LI 812 Retrieval and Repackaging

Spring 1999

School of Library & Information Management Emporia State University  

LI 812 Course URL: http://slim.emporia.edu/courses/812/
PC Skills Prerequisite to LI 812 URL: http://slim.emporia.edu/program/syllabus/spring99/intro.htm/

Class Meeting Dates: This course is delivered via the course WWW home page and the course listserv. The course officially starts January 13. The PC Skills prerequisite must be completed by January 13 to remain enrolled in LI 812.

Course Description

This course builds upon existing computing skills in the areas of a) online and CD-ROM search activities, b) Internet communication, c) spreadsheets, d) database design, e) HTML presentations, and f) imaging. The primary instructional delivery tool is the LI 812 WWW page and the LI 812 e-mail listserv.

LI 812 is taught by two instructors. Conk Buckley is the lead instructor and teaches all the computer skills modules and Linda Lillard teaches the research modules of the course. As instructors, our goal is to contribute to the course listserv, update the course WWW page, and provide timely feedback. Linda and I will be active participants on the listserv, but, when questions are posted to the listerv, we expect someone (maybe you!) to give your $.02 cents worth. We do log and categorize your e-mail posts and do consider your contributions in grading.

Note: LI 812 is in a period of development and transition. Unlike past semesters, the Spring 1999 LI 812 course will not include Dialog research modules. Another course is being developed that will focus on professional online retrieval skills. An announcement will be made regarding this course and you are encouraged to enroll. As a result of these changes, the quantity of material covered in LI 812 is reduced.

Course Outcomes

The objective of this course is to prepare students to utilize professional information technologies and tools and to integrate them into their daily lives.

After completing this course, students will be able to accomplish the following:

• demonstrate advanced competencies in using word processing, E-mail, FTP, and WWW software;
• demonstrate intermediate competencies in using Internet services (e.g. Telnet) and in searching FirstSearch and the WWW;
• demonstrate beginning competencies in using spreadsheet, database management, and web page design software; and
• use professional terminology related to technology

Course Materials

Hardware, Software & Internet Access

• Computer Access - Daily unrestricted access to a computer. Unrestricted access means (among other things) that you can download and install software to this computer. This is a requirement for all SLIM courses. You will be downloading at least 6 free or shareware software products located on Internet and installing them on your computer.
• Internet Access - Daily unrestricted access to the Internet, an E-mail account, and to the World Wide Web with a browser that has "table capabilities" such as Netscape version 4.0 or Microsoft Explorer version 4.0. This is a recommendation for all SLIM courses.

Software

• Students who have PC's must have either 1) Microsoft Office Professional or 2) Corel/WordPerfect Professional. Both of these packages have been produced for several years and have gone through several upgrades. You may already have a "standard" office suite, but the standard suite lacks a database management application. "Professional" office suites include a word processor, spreadsheet, database management, and presentation software. If you have to buy a database management application to complete your office suite, it may be wise to purchase the application that matches the suite version that you currently own. For instance, Microsoft Access 2.0 is the database management application can be used with Microsoft Office 4.2. Microsoft Access 7.0 can be used with Microsoft Office 97 (7.0). Most stand alone database management programs cost around $120. So, for an extra $80, you can purchase an entire suite if you don't have the latest version.

If you are buying an entire suite, Microsoft Office Professional has consistently been rated the best office suite on the market. Past versions of the Corel/WordPerfect Professional suite have been a conglomeration of different applications made by different companies. Corel recently bought the suite from Novell and has made some major modifications to the suite in version 8.0 which was just released.

Students who have Macintosh computers should use the Microsoft Office suite. This suite does not include the database management component. Most students use FileMaker Pro as their database management application.

Note: "Works" products like Microsoft Works or Claris Works can not be used for this course.
 
All software can be purchased from the ESU bookstore. Approximate prices are listed below.

