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Last revised: January 1, 2007

Course Syllabus for EQUITY OF ACCESS 551-791
Issues in Information Resources: Equity of Access and Diverse Populations

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Spring 2007 Instructor: Patricia Montiel Overall, Ph.D.

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COURSE NAME, NUMBER, AND PREREQUISITES

EQUITY OF ACCESS
Issues in Information Resources: Equity of Access and Diverse Populations

IRLS 551-791

Prerequisites: None
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COURSE DESCRIPTION

"This course is a service learning course which combines theory and practice in examining issues surrounding access to information particularly for diverse populations."

This course examines social, political, and economic issues involved in providing equal access to information to all citizens. Through 25 hours of service learning, students will have an real world experience with these issues in community settings. Students will examine the role of libraries in providing access to information and will present findings from their service learing to support or refute theoretical perspectives on equal access to information to diverse populations.

Topics covered during the semester include:

Digital divide

Policies that inhibit and enable access to information

Creating and disseminating knowledge and its expression

Native American issues in accessing information

Latino issues in accessing information

The role of school and public libraries

International perspectives

Other issues

What will this course cover?
Although the course content specifically addressess Latino and Native American populations, students enrolled in the course may be involved with other communities through their service learning experience. Students should identify a service learning site by February 1, 2007, in consultation with the instructor. Service learning is an opportunity for students to work in a community organization such as a public or school library, community or technology center which provides community access to information. Further information regarding service learning is available at the National Service Learning Clearinghouse (http://servicelearning.org/index.php). Students should become thoroughly familiar with service learning by examining the links on the service learning website.

Students will be required to provide a website for this course. The website will develop throughout the course. However, it is recommended that a URL for the course website be available by early February. Assignments will be uploaded to the website as indicated on the course schedule.

Requirements
Twenty five hours of service learning will required of all students. These hours should be distributed throughout the semester by completing no more than 3 hours during any given week in the semester. Students will select the site for their service learning. The site should be a place that provides access to information resources to community members. Targeted populations include Latino and Native Americans, however, students may select a site where other populations access information. Students will provide a description of their service learning site and reflections of how the service learning experience supports or refutes the theoretical assumptions of readings for the course.

Students will be divided into cohorts during the course. Several members of each cohort will be asked to provide a critical analysis of readings in the form of a short essay. The other members of the cohort will respond to the essays. The roles will alternate every other week. The essays and responses will be posted for other members of the class to read. Essays or no more than 3 pages (excluding references) should be well written and properly cited using APA format.

Additional Information
Students will be enrolled in D2L the course management tool. Notices and assignments will be posted on D2L. Students will be able to form discussion groups through D2L chat rooms. These are encouraged.

Readings will be available through the University of Arizona Main Library Course Reserves. The password for the readings will be provided on the first day of class, January 10, 2007.

To begin the course, students will access D2L on January 10, 2007 and read instructions provided on the homepage.

Students will be provided a schedule for readings, essays, responses, and service learning reflections. These will be available the first week of January. At that time, you will be assigned to your cohort and assignments for essays and responses will be made. Dates for essays and responses will be provided on the schedule. Please note that these are due dates and must be completed within the time frame provided.

 

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

Student should understand political, social, philosophical and economic issues involved in providing equal access to information resources

Students should be able to define arguments for and against providing equal access to citizens

Students should know the position taken by the American Library Association on providing equal access of information resources to citizens

Students should be able to apply theory to real world experiences

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REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

Course readings will be available through the University of Arizona Main Library Course Reserves. A password will be required to access readings. The password will be provided on the course homepage on D2L on January 10th.

 

 


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COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students will work in cohorts of no more than six individuals. Members of the cohort will be required to post an essay or response to the essay. The roles will alternate every other week. All essays and responses will be available to the entire class. Students may be assigned to several cohorts during the semester.
Cohorts may post their essays/responses asychronously. Assignments take into consideration the virtual nature of the course.

Two self reflections will be required. A mid-term self reflection will address questions that will be posted one week before it is due. A final self reflection will address questions posted April 20th.

 

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COURSE POLICIES

Academic Code of Integrity

Students are expected to abide by The University of Arizona Code of Academic Integrity, see . 'The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student's submitted work must be the student's own.' If you have any questions regarding what is acceptable practice under this Code, please ask an Instructor.

Accommodating Disabilities

The University has a Disability Resource Center . If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the Disability Resource Center and request that the DRC send me, the Instructor, official notification of your accommodation needs as soon as possible. Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate.

Assignment Policies

Assignements are due between the dates indicated on the course outline. Flexibility is provided for time differences. PLEASE do not ask for time extensions since these dates already provide flexibility. In cases of extreme emergencies, please contact the instructor by calling the main telephone number of SIRLS and leaving a message. The instructor will return your call.

All assignments should be posted to the D2L assignment drop box. Essays should be posted to websites after considering comments made by members of the cohort. Comments should not be ignored. If you do not agree with the comment, you may add a rebuttal to the end of your essay.

Incompletes

The 1997-8 University of Arizona General Academic Manual, p.23 reads

The grade of I may be awarded only at the end of a semester, when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. The grade of I is not to be awarded when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a case the grade of E must be assigned. Students should make arrangements with the instructor to receive an incompete grade before the end of the semester ...

If the incomplete is not removed by the instructor within one year the I grade will revert to a failing grade.

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GRADING

100 points

Essays and Responses =50 points
Mid-term response=20 points
Final response=20 points
Website=10 points

100-90=A
89-80=B
79-70=C
69-60=Failure

Grades will be provided on D2L.

 
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CONTACTING ME

Patricia Montiel Overall, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
(520) 621-3565
overall@u.arizona.edu

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