ILLINOIS VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

LIB 1000: Research Strategies
Course Outline

This course prepares the student to address the challenges of an information-rich society.  Students will learn how to develop an effective research strategy incorporating traditional library materials and emerging technologies.  Information literacy skills can be applied to academic, professional, and personal pursuits.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 

1. Recognize the value of information

2. Develop or formulate vocabulary based on the information needed.

3. Access information from appropriate sources.

4. Critically analyze and evaluate information.

5. Identify public policy issues relating to the access to and uses of information.

Course Content 

1. Recognizing the value of information

2. Basic fact finding

3. Developing a focus/Selecting a topic

4. Using an online catalog to find books

5. Locating periodical articles

6. Evaluating resources

7. The Internet

8. The value of knowledge

Instructional Method

 Understanding of course content will be demonstrated through

• Guided exercises

• Participation in discussions

• Hands-on activities 

Instructional Materials

Instructor prepared Web resources

An online textbook will be used:
       Research Strategies:  Finding your Way through the Information Fog.  by William B. Badke  (Lincoln, NE:  Writers Club Press/iUniverse.com, 2000)  ISBN:0595100821.  Price: $13.95.  Click on the title of the book to access the online version.

Supplementary Web resources 

Specific requirements for successful completion of the course 

Participation Policy

This is not a self-paced course.  You will be expected to make steady progress with assignments and to participate in class discussions.   Attendance is measured by your 'presence' in the course Blackboard learning environment.  You will need to log into the Blackboard at least three times per week.  If you have a problem that prohibits you from making progress with your work, contact the instructor.  

Rubrics for Discussion Questions.

Withdrawal Policy

Students may initiate a withdrawal by contacting the instructor prior to the date indicated on your registration statement.  The instructor reserves the right to withdraw students who are one week behind. 

Technical Readiness

There are several tools to help you to determine whether online learning is right for you.  Please refer to the course home page for guidance.

Technical Requirements

Equipment

You will need a home computer, either PC or Mac and a connection to the Internet to participate in the class.  Individuals who do not have their own computer may use computers in the open computing lab at the college.  Out-of-district students should check with their local community college and public libraries regarding computer resources.

Software

Browsers

Your browser is your gateway to the Internet.  In this course you will be accessing online databases that are browser sensitive.  Therefore it is recommended that you have current version of Microsoft Internet Explorer. 

Microsoft Internet Explorer

PDF Viewer

HTML and the Internet are limited when it comes to displaying text and graphics.  Layout artists have been trying to make magazine and book pages appealing to readers for many years. One way to present readers with an online document which is essentially a photocopy of the printed page is through .pdf format files.  PDF files require special viewing software, like Adobe's Acrobat Reader.  The Acrobat reader is freely available and can be downloaded from the Acrobat site.

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Word Processing

You will also need the a word processing program that will enable you to save and open Rich Text Format (rtf) files.  Word, Word Perfect, or Word Pad are examples.  When saving a document, save it as Rich Text Format (rtf) so that it can be opened by your instructor.  Failure to save the document as Rich Text Format may result in the instructor being unable to open your document and thus grade it.  A document that cannot be opened is the same as a document that was not turned in.  If you unsure of how to save a document as Rich Text Format, see your instructor or staff in the computer lab in Building D.

Methods of Evaluation and Grading

Grading Scale

Home | Course Information | Units | Blackboard | Library