• Microsoft Office 97 Professional (latest version) - $200
• Microsoft Office 95 Professional - $180
• Microsoft Access 97 (if necessary) - $120 (Access version 2.0 is available upon request if you do not have Word 97.)
• Microsoft Office for Macintosh - $200 (Does not include a database management program.)
• FileMaker Pro for Macintosh - $145 (Database management program for Macintosh.)
• Corel WordPerfect Office Professional (version 8.0) - $50
• Software Resources Available Online- Other required software (FREE) will be downloaded from the Internet.

Print Materials

LI 812 WWW Page Modules

• (Required) Readings are located on the LI 812 WWW home page.

Listserv

• (Required) Subscribe to the LI 812 course listserv. It is also a good idea to be subscribed to SLIMStu, SLIMWeb, and SLIMTech listservs.

Books

• (Required) Book - None.
• (Optional) Books - Library books and "how-to" books bought in a bookstore.

Optional Readings

• Optional readings dealing with online research. A course pack is not required for this course.
• Magazines (available at public and academic libraries or online) - Examples include: Online Magazine, Internet World, Database Searcher, Chronolog Newsletter.

ESU Memorial Union Bookstore - (316) 341- 5214 or write, Box 64, ESU, Emporia 66801 to order books or software directly. Prices INCLUDE tax. Accepted forms of payment - Mastercard, Visa, American Express or write a check.

Students receive substantial discounts buying software through the ESU bookstore. The bookstore accepts credit cards or checks. If a product is not in stock, it will take 7 - 14 days for them to order and ship it to you. The shipping and handling charge will be approximately $5.

Learning Activities

1. Establish a full Internet account including e-mail and WWW browser before class begins. (approximately $25 / month)

2. Subscribe to the course listserv LI812 asap. Click here for subscription instructions.

3. Reading

• (Required) Course lecture on the course home page. The instructors reserve the right to change material up to two weeks before a module begins. When changes are made, instructors inform the class via the course listserv.
• (Optional) reading list
• (Optional) Magazines such as Online, Internet World, Database, Chronolog Newsletter - available at most public libraries or online.
• (Optional) WWW Resources listed on course WWW page
• (Optional) Appropriate library books and bookstore books

4. Retrieval Activities - Students will conduct search activities using   FirstSearch, OPAC's, CD-ROM's, and WWW resources. Students will learn to:

• Connect to search systems and use system specific command language correctly
• Design an effective search strategy, using Boolean logic, proximity operators, and field limiter
• Download search results to diskette or hard drive
• Evaluate the search results and redesign the strategy as needed
• Apply the tests of relevance, recall, pertinence, and precision to search results

5. Repackaging Activities - Students work will include the following:

A. File management techniques - (See PC Skills Prerequisite)

1. Identify the elements of a directory tree.
2. Identify diskettes by size and capacity
3. Format a diskette
4. Create a backup diskette using a single disk drive
5. Change the current drive and/or directory
6. Create and delete directories
7. Highlight multiple files in and out of sequence
8. Rename and delete files
9. Copy files from directory to directory using multiple methods
10. Move files between directories

B. Telecommunications - (See PC Skills Prerequisite)

1. List the different types of network servers.
2. Define what a protocol is and list popular protocols in today's networks.
3. Define the parts of an e-mail system and state the functions of each.
4. Discuss why attachments are a valuable component of e-mail systems.
5. Create an e-mail message and attach a file to it.
6. FTP files to an FTP server.
7. Define the differences between an FTP and Telnet client
8. Demonstrate downloading a software program from the Internet
9. Uncompress downloaded files from Internet
10. Install programs downloaded and uncompressed from Internet

