Last revised November 19, 2006.
Course Syllabus for IRLS 588-793: Group Information Rights
Virtual Course Spring
Link to Course Outline
- Course Name, Number, and Prerequisites
- Course Description
- Course Objectives
- Required Course Materials
- Course Requirements
- Course Policies
- Grading
- Contacting the Instructor
Instructor: Kay Mathiesen
Group Information Rights
COURSE NAME, NUMBER, AND PREREQUISITES
IRLS 588-793Prerequisites: None
This course considers information rights of groups. We will explore the ways in which groups, such as ethnic or language groups, corporations, and affiliation groups, may know or process information. Based on the concept of group knowledge various group information rights are proposed and discussed. The role of library and information professionals in promoting and supporting group information rights is emphasized.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Content of the Course
It is typically assumed that individuals are the ones who possess knowledge and who have information rights such as privacy, intellectual freedom, and intellectual property. There are, however, serious limitations to this individualistic paradigm, especially with regard to members of marginalized social groups. In this course, we will explore the ways in which groups of
persons may be knowers and what information rights this knowledge might give them. Primary focus will be given to the knowledge and information rights of indigenous groups (this will tie in with the conference on Indigenous Knowledge
and Cultural Property to be held at the University of Arizona, March 23-25 http://www.sir.arizona.edu/ier). However, we will also consider knowledge within groups not defined by their ethnic or cultural origin. These groups include corporations, scholarly communities, groups defined by gender and sexual orientation, and groups defined by shared disabilities (e.g., the deaf
community). Particular attention will be given to the ways in which libraries and other information services can be designed so as to foster the development and preservation of group knowledge and respect for group information rights. However, we will also consider the broader implications of group information rights for policy and law.
Topics Covered Will Include:
- The different forms of group knowledge including culturally based ways of knowing
- The role of information in defining, preserving, and advancing cultures
- The history and current practice of appropriation of indigenous people's culture.
- The rights of groups to control information by and about them
- The rights of groups to control the use of their names, images, stories, etc.
- The rights of groups for accessible and culturally relevant information
- The role of library and information professionals in respecting information rights of groups
- The role of library and information professionals in preserving culture
- Balancing the rights of groups and individuals in a libraries and other information services
Teaching/Learning Methods
This course will be delivered virtually through d2l. The course will include such assignments and activities as reading or listening to on-line lectures, engaging in on-line discussions, journaling, writing short summary pieces and longer papers, and presenting research via virtual presentations.
By the end of this course you should:
COURSE OBJECTIVES
- Understand the ways that groups can know and how library and information professionals can foster this knowledge
- Understand the role of knowledge and information in the creation, preservation, and growth of culture
- Be able to articulate the importance of group information rights
- Understand the possible conflicts around access to information within and among groups
- Know the history and current legacy of information appropriation
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Readings:
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALSThe readings for this course will be from various sources, book chapters, journal articles, and on-line lectures and guides. Some readings are on the web; other readings are available online from the UA Library; still other readings are available through electronic reserves. The password will be provided the first week of classes.[return to top of page]
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Graded Assignments Individual Project/Presentation 35% Indigenous Information Presentation
15%
Short Writing Assignments
25% Participation 25% Indigenous Information Rights Presentation: Each student will design a poster presentation on a topic related to indigenous information rights and librarianship. The poster designs will be submitted for a grade. A selection of these posters will be featured at the Conference on Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Property conference (for students unable to come to Tucson, the posters may be on-line presentations).
Individual Project/Presentation: Each student will pursue an individual project on a topic chosen in consultation with the professor. These projects will result in some written report. Students will present and lead a discussion of their project on-line.
Short Assignments: Short writing assignments will ask students to do such things as dissect the readings, apply theories to cases, and defend positions on issues.
Participation: Students will be evaluated on the basis of both the frequency and the quality of their participation in the on-line discussion.
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COURSE POLICIESAcademic Code of Integrity
Students are expected to abide by The University of Arizona Code of Academic Integrity, see . 'The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student's submitted work must be the student's own.' If you have any questions regarding what is acceptable practice under this Code, please ask an Instructor.
Accommodating Disabilities
The University has a Disability Resource Center. If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the Disability Resource Center and request that the DRC send me, the Instructor, official notification of your accommodation needs as soon as possible. Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate.
Assignment Policies
- How to submit your assignments: Students should submit their assignments via the D2L drop box.
- Assignment due dates: All assignments and exams are due by the D2L drop box by midnight on the due date. (Due dates will be listed on the course schedule.) No late work will be accepted without a pre-approved excuse. You must contact me in advance to get approval to turn in work late. Even with permission to turn in work late, work may be docked as much as a third of a grade for every day it is late.
- Writing style: Student written work should be free of grammatical or spelling errors. All sources should be clearly documented. (Any documentation style is fine as long as it is used correctly and consistently.)
Incompletes
The 1997-8 University of Arizona General Academic Manual (p.23) reads:
The grade of I may be awarded only at the end of a semester, when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. The grade of I is not to be awarded when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a case the grade of E must be assigned. Students should make arrangements with the instructor to receive an incompete grade before the end of the semester.If the incomplete is not removed by the instructor within one year the I grade will revert to a failing grade.
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All assignments (except for individual short assignments) will be graded out of 100 points on a standard scale. Individual short assignments will be graded check (full credit), check-plus (extra credit), check-minus (partial credit). The overall grade for the short assignments will be on a 100 point scale (someone who got a check for all assignments will have a 100 for the short assignments).
GRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURESThe final grades will be given as follows:
A 100-90 B 89-80 C 79-70 D 69-60 [return to top of page]
E-mail: kmathies@email.arizona.edu
CONTACTING ME[return to top of page]