Spring 2009
Unique No. 27400
Classroom: SZB 546
Class Meeting Day and Time: Mondays, 3-6 pm 

Dr. Barbara Immroth
Office: SZB 562A
Telephone: (512) 471-3875
E-mail: Dr. Immroth
Office Hours: Monday 2:30-3:00 pm, after class, or by appointment

Teaching Assistant: Bettie McGinness
E-mail: Bettie
Office Hours: Available by appointment

PURPOSE OF CLASS:

The purpose of the course is to explore the electronic information resources available for children and young adults.  Together we will consider the following questions:

• How do children and youth learn in the electronic environment?
• What are the rights and responsibilities of children and youth in the electronic environment?
• How can web resources help children and youth acquire content and communicate results for academic and personal needs?
• What is the role of librarians and libraries in the electronic environment?

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. This is a seminar. Each student is expected to actively participate  in class discussion, projects and readings (when you see something  that would be of interest - share it with the group). We will often work in small groups, and many  assignments are accomplished through small group collaboration. 

It will be helpful if you are comfortable using a Web browser and search engines and that you know how to access articles in the  subscription databases and electronic reserves offered through UT. An email distribution list is available through Blackboard (Bb) for communication outside of class time. Accordingly, you should expect  to check your email at least once a day. Students should also use  Bb's discussion board as a forum for further discussion, as well as  for sharing articles, news, and important Web sites.

We will not have a required textbook for this class; however, you  will need to access selected readings using UT's Library Online (links are available on the "Readings" page). All  assigned readings are required and necessary to participate fully in  class discussions. Some of the reading assignments are on the free Web, and there are links to those sites from the course Web page.  Please contact the TA as soon as possible if you  find a broken or inactive link.

This semester's class is largely based on the course by the same  title offered during Summer 1995 and taught by Viki Ash, Mary Lynn Rice-Lively and Barbara Immroth as well as those taught in following  semesters by Barbara A. Jansen, Don Hamerly, and Barbara Immroth.  The syllabus has been adapted from classes that these instructors have shared over the years.