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Monash University

FIT3123 Information access - Semester 1, 2012

This unit introduces students to the major categories of information resources in all media and how they are accessed through a variety of common user interfaces from anywhere in the world. The process of satisfying these needs through the reference interview and the application of skilled search strategies is explored. The ways that information resources are procured by libraries and e-repositories through purchase or licensing, and supplied to users on a cost-effective, efficient basis are examined. Access and authentication, intellectual property law and professional duty of care are described.

Mode of Delivery

Caulfield (Day)

Contact Hours

2 hrs lecture/wk, 1 hr seminar/wk

Workload

Workload commitments are:

For on-campus students:
Lectures: 2 hours per week
Seminar/Tutorial Sessions: 1 hour per week per tutorial

Off-campus students generally do not attend lecture and tutorial sessions, however, you should plan to spend equivalent time listening to lectures online via MULO and undertaking tutorial exercises.

All students spend an additional 9 hours per week engaging in discussion forms, completing tutorial exercises, undertaking assignments, private study and revision.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

FIT5015, IMS3616, IMS5016, LAR3650, LAR3652

Prerequisites

Completion of 36 credit points at level 1 or equivalent

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Caulfield

Sue McKemmish

Tom Denison

Tutors

Caulfield

Andrew Dixon

Academic Overview

Outcomes

At the completion of this unit students will be able to:
  • implement decisions about applying organisational policies for reference and collection services, justify the principles of collection management strategies, and evaluate them;
  • manage networked access for users in the case of electronic resources;
  • develop information literacy programs; and
  • select the best source of knowledge for a practical information need.

Graduate Attributes

Monash prepares its graduates to be:
  1. responsible and effective global citizens who:
    1. engage in an internationalised world
    2. exhibit cross-cultural competence
    3. demonstrate ethical values
  2. critical and creative scholars who:
    1. produce innovative solutions to problems
    2. apply research skills to a range of challenges
    3. communicate perceptively and effectively

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%

Assessment Task Value Due Date
Assignment 1: Discussion Topics 1-5 25%: note up to 20% of this mark (5 marks) will be deducted for non-participation in related tutorials by on-campus students, non-completion of tutorial exercises by off-campus students; and non-participation in discussion forum. Topic 1: 16 March 2012; Topic 2: 23 March 2012; Topic 3: 30 March 2012; Topic 4: 5 April 2012; Topic 5: 13 April 2012
Assignment 2: Evaluation of an information service 25%: note up to 20% of this mark (5 marks) will be deducted for non-participation in related tutorials by on-campus students, non-completion of tutorial exercises by off-campus students; and non-participation in discussion forum. Report due 4 May 2012, Presentations scheduled Week 9 to Week 11
Examination 1 50%: Please note that this has been changed to a 2 hour exam To be advised

Teaching Approach

Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
The approach to teaching and learning includes a weekly two-hour lecture and a one-hour seminar style tutorial.

This teaching and learning approach helps students to initially encounter information at lectures, then discuss and explore the information during tutorial exercises and presentations. It provides facilitated learning, practical exploration and peer learning.

Feedback

Our feedback to You

Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
  • Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
  • Graded assignments with comments

Your feedback to Us

Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.

For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html

Previous Student Evaluations of this unit

The unit's content has been substantially revised and updated this year in response to student, staff and industry feedback.

If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp

Recommended text(s)

Peter Brophy. (2007). The library in the twenty-first century . (2nd) London: Facet Publishing.

