Library

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO 1: Determine the nature and extent of the information needed.
• Identify different types and formats of potential sources of information.
• SLO 2: Access needed information effectively and efficiently.
• Construct and implement effectively-designed search strategies.
• SLO 3: Use information to accomplish a specific purpose.
• Maintain a journal or log of activities related to the information seeking, evaluating, and communicating process.
• SLO 4: Evaluate information and its sources critically in order to build knowledge.
• Examine and compare information from various sources in order to evaluate reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of view or bias.
• SLO 5: Understand the economic, legal, social, and ethical issues surrounding information.
• Demonstrate an understanding of what constitutes plagiarism and select an appropriate documentation style and use it consistently to cite sources.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO-1: Cultivate and apply searching skills in order to retrieve and use information in academic and other contexts.
• Objective 1A: Formulate questions for research.
• Objective 1B: Apply critical thinking to determine appropriate search strategies and information tools based on scope, audience, and type of research.
• Objective 1C: Use different types of searching language (e.g. controlled vocabulary, keywords, natural language) in appropriate context (information need & tool).
• Objective 1D: Organize information in meaningful ways while synthesizing ideas gathered from multiple sources.
• SLO-2: Critically analyze information in order to evaluate quality, relevance, authority, and purpose.
• Objective 2A: Demonstrate knowledge of critical reading skills to evaluate information.
• Objective 2B: Use research tools and indicators of authority to determine usefulness and credibility of sources.
• Objective 2C: Distinguish different types of authority for given contexts (formal and informal).
• SLO-3: Apply critical thinking and critical reading skills to evaluate and use logical arguments in a variety of informational contexts (formal and informal).
• Objective 3A: Recognize inductive and deductive reasoning.
• Objective 3B: Identify rhetorical appeals and fallacies in reasoning.
• Objective 3C: Distinguish between credible evidence (facts), misinformation, and opinions.
• Objective 3D: Use research to create persuasive arguments that are appropriate for the identified audience.
• SLO-4: Explore and analyze the value of information (both monetary value and value in society) in order to use it effectively in college and in the workplace.
• Objective 4A: Critically analyze the value placed upon different types of information in different contexts.
• Objective 4B: Recognize how and why some individuals or groups may be underrepresented or marginalized within information systems.
• Objective 4C: Choose appropriate sources for information needs.
• Objective 4D: Give credit to the original works and ideas of others through proper attribution and citation.
• SLO-5: Contribute to scholarly and professional information environments.
• Objective 5A: Identify paths to enter and contribute to scholarly and professional conversations.
• Objective 5B: Recognize that any given source may not represent the only (or even the majority) perspective on an issue.
• Objective 5C: Use information responsibly (seeking accurate and reliable sources while respecting intellectual property).

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO #1: Actively engage in intellectual inquiry beyond that required in order to pass a course of study (College Wide Learning Outcome – Area 4).
• Discuss and outline a proposal of study (that can be accomplished within one semester term) with a supervising instructor qualified within the discipline.
• Design an independent study (to be completed individually or by collaboration of a small group) to foster special knowledge, skills, and experience that are not available in any one regularly scheduled course.
• Use information resources to gather discipline-specific information.
• SLO #2: Utilize modes of analysis and critical thinking to apply theoretical perspectives and/or concepts in the major discipline of study to significant problems and/or educational activities (College Wide Learning Outcome – Area 3).
• Analyze and apply the knowledge, skills and experience that are involved in the independent study to theoretical perspectives and/or concepts in the major discipline of study.
• Explain the importance of the major discipline of study in the broader picture of society.
• SLO #3: Communicate a complex understanding of content matter of the major discipline of study (College Wide Outcome – Area 3).
• Demonstrate competence in the skills essential to mastery of the major discipline of study that are necessary to accomplish the independent study.
• SLO #4: Identify personal goals and pursue these goals effectively (College Wide Outcome – Area 4).
• Utilize skills from the “academic tool kit” including time management, study skills, etc., to accomplish the independent study within one semester term.