Welcome to Internet Literacy!
Class Syllabus

Stephanie Tetter, Instructor
stetter@mpc.edu
Tel.: 831-646-4082
Fax: 831-646-1308
http://www.mpcfaculty.net/stephanie_tetter
Office: Room 227, Library Technology Center
Monterey Peninsula College
Library web page: http://www.mpcfaculty.net/library


General Course Information
Course Description
Course Materials
Course Objectives and Goals
Coursework
Class Participation/Attendance
Assignment Chart
Grading
Academic Honesty
Accessibility Information


General Course Information: 
Internet Literacy (LIBR 80) is a 3-unit full semester course, transferable to CSU.  Following an initial in-person class meeting at MPC the beginning of the semester, the course takes place completely online. This course satisfies the Information Competency graduation requirement at MPC, as well as the Information Technology ULR (University Learning Requirement) at CSUMB.

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Course Description:
This is an online laboratory course covering Internet history and access, management and organization of the Internet, examination of Internet components (including email, file types, downloads, attachments, newsgroups, listservs and chat), ethical issues, and correct citation of Internet resources. Includes online discussions, basic web authoring, effective searching, and techniques for evaluating information. 

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Course Materials:

Print:
The required textbook for the course: 

Hofstetter, Fred T.
Internet Literacy
  Fourth Edition
 

This text should be available at the MPC bookstore, and is available online from amazon.com  or Powell’s online bookstore.

You also will find direct links to the required readings from this text and other required web links and lectures in the course content.

Online:
Students will need to have access to the following: 

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Course Objectives and Goals:

Explore various Internet resources including email, the World Wide Web, search directories and search engines, mailing lists, Telnet, FTP (file transfer). By the completion of this course students should develop the following competencies:

1.  Identify and refine a research topic, then formulate a research question. Formulate a concise research question that can be answered effectively in a 1500 word paper (writing the paper is not a requirement of the course). Categorize the types of information available, the use a variety of search strategies to locate and retrieve information relevant to the research question, and evaluate it using a standard set of criteria.

2.  Demonstrate the ability to locate information using at least five different search engines, directories and metasearch tools to solve information needs.

3.  Produce a well-designed, aesthetically pleasing formal document on a single scholarly subject using accepted word processing techniques. The document will include research findings and conclusions that answer the research question. Create a well-designed, aesthetic electronic presentation that clearly explicates a single subject or that conveys a specific message.

4.  Produce a well-designed representation and analysis of numerical data using standard spreadsheet features. 

5.  Establish bibliographically correct citations in a standard format. 

6.  Understand different file formats and their uses on the Internet. 

7.  Upload and download files from the Internet. 

8.  Examine and discuss ethical issues arising from Internet connectivity, such as censorship, pornography, creation of information haves and have-nots.

9.  Demonstrate a basic knowledge of HTML coding. 

10. Produce an original digital image.

11. Create a well-designed, aesthetic electronic presentation (e.g. Power Point) that clearly explicates a single subject or that conveys a specific message.

12. Create and publish well-designed, functional web pages that discuss a single subject or convey a message. These linked web pages will include web playable links to the other items in this portfolio. Web pages will include tables, hypertext links, and images. One of the images will be an original digital image

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Coursework:
This is not a self-paced course.  The course will last a full semester. Each week (the week is defined as Saturday through Friday) we will cover a different unit related to the Internet. Your work for each lesson includes the following:

If the lessons are released in advance, you may work ahead.

There will be a final project due by the end of the semester. The final project is required to pass the course.  The project will consist of EITHER a research paper with bibliography (in MS Word, HTML or PDF format), presentation slides with bibliography, a media production (such as a podcast) with bibliography, or a web site.  The final project is due by midnight, FRIDAY May 25th, 2007.

NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE.
THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS.

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Class Attendance/Participation:
ATTENDANCE:  Even though this class is online, and you are not required to be present physically at a particular time each week, because the class is fast-paced, "attendance" is very important.   Attendance will be considered logging on to the class website at least three times a week.  If you do not participate in online discussions or log on to the class website for a period of two weeks, you may be dropped from the class.

It is your responsibility to withdraw if you intend to drop the classThe MPC catalog’s attendance policy will be upheld—except in extreme and unforeseen circumstances.  

PARTICIPATION (WORTH 15 POINTS):

INSTRUCTOR NOTE: I WILL REPLY TO EACH STUDENT AFTER HIS OR HER INITIAL POSTING.

In addition, I will be checking the class discussion board every day for activity. Do not expect a response from me for every posting.  It is more important that you and your classmates interact with one another.  If you have a question that relates to the syllabus, an assignment or the material covered in class, please consider posting your question first in the discussion area —other students may have the answer or may benefit from the issues you raise.  

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 Assignment Chart:

There is an assignment chart for the semester available on the course website.

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Grading: 

Numerical scores will be awarded for all assignments, quizzes, and weekly participation. In addition to the total of 285 possible points indicated in the chart above, participation will be worth fifteen points, there will be occasional opportunities to earn extra credit, and there will be two quizzes worth 50 points each. 

Grading follows a standard scale:  

360 - 400 points =

A

320 - 359 points =

B

280 - 319 points =

C

240 - 279 points =

D

239 or fewer points  =

F

Please keep all of your graded assignments, correspondence relating to grades and copies of any confirmation forms you receive while taking this class.  IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE SURE THAT MATERIAL YOU SUBMIT BY EMAIL IS RECEIVED ON TIME.

Late work will be penalized and may not be submitted later than one week after the due date without prior approval of the instructor. 

Students taking the course "Credit/No-Credit" must earn at least the number of points for a "C" grade (280-319 points) and must satisfactorily complete all assignments for the following lessons: 5,7,8, 9,10,11,12,13, and the Final Project.

The final project must be submitted by midnight on Friday, May 25th, 2007.

NO LATE SUBMISSIONS OF THE FINAL PROJECT WILL BE ACCEPTED.

There will be no exceptions.

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Technical Assistance: 

If you find class web links that do not work, contradictory information on the class web site or other problems directly linked to information on the class web site contact  me: stetter@mpc.edu or by phone at 831-646-4082 (voicemail if I am away from my desk, which is usually the case). 

If you are experiencing technical difficulties accessing the course website, you can contact MPC's Office of Instructional Technology at 646-3074.

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Academic Honesty:
 Monterey Peninsula College is firmly committed to providing students with the best education possible; this includes holding students to high standards of academic honesty.  Students are expected to be aware of the definitions of and policies pertaining to plagiarism and cheating.  See the MPC Catalog for the policy statements.   If it is determined that work that you have submitted as your own is the result of cheating or plagiarism, you will receive a zero on the assignment. A second infraction will result in you being dropped from the course and given a grade of "F" for the course.
 

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Accessibility Information:

Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Supportive Services (DSPS) in CS 104  as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely manner. The phone number for Supportive Services is (831) 646-4070.

W3C Web Accessibility Initiative
Microsoft Accessibility Site
California Community Colleges High Tech Center Training Unit

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© 2007 Stephanie Tetter   
Last updated 
01/19/07