LIBR 500: Foundations of Information Technology

Winter 2003 - 2004, Term 2

School of Library, Archival and Information Studies

The University of British Columbia

Program: Master of Library and Information Studies
Year: 2003-2004, Winter session, Term 2
Course Schedule: offered via web-based delivery. Optional IT labs on selected Mondays, 9:00-12:30
Instructor: Dr. Mary Sue Stephenson
Office location: TEF, room 328
Office phone: 604-822-6392
Office hours: As is my practice I will not have posted office hours during the term, but you can generally count on my being at SLAIS all day Monday, and Wednesday-Friday. I will not be at SLAIS on most Tuesdays. In any case, if you want to be sure I’m going to be available then I suggest you make a firm appointment – otherwise just pop in if I’m in my office and the door is open.
E-mail address: mary.sue.stephenson@ubc.ca
Course web site address: http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr500/03-04-wt2/index.htm 

• Use FTP to transfer files and directories
• Use e-mail to discuss class issues
• Create a PowerPoint presentation using PowerPoint 2000 and convert it to HTML
• Scan images and edit the resulting files
• Create a World Wide Web presentation using Netscape Composer
• Create simple pages using hand-coded HTML
• Create pages using an HTML editor such as 1st Page 2000
• Design and create a relational database using MS Access 2000
• Understand and be able to discuss the course topics listed below

• How Computers Work (7th Edition), by Ron White and Timothy Edward Downs. Que, 2003; ISBN: 0789730332 . [This is a supplementary textbook intended primarily for students who do not already have a good understanding of the basics of computer hardware and software.]

In this course you will be using MS PowerPoint and MS Access. The larger Instructional Lab at SLAIS has Office 2003 installed and that is the version that will be used in the Optional IT Labs. The smaller IT Lab at SLAIS has Office XP installed. You may submit your assignments using either of these two versions of Office [or the earlier Office 2000 versions of the programs]. In order to accommodate the varying needs of students, no specific PowerPoint or Access textbooks have been ordered. If you wish to have a book to replace or supplement the Optional IT Labs and/or the linked online tutorials you should purchase a book yourself. During the required on-campus meeting of the course during the first week of the term we will go over what you should look for when choosing books on these two software applications.

Alternatively you may want to learn PowerPoint and/or Access using online tutorials. Links to these tutorials will be available on the course WEB-CT web site and on the "public" version of the course site at: http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr500/03-04-wt2/index.htm

Course Assignments, Due dates and Weight in relation to final course mark: Assignment Due Date Weight PowerPoint Assignment January 30 20% WWW-based Resume February 23 10% Microsoft Access Database Assignment March 19 30% WWW Presentation April 16 30% Class Discussions/Participation 10% Course Schedule: Week Topic Module Technical Modules Learning Activities & Assignments Textbook Readings 1 January 5-11 Module 1: Introduction to Course Working with WEB-CT E-Mail FTP Course Discussions   Online Discussion -- Student "Bios"   2 January 12-18   Module 2: Introduction to Information Technologies PowerPoint Online Discussion How Computers Work: pages TBA 3 January 19-25 Module 3: Introduction to Information & Digital Representations PowerPoint [cont'd] Online Discussion How Computers Work: pages TBA 4 January 26-February 1 Module 4: Introduction to Telecommunications, Networks, and the Internet WYSIWYG editor Online Discussion Assignment #1: PowerPoint Presentation due How Computers Work: pages TBA 5 February 2-8   Module 5: Introduction to Web Page Design & Usability WYSIWYG editor [cont'd] Online Discussion   6 February 9-15   Module 6: Introduction to Information Retrieval WYSIWYG editor [if needed] Online Discussion     Reading Break           7 February 23-29   Module 7: Databases No Lab Online Discussion Assignment #2 -- Revision of Web Page due How Computers Work: pages TBA 8 March 1-7 Module 7: Databases [cont'd] MS Access        9 March 8-14 Module 8: Information Architecture and HCI [Human Computer Interaction] MS Access [cont'd] CD Creation/Burning Online Discussion Choice of topic for Assignment #4 due     10 March 15-21 Module 8: Information Architecture and HCI [Human Computer Interaction] HTML & Web Page Design Online Discussion     11 March 22-28 Module 8: Information Architecture and HCI [Human Computer Interaction] [cont'd] HTML & Web Page Design [cont'd] Online Discussion Assignment #3 -- MS Access Assignment Due   12  March 29-April 4 Module 9: Information Technology -- Issues for Information Professionals   HTML & Web Page Design [if needed] Online Discussion   13 April 5-8 Course Wrap-Up and Evaluations. Day/Time: TBA            April 16     Assignment # 4 -- Web Presentation due   Attendance: The Calendar states: “Regular attendance is expected of students in all their classes (including lectures, laboratories, tutorials, seminars, etc.). Students who neglect their academic work and assignments may be excluded from the final examinations. Students who are unavoidably absent because of illness or disability should report to their instructors on return to classes.” Because this offering of LIBR500 is a web-based version, attendance at on-campus classes (with two exceptions as noted above on the Course Schedule) is not required. Most of this policy therefore does not apply. However, students “who neglect their academic work and assignments” in other ways than by non-attendance will be penalized. For instance, late submissions for assignments or other activities may not be accepted or may be given a failing grade unless there are exceptional circumstances and other arrangements have been made and agreed to in advance. Evaluation: Assignments will not be accepted late unless prior arrangements are made with me. Consideration will be given to legitimate emergencies. If an extension is granted, a late penalty may be imposed at my discretion; this will be discussed when you request an extension.  Please see note above on class attendance requirements as related to course marks. All assignments will be awarded letter grades using the evaluative criteria given on the SLAIS web site. If you receive a mark such as A-/B+ you should interpret it as a low A-, likewise a mark of B+/A- should be interpreted as a high B+. [The top mark represents the awarded letter grade, and the bottom mark indicates the relative position of the numerical equivalent in the range for the letter grade as given on the SLAIS web site]. Information Technology Labs: On several Mondays during the term there will be lab sessions held in two [or possibly three]sections. One section will usually meet from 9:00-10:15 and the other half will meet for their lab 10:30-11:45. Students who wish to participate in a given lab can sign up on the immediately preceeding Monday. Written & Spoken English Requirement: Written and spoken work may receive a lower mark if it is, in the opinion of the instructor, deficient in English. Additional course information on the official Distance Education & Technology, Continuing Studies web site. (Instructions for signing on are in the package of introductory material distributed by DE&T in December.) If you have questions or concerns or require other information, please contact the course instructor by email mss@interchange.ubc.ca.