Seminar in Information Science - The Hyperlinked Library: Emerging Trends, Emerging Technologies
INFO 287

Dr. Michael Stephens
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Other contact information: See course site 

Course Overview

“The new tools provide powerful options for working with data, text, sound, and images. …. There is, predictably, an increasing departure in information handling from the simple pattern of read, think, then write. Computers are used for so much more than the traditional notion of “computing.’”

--Michael Buckland, Redesigning Library Services, 1992

“The potential connections are vast. Hyperlinks are the connections made by real individuals based on what they care about and what they know, the paths that emerge because that’s where the feet are walking, as opposed to the highways bulldozed into existence according to a centralized plan.”

--David Weinberger, “The Hyperlinked Organization,” The Cluetrain Manifesto, 1999.

What emerging trends are changing library services? What does a connected world of "continuous computing" mean for 21st Century libraries. This course provides a roadmap toward becoming the Hyperlinked Library: transparent, participatory, playful, user-centered, and human, while still grounded in our foundations and values.

Library scholars have noted the ongoing impact of technology on libraries and have called for a redesign of services to meet the evolving needs of users. Virtual communities have thrived online since the early 1980s. New media and social sites are part of the next incarnation of the World Wide Web, where digital tools allow users to create, change, and publish dynamic content of all kinds.  The evolving Web and related emerging technologies are signifiers of a broader cultural shift: toward an open, collaborative, and participatory society. This course examines emerging technologies within a framework of participatory, hyperlinked library service: a model of creating, extending, updating, and evaluating libraries via a user-centered approach.

The Hyperlinked Library is an open, participatory institution that welcomes user input and creativity. It is built on human connections and conversations. The organizational chart is flatter and team-based. The collections grow and thrive via user and staff involvement. Librarians are tapped in to user spaces and places online to interact, have presence, and point the way.

In Library 2.0: A Guide for Participatory Service, Casey and  Savastinuk describe the participatory service model: “It is a model for library service that encourages constant and purposeful change, inviting user participation in the creation of both the physical and the virtual services they want, supported by consistently evaluating services. It also attempts to reach new users and better serve current ones through improved customer-driven offerings.”

This course will examine various emerging theories of user-centered library service, the use of technological tools to extend those services, and the creation of collaborative communities. We will explore participatory service, analyze some key trends that impact the model, and examine what this shift means for libraries and information work in the 21st Century.  Students will experience an immersive learning environment created in WordPress and have opportunities to "Choose Your Own Adventure" (CYOA).

Expectations

Students are expected to participate fully in all class activities. It is expected that students will be open-minded and participate fully in discussions in class and debate in a mature and respectful manner. Use of derogatory, condescending, or offensive language including profanity is prohibited. Disagreement is healthy and perfectly acceptable. Expressing disagreement should always include an explanation of your reasoning and, whenever possible, evidence to support your position. In accordance with San José State University's Policies, the Student Code of Conduct, and applicable state and federal laws, discrimination based on gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability is prohibited in any form.

Course Workload

Success in this course is based on the expectation that students will spend, for each unit of credit, a minimum of forty-five hours over the length of the course (normally 3 hours per unit per week with 1 of the hours used for lecture) for instruction or preparation/studying or course related activities including but not limited to internships, labs, clinical practica. Other course structures will have equivalent workload expectations as described in the syllabus.

Instructional time may include but is not limited to:
Working on posted modules or lessons prepared by the instructor; discussion forum interactions with the instructor and/or other students; making presentations and getting feedback from the instructor; attending office hours or other synchronous sessions with the instructor.

Student time outside of class:
In any seven-day period, a student is expected to be academically engaged through submitting an academic assignment; taking an exam or an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction; building websites, blogs, databases, social media presentations; attending a study group; contributing to an academic online discussion; writing papers; reading articles; conducting research; engaging in small group work.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes) Supported

INFO 287 supports the following core competencies:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, concepts, and ideas of participatory library service.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of emerging technologies and how they relate to information services and environments.
3. Articulate a planning strategy for services built within the framework of the participatory service model.
4. Synthesize current thinking about cultural and technological change within a framework of libraries and information work.
5. Articulate and synthesize current use of and an overview of an emerging technology in the form of a report intended for current awareness and planning.
6. Use various online tools to experience, discuss, and evaluate course concepts as they relate to library services.

Textbooks

No Textbooks For This Course.

Assignments and Due Dates

• All assignments support Course Learning Outcome #1 in addition to other CLOs.
• Assignment X: (Supports CLO #4): Students will explore one of the early concepts presented in class and write a 500-word reflection or create a media-based presentation relating their understanding and ideas. (We will name the assignment as a class!) 10 points Due 2/19
• Reflection Blogging (Supports CLO #2): Five 200-word minimum blog posts will serve as a reflection journal for the modules included in our course content. 20 points Due 2/12, 2/26, 3/19, 4/09, 4/23
• Innovation Strategy & Roadmap (Supports CLO #3) A clearly articulated roadmap for the use of emerging technologies/community engagement within a library or information environment can guide the development of participatory services. Students will draft a Strategy & Roadmap plan for the library or environment of their choice. 20 points Due 3/26
• Inspiration Report (Supports CLO #5): Students will create an Inspiration Report focusing on one of 5 major areas of exploration in the course: emerging technologies, emerging trends, global innovation, the power of stories, or innovative learning experiences. 30 points Due 4/30
• Participation & Seminar Engagement (Supports CLO #6): Students will interact weekly via the course learning community, various social tools as directed, and via optional online meetings. Students will monitor course and blog feeds. Students will be actively reading and commenting on others' blog posts. Students will share their work via blogs and other media in a virtual symposium held in the last two weeks of class. A final reflection post will allow students to self-evaluate their participation and engagement. 20 points Ongoing

Course Grading
Grading will be based on 100 possible points. More information to come as assignments are finalized.

• All assignments are due on Sundays and must be turned in by midnight PT.
• Late submissions will be reduced by 20% of the total points possible for that assignment.
• If life circumstances require students to request an extension, please do so several days before the assignment is due or as soon as possible.
• Communication and interaction throughout the semester via the course site are expected and required.

The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:

In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:

• C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
• B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work or undergraduate (for BS-ISDA);
  For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA, Informatics, BS-ISDA) — INFO 200, INFO 202, INFO 204 — the iSchool requires that students earn a B in the course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation. You must repeat the class if you wish to stay in the program. If - on the second attempt - you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified.
  
• A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.

Graduate Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). Undergraduates must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

Per University Policy S16-9 (PDF), relevant university policy concerning all courses, such as student responsibilities, academic integrity, accommodations, dropping and adding, consent for recording of class, etc. and available student services (e.g. learning assistance, counseling, and other resources) are listed on the Syllabus Information web page. Make sure to visit this page to review and be aware of these university policies and resources.

• Module 1 – Course Introduction
• Module 2 – Foundational Readings
• Module 3 – The Hyperlinked Library Model
• Module 4 – Participatory Service & Transparency
• Module 5 – Hyperlinked Communities
• Module 6 – Hyperlinked Environments (CYOA)
• Module 7 – Planning for Emerging Technologies
• Module 8 – New Models
• Module 9 – New Horizons
• Module 10 –The Power of Stories
• Module 11 – Infinite Learning 1 (CYOA)
• Module 12 – Infinite Learning 2 (CYOA)
• Module 13 – Reflective Practice
• Module 14 – Creativity & Curiosity
• Module 15 –Virtual Symposium, Course Reflections