IST 499w
Senior Seminar in Information Science

Tuesdays, 10:15 am-1:05 pm
BA210

Jennifer Goodall, PhD
jjpowers@uamail.albany.edu, professorgoodall (AIM), 956-8245
Office hours: Mondays, 2-4 in Draper 118A and by appointment

Schedule

Please note that this schedule is subject to change, so please check back!

Date In-class Topic In-class workshop Homework Assignment (due at start of class)
1/29

Introduction, expectations, assignments, books

What is information?
How do we get information?
Does how we get information affect the information we get?

CCIWITUG

 

Guidelines for paper writing

Peer review requirements

 

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2/5

Extra credit options

 

 

"How to" presentations

Be prepared to do a 5 minute presentation on "how to" do something. You may bring props if they will support your presentation. Do not plan to use PowerPoint for this presentation.


2/12

Visit from Cathy Parker, CDC

Visit from Don Buskard, Mercury Web Solutions

Resumes and cover letters

 

Read AGF Chapter 1


Bring your resume in it's current form to class. If you don't have a resume, create one.

Read How to Ensure Your Resume Produces Top Results and The Most Important Ten Seconds of Your Job Search


2/19

no class

For those students who signed up for the extra-credit deliberation project, the survey will begin Wednesday (Feb 20th), and will be available until Saturday (Feb 23rd).  Students should to check their email next Wednesday to get started.

 

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Look at the following ppt presentation:

Presentations

 

2/26

Topic: Privacy

Related links:
http://www.stopthespying.org/

Team 1: AGF CDE 2.45
Team 5: AGF CDE 2.48
Team 7: AGF CDE 2.53

 

Hand in exercise 1.10 in A Gift of Fire (AGF)


Come to class with a final paper topic in mind!

Read AGF Ch 2

3/4

Topic: Freedom of Speech

 

Team 2: AGF CDE 3.32
Team 6: AGF CDE 3.33
Team 8: AGF CDE 3.35

Read AGF Ch 3


AGF Assignment #1 due -- hand in for peer review

 

3/11

Topic: Intellectual Property

Related links:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1207/p09s01-coop.html

Team 3: AGF CDE 4.43
Team 7: AGF CDE 4.44
Team 1: AGF CDE 4.47

You must finalize your final paper topic with me


Read AGF Ch 4


Peer review of partner's AGF Assignment #1 due

 

3/18

Topic: Crime

Team 4: AGF CDE 5.35
Team 8: AGF CDE 5.36
Team 2: AGF CDE 5.39

 

Read AGF Ch 5


Hand in final version of AGF Assignment #1

 

3/25

no class

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4/1

Topic: Work

Team 5: AGF CDE 6.25
Team 1: AGF CDE 6.27
Team 3: AGF CDE 6.28

Read AGF Ch 6


AGF Assignment #2 due

 

4/8

Topic: Evaluating and Controlling Technology

Team 6: AGF CDE 7.44
Team 2: AGF CDE 7.47
Team 4: AGF CDE 7.48

Hand in your draft of your final paper for peer review.


Read AGF Ch 7

 

4/15

Topic: Errors, Failures, and Risk

Team 7: AGF CDE 8.36
Team 3: AGF CDE 8.37
Team 5: AGF CDE 8.38

Do a peer review of someone's paper. Return your comments to that student in class.


Read AGF Ch 8

 

4/22

Guest Speaker: Kathie Legg, MobileMondayDC

Topic: Professional Ethics and Responsibilities

Team 8: AGF CDE 9.32


Read AGF Ch 9


AGF Assignment #3 due
4/29

Individual Final Presentations:

  • Rich
  • Joe
  • Tom
  • Adriel
  • Luniece
  • Andrew
  • Eric
  • Bryan
  • Sherwin
Team 4: AGF CDE 9.34
Team 6: AGF CDE 9.35

Find a job description you are interested in. Write a cover letter for that job. Turn the description, cover letter, and resume in. Hard copy only please.

 

5/6

Individual Final Presentations

  • John
  • Kyle
  • Alex
  • Raphael
  • Joshua
  • Julie
  • Michael
  • Gina
  • Meghan
  • Chris
  • Chris
  • Brian
  • Devon
  • Jason
 

Final paper due--hand in your final paper and your peer reviewed copy.

 

Assignments

Please note: late assignments will have points deducted!

AGF Class Discussions:

Each week, three teams will do a short presentation and lead a discussion related to the topic of the week. I will assign AGF Class Discussion Exercises to each team. Each team will do three of these presentation/discussions. Plan to spend about one hour on your presentation and discussion. You can rely on the book, but you will also need to do additional research and preparation. You may present your opinions, but you must also back it up with research. It needs to be more than "This is what I think and that's how it is."

You will be graded on your presentation skills, your notes, and how you lead the class discussion.

AGF Assignments:

At the end of each chapter is a section for assignments. I have selected one from each chapter and you MUST do at least three (3) of them, one from CH 1, 2, OR 3, one from CH 4, 5, OR 6, and one from CH 7, 8, OR 9. You will also do a peer review of Assignment #1. You must choose from each of the following lists:

AGF Assignment #1
AGF Assignment #2
AGF Assignment #3

Draft and Final Paper Assignment/Peer Review Assignment:

You will select a topic relating to information science that requires critical evaluation on your part and do in-depth research on that topic to make an informed opinion and/or convincing argument for or against something. It may or may not be a topic we cover in class, but if we did cover it, you must examine a different angle or look more in-depth at it than we did in class. The final paper must be no less than 10 pages and no more than 13 pages, with standard formatting. You will present your research to the class at the end of the semester. You will need to turn in a draft of your paper. That week, one of your classmates will peer review your paper (and you will review someone else's paper) and turn it back to you. The peer review will consist of positive and critical comments on the draft, as well as an attachment with your notes and comments to the writer. You will also turn a copy of your comments in to me to be graded. The final paper is due the last day of class.

Extra credit options:

Each student may do up to two extra credit options. Each extra credit option, done fully, will add 5 points to the final grade. Options include:

Grades

Participation in class discussions and debates = 20 points

AGF Exercise 1.10 = 2.5 points

AGF Assignments (peer review comments = 2.5, each paper (3 * 5) = 15) = 17.5 points

Resume and cover letter = 5 points

Team presentations (3 * 10) = 30 points

Final paper (15) & presentation (5) & peer review comments (5) = 25 points

Points will be deducted for unexcused absences, lateness, and early departures.

 

Last updated Monday, March 3, 2008