C. Word Processing - (See PC Skills Prerequisite)

1. Generate a new document
2. Generate an ASCII file
3. Identifies the brand name and version of the word processor used for the assignments
4. Highlights data in a variety of ways
5. Cut and paste data from the Internet
6. Demonstrate the use of text manipulation features such as enter, delete, copy and move
7. Demonstrate changing font type and size for characters, words and paragraphs
8. Demonstrate changing line spacing settings for paragraphs and whole documents
9. Demonstrate changing left. right, top, and bottom margin settings for pages
10. Demonstrate the use of text enhancement features such as boldface, italics, and underline for characters, words, and paragraphs
11. Generate tables in a document
12. Generate bulleted and/or numbered paragraphs in a document
13. Demonstrate borders and shading to paragraphs
14. Generate headers and footers
15. Demonstrate the insertion of field codes in a header or footer
16. Demonstrate Inserting footnotes
17. Demonstrate spell checking a document
18. Demonstrate accessing a document on the Internet
19. Demonstrate cutting data from a web page and pasting it into a document
20. Demonstrate saving a document in a subdirectory on a diskette

D. Spreadsheet

1. Use help features to assist in creating a worksheet
2. Create a workbook and a worksheet
3. Name a worksheet and a workbook
4. Save a workbook in a directory
5. Open an existing workbook
6. Adjust column and row width in a worksheet
7. Change font size and typeface in a worksheet
8. Add borders and shading to a cells
9. Add headers and footers to a worksheet
10. Input sequential data by using the auto input feature
11. Insert formulas into a worksheet
12. Insert charts into a worksheet
13. Display formulas in a worksheet
14. Create a pie chart or bar chart.

E. Database Management

1. State the purposes of a database
2. Define a database
3. Define a table
4. Define the fields in a table
5. Define records in a table
6. Use a form to view and input the data
7. Use the features input mask, status bar, and tab order to customize the form.
8. State the purposes of a query
9. Use a query to display selected fields
10. Use boolean operators or other limiting techniques in a query
11. Create a word processing document that merges data from a database.

F. Imaging - basic image acquisition

1. Use LView Pro or another image editing software application like Photoshop or Paintshop Pro to change the size and crop images.
2. Import image files into a word processing document and/or presentation software document.

G. Electronic Presentation - Each student will create a WWW home page.

1. Create a new .htm document.
2. Format text ( font size, color, etc.) in a HTML presentation
3. Create an internal and external link
4. Highlight information using bullets or numbers.
5. Organize information in a table.
6. Use a background color for the page.
7. Use the mailto: tag.
8. Use an image.
9. Create a <TITLE></TITLE> tag.

Grading Policy

The course has 7 modules. Assignment due dates are firm. You can request an extension by using the exam extension form on the course home page. Your request will be reviewed and a prompt response given. If you do not receive a response within 48 hours, please telephone the instructor.  
 

The grading scale follows:
 

Academic Dishonesty Policy

At Emporia State University, academic dishonesty is a basis for disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to activities such as cheating and plagiarism (presenting as one’s own the intellectual or creative accomplishments of another without giving credit to the source or sources.) The faculty member in whose course or under whose tutelage an act of academic dishonesty occurs has the option of failing the student for the academic hours in question and may refer the case to other academic personnel for further action. Emporia State University may impose penalties for academic dishonesty up to and including expulsion from the university.

Incomplete Policy

1. You must contact the course instructor before an Incomplete grade form can be requested. It is up to the discretion of the instructor whether to grant an incomplete.
2. In LI 812, 3 points may be deducted from the final score of students who do not complete the work in the semester they enrolled in the course.
3. After agreeing to offer an incomplete, the instructor will fill out an  incomplete grade form including what needs to be complete and the date the work is due. Upon receiving this form, the student will fill in a section explaining for the requested extension, will sign the form, and return it to the SLIM office.
4. Sign and date the form and return to the following address:
   
   
   Emporia State University
   SLIM Attention: Candace
   1200 Commercial Box 4025
   Emporia, KS 66801
5. After the form is returned to SLIM, the instructor will sign the form. A copy will be mailed to you.

*Please note the date the instructor has designated as the date your work must be completed.

Course Outline

See the course home page for a schedule of due dates.

Authors: Conkling Buckley M.L.S. & Linda Lillard M.L.S
Comments to authors: buckleyc@emporia.edu or lillardl@mail.valu-line.com
Copyright (C) 1998, Conkling Buckley & Linda Lillard.
URL: slim.emporia.edu/courses/812/syllabus.htm
Revised: 12/20/98