LIBR 240-04
LIBR 240-12
Information Technology Tools and Applications
Fall 2008 Greensheet
Heather Ebey
E-mail
Office Location: Carlsbad, CA
Office Hours: Virtually by e-mail; online using Elluminate; via telephone by appointment.
| Course Links Greensheet Instructions Calendar |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS eBookstore |
Textbooks and Software | Course Requirements
The access code for the Blackboard site will be sent via the MySJSU messaging system to those enrolled in the course as of the evening of August 22nd. The Blackboard site will be open for self-enrollment on August 23rd. Class begins on August 26th on Blackboard.
The required Elluminate session on Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. is an overview of this course (tips for doing well), how material is organized on BB and a Unix server, and Q&A.
Course Description
This course examines the different ways in which we can structure, store, process, access, and present information on a Web site. It emphasizes the tools of information technology.
We will focus on best practices in modular Web design: standards-compliant XHTML for structure, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) for presentation, and a little JavaScript (client-side scripting language) for interactivity. You will learn how
to develop web-based forms and a little bit about how to use the PHP (server-side) scripting language. We will use SSI (server side includes) for modular design. We’ll work with photographic images and graphics and learn how to prepare photographic images for the Web and to create our own graphics.
During the Fall 2008 semester, there is greater emphasis on implementing various Web 2.0 technologies, such as blogs, wikis, Flickr, social bookmarking, and syndicating and subscribing to content with RSS. The course includes a brief introduction to XML and optionally its style sheet language XSLT. Throughout the semester, there will be a strong emphasis on making a web site both accessible and usable, including developing an awareness of cultural issues.
Course Prerequisite: LIBR 202
Course Objectives
Student Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the course, a student should be able to:
- Demonstrate and explain modular web design techniques using standards-based XHTML and CSS.
- Know how to use CSS to support different devices (mobile and print) and to quickly change the look of an entire web site.
- Develop conceptual and practical strategies for presenting information on the web.
- Understand the client-server relationship as it applies to the World Wide Web.
- Demonstrate use of Web 2.0 technologies such as RSS, blogs, wikis, Flickr, and optionally podcasting and video blogging (e.g. YouTube).
- Understand how to make Web pages more usable and accessible and demonstrate awareness of accessibility and cultural issues.
- Be able to incorporate tables, interactive forms, images (optimized for web presentation), and image maps into web pages.
- Understand the difference between client-side (JavaScript) and server-side (PHP) web programming and incorporate some provided JavaScript and PHP in web pages.
- Demonstrate accessible form design and perform error checking on forms with JavaScript.
- Work with files on a Unix server, execute basic Unix commands, and use a Unix text editor (pico or vi) for simple editing.
- Build an XML file and optionally access it via an XSLT style sheet.
LIBR 240 supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- (E) Design, query and evaluate information retrieval systems;
- (G) Understand the system of standards and methods used to control and create information structures and apply basic principles involved in the organization and representation of knowledge;
- (H) Demonstrate proficiency in the use of current information and communication technologies, and other related technologies, as they affect the resources and uses of libraries and other types of information providing entities.
Textbooks and Software
Required Text
Castro, E. (2007). HTML, XHTML, and CSS, sixth edition: Visual Quickstart Guide. Berkeley: Peachpit Press. Available through Amazon: 0321430840
Additional required and recommended material will be assigned from online resources, Word documents, PDFs, and audio and video resources.
See instructions for details on software.
Course Requirements
Technology Requirements
You should not take this class unless your computer and Internet access meets the minimum requirements described on the SLIS Home Computing requirements page (see slisweb.sjsu.edu/ecommunication/homecomputing.htm).
You will need a high-speed connection (DSL, cable, etc.) to successfully take this class.
Tasks to do Before the Class Begins
Please do the following prior to the start of class on August 26, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. PT.
- Order and receive the required text.
- Make sure you have MS office, 2 Internet browsers and a text or HTML editor installed on your computer. (See software requirements on the instructions page.)
- Self-enroll in the Blackboard course by noon on August 26th. The access code will be mailed via the MySJSU messaging system on the evening of August 22nd.
- We have a lot to cover, so start looking at the first assignment before the required Elluminate session on August 26th or as soon as you enroll on Blackboard.
- Take an Elluminate class. See Student Guide to Elluminate (http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/software/eluminate/students/).
Course Demands
This class requires a considerable amount of time each week. Depending on background and comfort with the technologies covered, students spend 10 to 20 hours per week studying and completing assignments. You must have sufficient time to devote to the class if you want to be successful. The final project may take you 25 or more hours complete.
Measuring Student Learning Outcomes
| Fourteen Weekly Assignments | 75 points |
| Final Project | 25 points |
Extra Credit
Opportunities to earn extra credit points (in 1/10th point increments) will be available for select assignments throughout the semester.
Late Assignments and Incompletes
I will accept late assignments up to 5 days late, but the assignment will get an automatic reduction of 50% of the available points. I will not accept any assignment more than five (5) days after the due date. Unless otherwise stated on the assignment posted, an assignment is due by 8:00 a.m. PT each Tuesday and late assignments are due by 8:00 a.m. PT each Sunday. You are permitted one no-penalty extension of one week on one assignment during the semester if it is requested prior to the due date for the assignment. Procrastination and late work will severely hurt your grade in this class. For example, if an assignment is worth 6 points and you are 1 hour late, you will get 3.0 points if everything is correct. This means the maximum you can get for the class if you don’t get any extra credit points is 97. Many assignments build on previous assignments, so you cannot skip an
assignment.
Final projects may be turned in between December 7 and December 13 (8:00 a.m. PT). No final project will be accepted after Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. PT. If you have an illness (medical certificate supplied) or a family tragedy, please contact the instructor.
No incompletes will be awarded.
Grading Scale
The standard SJSU SLIS Grading Scale is utilized for all SLIS courses:
| 97-100 | A |
| 94-96 | A- |
| 91-93 | B+ |
| 88-90 | B |
| 85-87 | B- |
| 82-84 | C+ |
| 79-81 | C |
| 76-78 | C- |
| 73-75 | D+ |
| 70-72 | D |
| 67-69 | D- |
| Below 67 | F |
In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:
- C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
- B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work;
- A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.
Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0.
Academic Integrity
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San José State University, and the University's Academic Integrity Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct.
Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability,
please e-mail me as soon as possible. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires
that students with disabilities register with the Disability Resource Center
(DRC) to establish record of their disability.
No matter where students reside, they should contact the SJSU DRC to register. The DRC Web site: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/
One Washington Square - San José, California USA, 95192-0029
Phone: 408-924-2490
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