In the late summer of 2000, I was told I was needed to teach INLS050, Tools for Information Literacy, in the fall of 2000. I was surprised because I had never taught before and had taken that very class, myself, only three years earlier, in the fall of 1997.
But I was told the program had confidence in me and my colleagues who had been teaching the class offered me the use of their materials.
That first year was a challenge for me and, I am certain, for the poor students who had to put up with me finding my way.
This particular class has gone through a series of number changes since the first time I taught it in the fall of 2000. The class number has changed from 050 to 461 to 261 to 161. But it has remained a very similar course, one focused on learning the underlying logic and syntax of the information tools we use every day. The SILS catalog describes INLS161 as:
Tools and concepts for information literacy. Includes software use and maintenance, computer applications, and networked information systems.
The most recent version of the class may be seen at the spring 2025 class website.
As of the spring of 2025, I have taught this class almost every semester, a total of 63 times. Sixty-three classes have meant that (I will look the number up and put it in here later) have had to put up with me.
Starting in the fall of 2011, I have taught INLS385 (formerly numbered as 285), Information Management for Organizational Effectiveness. The SILS catalog describes it as:
Basic concepts in the way that information, people, and technology interact to influence organizational effectiveness. Principles of problem solving, teamwork, leadership, and organizational change/innovation.
The most recent version of the class may be seen at the spring 2025 class website.
To date, I have taught this class nineteen times, with a total of (I will look the number up and put it in here later) students having sat through it.
Starting in the spring of 2005, I led INLS843 (formerly numbered as 341), the Seminar in Public Libraries. The SILS catalog describes it as:
Selected topics in public library services, systems, networks, and their management. Current issues are emphasized, along with the interests of the participants.
I was asked to lead the seminar because my doctoral research focus had been on public libraries.
I taught the public library seminar a total of eleven times over the years. The most recent version of the class may be seen at the spring 2022 class website.
I started teaching this class in the spring of 2014. The SILS catalog describes INLS201 as:
Examines the evolution of information science; information representation, organization and management; search and retrieval; human information seeking and interaction; organizational behavior and communication; policy, ethics and scholarly communications.
I came back to this class after a long pause in the fall of 2024 and the ninth and most recent version was taught in the spring of 2025.
Starting in the spring of 2010, I taught INLS718, User Interface Design. The SILS catalog describes it as:
Basic principles for designing the human interface to information systems, emphasizing computer-assisted systems. Major topics: users' conceptual models of systems, human information processing capabilities, styles of interfaces, and evaluation methods.
I taught if for a total of seven times, most recently in the spring of 2016.
During the summer sessions from 2006-2008, and again in fall 2012, I taught INLS151 (formerly numbered as 040, then numbered as 200, now numbered as 151), Retrieving and Analyzing Information. The SILS catalog describes it as:
Introduction to and application of the processes that can be used in seeking information, evaluating the quality of the information retrieved, and synthesizing the information into a useful form.
In the fall 2022 session, I taught one of the first offerings of INLS777, Perspectives on Information, Techology and People. The SILS catalog describes it as:
Examines the relationships between information, technology, and people from an array of disciplinary, professional, cultural, and other orientations. Survey from historical and future viewpoints. Explores the application of diverse perspective to understand current matters of concern.
It was, in a way, somewhat similar to the course I had taught beginning in 2010, INLS758, International and Cross Cultural Perspectives for Information Management. The SILS catalog describes it as:
Examines information in society for selected nations/cultures. Compares institutions, processes, and trends in the globalization of information management in the face of barriers of language and culture.
The last time I taught 758 was in the fall of 2014.
I started teaching at SILS during the summer of 2000 (in my second year of doctoral studies) when I co-taught INLS585 (formerly numbered as 131), Management for Information Professionals, with Dr. Evelyn Daniel. As described in the SILS catalog, it is:
An introduction to general management principles and practices intended for information professionals working in all types of organizations. Topics include planning, budgeting, organizational theory, staffing, leadership, organizational change, and decision making.