LIS 598 Technology, Information, and Society
General Course Information
Winter 2020
Workload:
A general rule of thumb is that for every hour of a graduate-level class, you should expect to do 3-4 hours of work, including class time. So, for a three-credit graduate-level course such as this one, that would equal 6-9 hours of work per week outside of class on-campus; or 9-12 hours of work per week online. This is an average; some weeks it could be a bit less, and some weeks it could be a bit more (for example, when you have an assignment due).
This is a seminar-style course with many readings. These readings, our class discussions of them, and student presentations on them are an important and significant part of our course and of your workload. The reading load is lower during the weeks you have major assignments due, to give you time to complete them during those weeks.
Your Responsibilities:
Both you (as students) and I (as your instructor) have responsibilities as part of our collective learning experience this semester. I expect you to
- act in a professional manner in class, our eClass site, your communications, and other class activities;
- conduct yourself the same way that you would on the job (professional behaviour is expected at all times);
- treat me, your colleagues, and any guests with dignity and respect, even if you disagree with their opinions;
- check our eClass site and your University of Alberta email account regularly;
- check your email and other media as agreed on by your group to complete group projects;
- do your best to work effectively with and assist others (within the bounds of academic integrity);
- inform me of any problems, issues, or concerns experienced with group work or with members of your group;
- complete assignments with the same professionalism you will bring to your career; and
- help ensure a positive learning environment for everyone.
My Responsibilities and Philosophy:
As your instructor I am, of course, also responsible for establishing and maintaining a positive and productive learning environment. One of the main purposes of the University of Alberta is to be a successful learning and training environment for your lives and careers. To achieve this, in this course I will do my best to facilitate a collaborative and creative learning community. I also will encourage communication and interaction among you and between you and I, and do my best to address your varied strengths and multiple learning styles. I intend to do my best to
- know your learning needs, backgrounds, learning styles, and motivations;
- apply fair and consistent marking, tailor my assessments and feedback to the class and the assignment topic, and answer any questions you may have about your marks;
- respect you and your concerns, issues, problems, and ability to learn;
- be a good mentor;
- maintain open channels of communication;
- support your helping and assistance of each other (while maintaining academic integrity);
- know my own limits in teaching and mentoring; and
- be true to my own beliefs, ideals, and thoughts in teaching.
I enjoy helping you grasp concepts and apply them creatively to new and exciting situations, and having you share, communicate, create, and apply knowledge as part of a collaborative and creative learning community. I hope and believe that these activities within—and beyond—this course will prepare you for wherever your careers may take you.