Summer 2004
July 19 - August 6, 2004
Unique No. 81360
Classroom: SZB 546
Class Meeting Days and Time: Monday - Friday, 3:30 - 6:00 pm

Barbara A. Jansen
Email: bjansen@sasaustin.org
Office Hours: by appointment or anytime by email
Class discussion board: http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~lis382l/discus

PURPOSE OF CLASS

• What are the rights and responsibilities of children and young adults in the electronic environment?
• What electronic information resources are available for children and young adults and how do young people learn from them?
• How do we locate, evaluate, and provide access to these information resources?
• What implications do electronic information resources have for school and public libraries and librarians?

During our time together, we will look at electronic information available on the Internet and explore the answers to the questions above.

The focus of the course is on exploring, working, talking, and learning together. We will often work in small groups and many assignments are accomplished through small group collaboration.

We can all expect to greatly improve our Internet searching skills in this course. There are no computer proficiency requirements for the course. However, it is important that you know how to access articles in the subscription databases and electronic reserves offered through UT.

An email distribution list will be created for communication outside of class time. You should expect to check your email at least twice a day. Because the overall course time is rather condensed, timely communication will be of the essence. Students must also to use the discussion board as a forum for further discussion of ideas that class time does not allow and for sharing articles, news, and not-to-be-missed Web sites.

There is no required text book for this class, however selected articles are on electronic reserve and online. The assigned readings are all required and necessary to participate fully in the class discussions. Some of the reading assignments are on the free Web, and there are links to those sites from the course Web page.

The first course of the same title was offered Summer 1996, taught by Dr. Viki Ash-Geisler. Credit must be given to Viki for the inspiration for this class. Credit is also given for the work and inspiration of Barbara Immroth and the sessions she has taught.