Course Syllabus

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Welcome

We are pleased that you selected this course to fulfill your unique educational needs. You are now a member of the Mizzou  Academy's global student body.  

Course Overview

What is information and why should you become information literate?  Merriam-Webster defines information as “knowledge that you get about someone or something:  facts or details about a subject.”  It further explains in the full definition that information is “the communication or reception of knowledge or intelligence.”  Information is “knowledge obtained from investigation, study or instruction, intelligence, news, facts, data.” Information may be constructed (in fact, I’m constructing information about this course right now) and measured.  If you are literate about information, you know where to look for information on a specific subject.  


Information comes in many forms, and while some information is reliable and correct, some of it is wrong or unreliable.  What makes information reliable?  In large part, it is the sources distributing the information.  Information Literacy is the ability to understand the difference between reliable and unreliable sources of information, as well as to search for and find the best source of information for specific information needs and queries.  Throughout this course, you will practice finding, assembling, and assessing information.


For instance, imagine that you are in a library filled with books and no online service, and you need to find information about dogs.  Information literacy will help you be a more efficient and effective researcher because you would know that for general background information, encyclopedias would be a great place to start. You might then move on to more specialized books about dogs, or glance through the periodicals section to see if they have the popular magazine “Dog Fancy.”  But you also would know not to waste time looking in a world atlas for information about your favorite type of dog, and that dictionaries and almanacs may make some references to dogs, but that's probably not the kind of information you need. In short: Information literacy means knowing what you're looking for and why; knowing where to look for different kinds of information; and knowing how to judge whether the information you find is trustworthy and serves your purpose.  


Of course in today's world, it would be pretty rare not to have online access to information, but the principles of information literacy in the example above also apply in the digital space. You will learn that there are ways to search for specific information in online encyclopedias, for example, and articles in a variety of periodicals, both popular and academic.  You will learn to use databases, where you can find scholarly articles and professional journals.  You will learn to use online library/media catalogs to find electronic books, news stories, facts and data and statistics, and personal accounts and testimonials. You will explore multimedia sources such as photojournalism and documentaries and--yes--even social media. The possibilities are seemingly without limits, and navigating that much available information requires intention and strategy.

 
In this class, you will practice thinking about information in the context of your specific information needs. You will also practice finding information in different ways and forms.  You’ll learn to think of keywords to narrow your search focus, and you’ll assemble information from different types of sources and assess which sources are helpful and which should probably be ignored, and why.  Thanks to our systems of communication, the world is filling with additional information every second.  This course will inform and refine your thinking and research skills to help you become a wiser information consumer.  

Definitions from:  http://www.merriam-webster.com/

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • determine your information needs for distinct situations in school and life.
  • connect media literacy with information literacy for the purposes of academic research.
  • employ active reading strategies to information sources.
  • employ critical thinking strategies to information sources.
  • recognize and avoid disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation.
  • recognize and avoid logical fallacies.
  • understand how information "filter bubbles" are created and how to escape them.
  • recognize common pitfalls and roadblocks to successful research.
  • form an effective research question.
  • use concrete tools and strategies to find information best suited to your information needs.
  • map a research plan.
  • find potential information resources from a variety of platforms.
  • evaluate information sources for quality and credibility.
  • select the best information resources for a specific research purpose.
  • use generative AI tools effectively and ethically.
  • perform research and share your findings with academic integrity.
  • use your research findings to inform a position and to argue it credibly and persuasively.
  • properly cite your research sources.
  • construct a formal annotated bibliography, complete with correct citations and full annotations that summarize and evaluate your research findings.
  • write reflectively on the research process.


Note: Not all of these objectives will occur in every lesson, but they are the basis for our study.

Pacing

This course can be completed in as few as six weeks or take up to 6 months (180 calendar days). The six weeks are counted from the date of the first lesson submission and not the date of enrollment.

Required Materials

There is no required textbook for this course. 

What type of submitted work will I have in this course?

The work you will submit for this course consists of:

  • graded quizzes 
  • written assignments
  • two proctored, objective exams (a midterm and a final)
  • two written course project presentations (the midterm project proposal and the final course project)

Written Assignments

You will complete a total of six written assignments in this course, including the midterm course project proposal and the final course project. All writing assignments are designed to build toward the final course project, providing an opportunity to receive guidance and instruction on your individual research process along the way. All writing assignments will be scored and count toward your final course grade.

 

Course Project 

Over the span of 10 lessons, you will select a research topic and a research question that your course project will seek to answer. You will use this topic and question throughout the course as you deepen your research and inform your position on the issue.

Following Lesson 5, you will submit the midterm writing assignment: your research proposal and initial planning for the course project. The research proposal will consist of four parts. Detailed instructions for each part are provided within the course. The project proposal will count toward your midterm exam grade and is worth 150 points.

Following Lesson 10, you will present your research findings and conclusions in the final course project. The final submission of your course project will consist of three parts. Detailed instructions for each part are provided within the course. The course project will count toward your final exam grade and is worth 200 points.

 

Technical Requirements

The most up-to-date requirements can be found here: 

Additional requirements for the course are below: 

  • audio and video recording capabilities (e.g. smartphone, camera)

Accessibility

If you anticipate barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, please let Mizzou Academy know as soon as possible. If disability-related accommodations are necessary (for example, a scribe, reader, extended time on exams, captioning), please contact Mizzou Academy.

Grades

 

Your final grade will be based on the number of points you earn on submitted work and exams. The available points are distributed as follows:

Weight Distribution
Source Weight
Lesson assignments and quizzes 49%
Midterm and Final Exams (multiple choice) and Midterm and Final Exams (written components) 51%
Total 100%

 

Your course grade will be assessed according to the following scale:

Grading Scale
Grade Percentage
A 90–100
B 80–89
C 70–79
D 60–69
F 0–59

After completing the course, unofficial transcripts will be available in the Tiger Portal. See this page for information on requesting official transcripts. 

Canvas and Technical Support

Canvas will be used as the primary platform for accessing course materials and assignments for this class.