GEOC Program Plan For Information Literacy

 

§         For instructions, see “GEOC competency requirements; Information Literacy Instruction Sheet” at: http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~wwwsenat/GEOC.htm

§         To be completed by each Major Program.  See the Undergraduate Catalog for a list of Major Programs.

§         Plans must be approved by the School/College

§         Plans are not approved by GEOC but are archived by GEOC for future oversight.

§         Return the completed form by e-mail to GEOC at geoc@uconn.edu no later than Oct. 15, 2004 AFTER approval by the School/College)

§         Submit revised catalog copy for major requirements to marianne.buck@uconn.edu by Nov. 1, 2004.

 

 

Major Program:  Political Science

 

Briefly describe how Information Literacy will be taught within your major program.  List courses in which these skills will be embedded.

 

Information literacy will be embedded in all Ws and W add-ons taught within the major.  In consultation with our library liaison, we have established the following instructional criteria for all Ws and W add-ons in our major:

 

In order to meet ACRL Standard I Advanced Level, (the student determine the nature and extent of information needed), every W will require that students develop a research project proposal with an accompanying annotated bibliography of a specified number of sources.  If the course requires critical essays rather than a research paper, then this exit requirement may be fulfilled via the critical analysis of a selected bibliography that assesses researched sources in light of course topics.

 

In order to meet ACRL Standard II Advanced Level (the student accesses needed information effectively and efficiently), the library liaison will work with the instructor during designated class sessions to acquaint the students with pertinent print and electronic resources within the discipline.  The library liaison and the instructor will teach students how informational resources have been organized within the discipline, how to formulate questions and key words for the purposes of database research, how to access and search source databases most relevant to the major, and how to assess the quantity and appropriateness of the information retrieved.

 

In order to meet ACRL Standard III Advanced Level (the student evaluates information and its sources critically), the library liaison and instructor will include discussions regarding how to determine a scholarly, appropriate source, and how to critically assess the reliability of information.  Particular attention will be paid to recognizing and assessing the problems with the collection and compilation of aggregate information within the discipline.

 

In order to meet ACRL Standard IV Advanced Level (the student uses information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose), instructors will expect students to utilize the information and sources they gather in their writing assignments for the course.  Students will be instructed on how to produce written work that conforms to the critical analytical and formatting expectations of the discipline.

 

In order to meet ACRL Standard V Advanced Level (the students understands the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information), the instructor will teach students the appropriate citation style of the discipline (APA) and expect them to utilize the style in their writing.  The instructor will also discuss the ethical and legal issues of research in the discipline, including policies regarding human subject research.  Should a students research involve human subjects, they will expected to comply with all relevant university and legal policies.

 

Are all these courses required of your students?  If not, how will you assure that all students attain the exit expectations for Information Literacy.

 

All political science majors will fulfill the exit requirements for Information Literacy within the major because they are required to a political science W and all political science Ws must comply with the specifications as outlines above.  In other words, information literacy requirements are incorporated in all political science Ws, and majors will fulfill the requirements by virtue of their successfully passing a political science W.

 

Date of Approval by Faculty or Appropriate Faculty Committee:  September 15, 2004

 

Date of Approval by School/College C&C Committee:  October 12, 2004

 

Major Program contact person:  Jennifer Sterling-Folker, 486-2535

 

Date Submitted to GEOC:  October 20, 2004