Unit Schedule

Week Activities Assessment
0 Students will need to familiarise themselves with the information contained in this unit guide as well as materials on the unit website (eg lecture notes and tutorial activities) No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
1 The variety of information services and organisations No seminar/tutorial
2 The information multiverse: physical, digital and virtual information resources/collections and meta-collections Seminar Topic 1: The multiverse of information services
3 Understanding user information needs: Information seeking behaviour; user needs analysis; the reference interview Seminar Topic 2: The multiverse of information resources. Assignment 1 Topic 1 due
4 Understanding user information needs: Information literacy Seminar Topic 3: User needs analysis/the reference interview. Assignment 1 Topic 2 due
5 Building information resource collections in libraries (library collection management; principles and tools; cooperative schemes and networks, e.g. DocDel, ILL) Seminar Topic 4: Library collection management. Assignment 1 Topic 3 due
6 Building information resource collections in archives (archival appraisal and collection policies; principles and tools; cooperative schemes and networks) Seminar Topic 5: Archival appraisal and collection policies. Assignment 1 Topic 4 due
7 Designing access to information resources/collections/meta-collections: libraries and archives as intermediaries; disintermediation Designing, managing and evaluating information services. Assignment 1 Topic 5 due (during mid-semester break)
8 Designing and managing user services Designing, managing and evaluating information services
9 Information infrastructure: Information policies; copyright; access permissions; terms and conditions of use Seminar Presentations. Assignment 2 due
10 Accessing information resources/collections/meta-collections: search and discovery strategies; Web 2.0 technologies Seminar Presentations
11 Accessing archival resources/collections/meta-collections: search and discovery strategies; Web 2.0 technologies Seminar Presentations
12 Review of Weeks 1-11 Seminar Topic: Exam Revision.
  SWOT VAC No formal assessment is undertaken SWOT VAC
  Examination period LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/
academic/education/assessment/
assessment-in-coursework-policy.html

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)

Assessment Tasks

Participation

On-campus students are expected to participate in all tutorials; all students are expected to complete tutorial exercises and related discussion forums. The activities in these sessions are directly related to the Assignments. Up to 20% of the marks for each assignment may be deducted if students do not meet this requirement.

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    Assignment 1: Discussion Topics 1-5
    Description:
    There are five discussion topics, worth 5% each. A detailed assignment specification will be provided.
    Weighting:
    25%: note up to 20% of this mark (5 marks) will be deducted for non-participation in related tutorials by on-campus students, non-completion of tutorial exercises by off-campus students; and non-participation in discussion forum.
    Criteria for assessment:

    Criteria for assessment:

    1. Degree to which postings demonstrate understanding of the topic and engagement with the readings.

    2. Contribution in discussion forum and responses to postings with other students.

    3. Completion of class exercises.

    Due date:
    Topic 1: 16 March 2012; Topic 2: 23 March 2012; Topic 3: 30 March 2012; Topic 4: 5 April 2012; Topic 5: 13 April 2012
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    Assignment 2: Evaluation of an information service
    Description:
    You will undertake an evaluation of an information service. You will write a 2,000 word report on your findings; and give a 10 minute class presentation.
    Weighting:
    25%: note up to 20% of this mark (5 marks) will be deducted for non-participation in related tutorials by on-campus students, non-completion of tutorial exercises by off-campus students; and non-participation in discussion forum.
    Criteria for assessment:

    You will be assessed on the basis of:

    1. Demonstrated understanding of the information service.

    2. Evaluation of the main components of the service according to the criteria provided.

    3. Research and investigative effort.

    4. Identification, coverage and use of relevant sources.

    5. Presentation of findings in report, including citations and bibliography.

    6. Class presentation.

    7. Participation in related tutorial exercises and discussion forum.

    Further detailed guidelines will be provided.

    Due date:
    Report due 4 May 2012, Presentations scheduled Week 9 to Week 11

Examinations

  • Examination 1
    Weighting:
    50%: Please note that this has been changed to a 2 hour exam
    Length:
    2 hours
    Type (open/closed book):
    Closed book
    Electronic devices allowed in the exam:
    None

Assignment submission

It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).

Online submission

If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the VLE site for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Resubmission of assignments

It may be possible to resubmit assignments in a limited number of special circumstances. However, this will only be possible with the prior permission of the Lecturer.

Other Information

Policies

Student services

The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students. For Sunway see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/

The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Sunway, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.

Academic support services may be available for students who have a disability or medical condition. Registration with the Disability Liaison Unit is required. Further information is available as follows:

  • Website: http://monash.edu/equity-diversity/disability/index.html;
  • Email: dlu@monash.edu
  • Drop In: Equity and Diversity Centre, Level 1 Gallery Building (Building 55), Monash University, Clayton Campus, or Student Community Services Department, Level 2, Building 2, Monash University, Sunway Campus
  • Telephone: 03 9905 5704, or contact the Student Advisor, Student Commuity Services at 03 55146018 at Sunway

Other

See the unit reading list via the Monash Libraries website.

Additional references will be provided during semester.

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