COURSEWORK

Course descriptions are from Course Information page at GSLIS site.

Master of Science in Library and Information Science
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Spring 2004

Fall 2003

• LIS 431 - Online Information Systems:
  Explores the state-of-the-art in online information systems, with particular emphasis on their use as part of reference service in libraries; acquaints students with the characteristics of both bibliographic and nonbibliographic data bases; and trains students in the use of at least one currently available online retrieval system. One of my favorite courses! I gained valuable experience with Dialog , LexisNexis Academic, and Factiva. My final project, a Dialog search engine page, can be found here.
• LIS 450II - Interfaces to Information Systems:
  This course will provide an introduction to the following: Issues in Human Computer Interaction; Analysis of interfaces and their use; Synthesis: the design process as an engineering activity; Designing usable interfaces under constraints of resources; The rapid prototyping and evaluation cycle; Metacognition: learning how to learn and to operate in this domain as a reflective, continually improving professional. Considers how people use information systems such as on-line public access catalogues, CD-Roms, bibliographic databases, digital libraries, world wide web pages, web search engines, etc.
• LIS 451 - Independent Study:
  Permits the intermediate or advanced student opportunity to undertake the study of a topic not otherwise offered in the curriculum or to pursue a topic beyond or in greater depth than is possible within the context of a regular course. For this project I researched and implemented a library for Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI), a private Spanish language school in Heredia, Costa Rica. I gained valuable expereince selecting an appropriate OPAC, finding sources of books, teaching myself basic cataloguing , shipping internationally, and learning about Costa Rican culture. This was especially challenging, as my knowledge of Spanish is pretty basic! Pictures from CPI coming soon.

Spring 2003

• LIS 390 - Libraries, Information and Society:
  Explores major issues in the library and information science professions as they involve their communities of users and sponsors. Analyzes specific situations that reflect the professional agenda of these fields, including intellectual freedom, community service, professional ethics, social responsibilities, intellectual property, literacy, historical and international models, the socio-cultural role of libraries and information agencies and professionalism in general, focusing in particular on the interrelationships among these issues.


• LIS 433E - Business Information Sources:
  A study of the literature, information sources and reference aids in the area of business, both in print and online. This course will provide an understanding of what business information is needed and used by individuals in different kinds of organizations. This class is designed to give students a general understanding of business reference sources and insight into issues arising from providing business reference in different types of libraries. Excellent class! I became familiar with such resources as ABI/INFORM, Business Source Premier, Investext Plus, OneSource and Mintel Marketing Intelligence.
• LIS 450IC - Information Consulting:
  This course is designed to provide students with "real world" experience as Information Specialists on cross-functional teams working on actual projects for business and industry clients. In addition to regular class sessions, students are assigned to work with teams of MBA students, providing crucial assistance in accurately defining and satisfying the clients' project information needs. Course Objectives: 1) to become effective and contributing members of cross-functional work teams; 2) to develop an understanding of the people, processes, and resources involved in business and industry information work.; and 3) to apply knowledge of information resources and technologies to organizational problem-solving. Working for a Fortune 50 high technology company, my team evaluated numerous Knowledge Management(KM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) enterprise applications, as well as investigating our client's nine chief competitors to discover which comparable software they used. The entire experience was very challenging, and taught me far more than simply the resources covered in class.
  
  Fall 2002

• LIS 380 - Information Organization & Access:
  Emphasizes information organization and access in settings and systems of different kinds. Traces the information transfer process from the generation of knowledge through its storage and use in both print and non-print formats. Consideration will be given to the creation of information systems: the principles and practice of selection and preservation, methods of organizing information for retrieval and display, the operation of organizations that provide information services, and the information service needs of various user communities


• LIS 404 - Reference Information Services:
  Explores reference and information services in a variety of settings, introduces widely used print and online sources, and develops question negotiation skills and search strategies.


• LIS 315 - Introduction to Network Information Systems:
  Hands-on introduction to technology systems for use in information environments. The course steps students through choosing, installing, and managing computer hardware and operating systems, as well as networking hardware and software. Students will have an opportunity to design and create a working network environment as part of the course work. Field tripto East St. Louis required. Pictures of our finished computer lab at the Katherine Dunham Center for Arts and Humanities coming soon.