Office Hour
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays, Manning 309 (in the 5th stack), or by appointment
Class Listserv: inls050_spring06 AT email DOT unc DOT edu
Syllabus Course Description | Course Goals | Texts | Lab Info | Evaluation | Hornor Code
- In a narrow sense, "the practical skills involved in effective use of information technology and information resources, either print or electronic."
- In a broader sense, it "is a new liberal art which extends beyond technical skills and is conceived as the critical reflection on the nature of information itself, its technical infrastructure and its social, cultural and even philosophical context and impact."
A full information literacy curriculum would include:
- Tool literacy - The ability to use print and electronic resources including software
- Resource literacy - The ability to understand the form, format, location and access methods of information resources
- Social-structural literacy - Knowledge of how information is socially situated and produced. It includes understanding the scholarly publishing process
- Research literacy - The ability to understand and use information technology tools to carry our research including discipline-related software
- Publishing literacy - The ability to produce a text or multimedia report of the results of research
In SILS, INLS040 will focus on concepts and techniques for finding and evaluating information, while INLS050 will focus on concepts and the tools needed to communicate your information to users.
We will start from the baseline of the North Carolina high school computer skills requirement and build from there.
North Carolina Computer Skills Standards
To that end, in INLS050 we will explore some basic concepts related to personal computer hardware and software and will spend quite a bit of time gaining practical experience with several Internet tools and resources. We will also introduce concepts and practice skills germane to effective use of the power built into word processing, spreadsheet, relational database management, and presentation graphics software. Although we will use the Microsoft Office XP suite of applications for many tasks, the basic concepts should provide you with skills that will enable you to be comfortable with other similar packages.
1. Ability to use the Internet effectively
| 1.1 become familiar with the Internet and its basic tools be able to use some basic |
| 1.2 Unix commands and to understand the file transfer protocol |
| 1.3 become conversant with Open Source applications, its promise and its limitations |
2. Ability to create useful Web content
| 2.1 understand the basic tools underlying the web |
| 2.2 create web pages by using basic HTML and using HTML editors |
3. Ability to effectively format written documents
| 3.1 understand the underlying power of markup languages in word processors |
| 3.2 be able to format documents for publication |
4. Ability to use spreadsheets and relational database software applications
| 4.1 learn about the vector power of functions in spreadsheet applica tions |
| 4.2 learn the basics of a common relational database management system |
5. Ability to design and produce effective visual presentations
| 5.1 learn about visual language and design |
| 5.2 use the power of the program to enhance your message |
Most of the readings for this course will be available online, but there is one required and one recommended text. The texts, HTML for the World Wide Web 5th ed.(required), and Web Design in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (recommended), should be available at Student Stores. All are useful not only for the topics we will be covering in class, but also as reference tools for the varied applications we will learn during the course of this semester. Additional readings will be noted on class schedule.
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You may use the computers and software in the SILS Computer Lab to do your work. During the semester, one can usually find a computer available in the lab. However, Manning 117 (the lab classroom) is often unavailable due to classes or special events being held there. Look at the Schedule to see what classes are being taught in the lab classroom. Also check the lab classroom schedule posted by the classroom door because the classroom is sometimes reserved for special events.
Relevent links: IT Services | Using the Lab | Remote Access | Shareware | Laptop Info
This will be a performance-oriented class and your grade will be determined by the proficiency you show on six tasks. Though they are graded evaluations, they are also good learning experiences and can also be fun to do. Pay attention to the due dates. The tasks should be turned in by 5 p.m. of the day they are due. You may turn in a task early or on time. The only exception is Task 6 which must be turned on time because this task takes the place of a final exam.
If circumstances render you unable to turn in a task on time, you may negotiate a new, later, delivery date with me at least 12 hours before the due date. If you negotiate a new delivery date and meet it, you will suffer no negative consequences. If you do not negotiate a new delivery date with me, or if you miss your negotiated date, you will lose 5% of the possible points for that task for each day late. You can calculate how much lateness will cost you. You always have the opportunity to discuss any circumstances that conspire to hinder your ability to turn in an assignment on time.
This class has neither a mid-term nor a final examination. Grades are based on class participation and the completion of six tasks. All tasks will be released for view at least one week before their due dates. Details of the Tasks can be found at the "Assignments" page.
Task 1 |
10% |
Task 2 |
20% |
Task 3 |
15% |
Task 4 |
15% |
Task 5 |
15% |
Task 6 |
15% |
Class Participation |
10% |
Your active participation in class activities will count for 10 percent of your total grade. Your active involvement in enhancing the learning environment for your fellow students will earn you full credit. Doing nothing will earn you nothing. It's up to you.
Active involvement includes asking questions about topics in such a way that your question and the answer also help your fellow classmates. There is no doubt that everyone in the class will be an expert in at least one area and active involvement also includes offering to display your skills in an area related to the topic under discussion so that we may all learn from and with you.
Active involvement also includes asking questions through use of the class listserv. I will respond directly to each question asked. Also, if I think the rest of the class can benefit from the question and answer, I will reformat the question to preserve the anonymity of the asker and send both question and response to the list, so that everyone can benefit.
The amount of points credited to "Class Participation" is a subjective judgement and I will be making the subjective call.
During class, you will want to respect your fellow students by not taking class time to play computer games or to read and send personal e-mail. This is an area where points can be lost.
Attendance is a key indicator of your participation. It is very important that you do not miss classes. If you do miss classes, you would be wise to talk to me about it, either before or after the session you miss.
The standard grading system is used in this class. To be explicit, when averaging grades for the semester, we will round off to two decimal places. The resultant number must equal the lower number in a grade range to reach the minimum necessary to get that letter grade (a 91.99 is a B+, a 92.00 is an A-, for example):
| A | 95-100 |
| A- | 92-94 |
| B+ | 87-91 |
| B | 83-86 |
| B- | 80-82 |
| C+ | 77-79 |
| C | 73-76 |
| C- | 70-72 |
| D+ | 67-69 |
| D | 60-66 |
| F | 59 and below |
It shall be the responsibility of every student at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to obey and support the enforcement of the Honor Code, which prohibits lying, cheating, or stealing when these actions involve academic processes or University, student or academic personnel acting in an official capacity.
It shall be the further responsibility of every student to abide by the Campus Code; namely, to conduct oneself so as not to impair significantly the welfare or the educational opportunities of others in the University community.
The class webpage was built upon Ron Bergquist's website of previous INLS050 classes.
Many thanks to Ron!