students will select a set of related articles and will analyze the structure and content of each paper, as well as the way it has been used by other scholars (i.e., through an analysis of their citations to it). All members of the team will receive the same grade for the project.
- Class participation (10%): Be prepared for each class by completing the assigned reading(s); ask questions and participate in the class discussions and activities both in class and online; respond to and discuss classmates' evidence summaries online.
Grading
UNC-CH graduate students are graded on the H/P/L/F scale. The following definitions of these grades will be used for this course. While assignments are not graded "on a curve," most grades for graduate students are expected to be Ps.
Additional information about grading at UNC can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin and the Graduate School Handbook.
| Letter grade | Numeric range | Description of grade |
|---|---|---|
| H | 95-100 | High Pass: Clear excellence; beyond expectations for the course. |
| P | 80-94 | Pass: Entirely satisfactory; fully meets expectations for the course. |
| L | 70-79 | Low Pass: Minimally acceptable; clear weaknesses in performance. |
| F | Below 70 | Fail: Unacceptable performance. |
| IN | NA | Work incomplete. |
| Letter grade | Numeric range |
|---|---|
| A | 95-100 |
| A- | 90-94 |
| B+ | 88-89 |
| B | 86-87 |
| B- | 84-85 |
| C+ | 82-83 |
| C | 80-81 |
| C- | 78-79 |
| D+ | 74-77 |
| D | 70-73 |
| F | Below 70 |
| IN | NA |
Honor Code
The Honor Code, which prohibits giving or receiving unauthorized aid in the completion of assignments, is in effect in this class.
Assignments for this course are to be completed individually - except the group project. It is your responsibility if you have any doubt to confirm whether or not collaboration is permitted.
Be careful about plagiarism. Whenever you use the words or ideas of others, either as direct quotes or paraphrased text, they should be properly attributed through quotations and/or citations. APA citation format is required for assignments in this class. A handout on plagiarism developed by the Writing Center provides an overview of plagiarism and offers suggestions for avoiding it.
You can learn more about the UNC Honor Code at http://honor.unc.edu and about the Instrument of Student Governance at http://instrument.unc.edu.
Please contact the instructor if you have any questions about the Honor Code or its application to your work in this class.
Additional Course Policies
Changes to the schedule will be announced in class and in Sakai.
Email is the most efficient way to communicate with the instructor outside of class for brief questions or notes. Normally, you should expect a response within 24 hours. I am available during office hours and, by appointment, at other times.
Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the specified due date. With the instructor's permission in advance, late assignments will be accepted with a penalty.
Please use your laptops or other electronic devices only to support your class participation. Please do not engage in email or social media.
You will be using SILS library and IT services during the course of the semester. Please remember that many of your fellow students also need to use the same equipment and materials. Follow the proper checkout procedures and return materials promptly to be a good SILS citizen.
In case of adverse weather conditions, the course may be held online (via video or online discussion) or cancelled as appropriate. Official communications will be sent via e-mail.
