LIS 2003
THE INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT
SPRING 2004

CHAT SESSIONS/OPEN FORUMS

During the semester you will participate in 9 chat sessions or open forums,  4 scheduled synchronous chat sessions and 5 asynchronous open forums. 

Synchronous chat sessions are scheduled for the following dates and times. Select the 4 to participate in that best meet your individual needs and schedule. You should make your selection at the beginning of the course and put the dates and times on your calendar.

February 4, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
February 17, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
March 1, 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
March 24, 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
April 6, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
April 19, 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
April 28, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Open discussion forums will be held the weeks of 
January 26-30
February 9-13
February 23-27
March 29-April 2
April 12-16
 
LEARNING 
OBJECTIVES		 Participating in the chat sessions, which are synchronous discussions, will enhance your ability to 
  • articulate and defend personal positions on issues in a synchronous online mode
  • analyze information issues
  • suggest solutions to information problems.
Participating in the open forums will enhance your ability to
  • articulate and defend personal positions on issues in an asynchronous online mode
  • analyze information issues
  • suggest solutions to information problems.
In addition, both the chat sessions and the open forums provide opportunity to
  • interact with other class members 
  • experiment with your ideas in a supportive environment
  • learn more about the positions taken by other class members on key information issues.
PREPARATION  FOR THE CHAT  SESSIONS Approximately one week prior to the scheduled chat the questions/issues for the chat will be posted in the Assignments area of the course web site.  Before the chat session starts you should 
  • notify the instructor by email that you will participate in the session (when the questions are posted you will be given a deadline by which to report that you will participate)
  • review the questions
  • complete any supplemental reading you need to do to discuss the questions
  • determine your initial position on the questions
  • check your browser settings to be sure they follow the set up instructions at the College of Arts and Sciences web site  
  • read the Blackboard Manual section on the Virtual Classroom: 
    • (1) click on "Student Tools" on the menu bar; 
    • (2) scroll down to "Manual" and click that link; 
    • (3) in the Contents box, click on "Chapter 5- Communication"; 
    • (4) click on "Virtual Classroom"; 
    • (5) click links to "Virtual Classroom Introduction" and "Enter Virtual Classroom" 
  • explore the features of the Virtual Classroom (accessed through the "Communication" button on the menu bar).
PARTICIPATION  IN THE CHAT 
SESSIONS		 Approximately 10 minutes before the time scheduled for the chat, access the course web site and go to the Virtual Classroom.  It may take a minute or so for the Classroom to load.  The instructor will have posted the first question to be discussed.  As soon as the Classroom is available, enter your response to this first question. 
PREPARATION  FOR THE OPEN FORUMS  The open forums are individual responses to the group postings made on the Discussion Board.  During the open forum weeks, you will read the group responses for the previous week and then post an individual response to the posting of a group other than your own. For example, the week of February 9 you will read the group responses that were posted by February 6 and then you will post an individual response to one of the questions addressed by a group other than yours. 
PARTICIPATION  IN THE OPEN
FORUMS		 After you have read the responses of the other groups and determined on which response you wish to comment, click on the title of that thread, then click "Reply" (on the right of the screen, following the message). Enter your comments in the message box and submit. 
CRITERIA 
FOR 
EVALUATION		 Your participation will be evaluated based on
  • evidence of critical thinking 
  • clarity of identification of the issues 
  • understanding of the problems discussed 
  • ability to propose and evaluate solutions
  • inclusion of reference in comments to current examples from assigned reading (including  daily reading of The New York Times).
You are expected to welcome open expression of opinions, attitudes, and beliefs and to accept the legitimacy and value of dissent, whether the dissenting opinion is considered valid or not.
DEADLINES FOR OPEN FORUM  SUBMISSIONS Your open forum responses are due by 5:00 p.m. Friday of the week in which open forums are held. 
VALUE 18% of final grade (2 % each). 

© 2004 June Lester 
This course material  is for the use of students enrolled in LIS 2003. It may not be reproduced, published, or transmitted electronically for commercial purposes without the instructor's consent.