Course Syllabus

Independent Study in Idaho

ISI Website | indepst@uidaho.edu | 208-885-6641

LIBS 4330: Information Literacy for the Teacher Librarian

COURSE FORMAT: Independent Study in Idaho (Self-Paced)

SPONSOR INSTITUTION: University of Idaho

COURSE AVAILABILITY: 365 Days

CREDITS: 3

Course Instructor

Diane Prorak

Diane Prorak, MLIS, is a reference and instruction librarian and associate professor emeritus at the University of Idaho. She coordinated the University of Idaho Library’s information literacy program during her tenure at the University of Idaho.

  • Email: prorak@uidaho.edu
  • Phone: 208-885-2508
  • Office Hours: By Appointment
  • Copy the ISI office at indepst@uidaho.edu on communications

Course Description 

Institution: University of Idaho, 3 Credits

Explores the role of the Teacher Librarian in providing information literacy instruction. Defines information literacy, as well as places it in a national, state and local framework. The research process as it correlates with information literacy and relevant educational theory is covered.

Prereq or Coreq: LIBS 4300 or LIBS 4310 or Permission

Required Course Materials

ISBN-10: 1440844518; ISBN-13: 978-1440844515

  • Electronically accessible articles listed and linked in the individual lessons from the "Readings" page. Complete all reading assignments before answering the written. If a link is not working, please contact your instructor.
  • UI Library online article databases to search for other supplementary information requested in the written assignments: http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/find/articles.html. You will first need to log in with your University of Idaho Net ID.

Course Overview

This course will introduce you to the role of and methods for the Teacher Librarian in teaching information literacy. You will learn why it is important to include information literacy instruction as part of a school library program, what the educational and psychological bases for such a program and related activities are, what standards are used as guidelines for such programs, and what steps you can take to propose and plan a program. Collaboration with teachers is an essential component of a successful program, so the course will cover the roles of teachers and teacher librarians. Finally, all programs must be assessed, so evaluation of student learning and information literacy units is covered.

The course has required readings from the textbook and from online professional journals. You will be required to read and respond to the readings in various ways -- for example, writing an essay answer or perhaps creating and describing a class activity. You will sometimes be asked to do some online searching of your own to find articles or information. Reliable, fast internet access will be essential for this course.

Course Objective

The primary objective of this course is to provide you with the information and skills to successfully implement and assess an information literacy instruction unit or program in a K12 educational setting.

Assignment Guidelines

Submit Lesson 1 and wait for feedback before completing any subsequent assignments. After Lesson 1, you may submit up to three lessons at once per week, but you should wait for feedback before submitting the next three lessons.

Each lesson includes lesson objectives, readings and a written assignment. The readings include sections of the textbook as well as online articles from the professional literature. The written assignments consist of essay questions (worth 10 points each unless otherwise noted). All answers are to be written in essay form using complete sentences. Students should write in their own words when referencing authorities, and all quotations must include complete citations of the work from which they are taken. Do not copy from the textbook or any other book.

Submitting Assignments

  • Keep a copy of every assignment submitted.
  • Write your name and V Number on every submission. Lesson filenames should have Course #, lesson number and student’s last name.
  • Students will submit assignments and receive grades via Canvas. Please upload a Word or PDF document to Canvas instead of typing directly in Canvas. (The formatting and editing is better).
  • You will typically receive graded lesson responses within 1 week after the date of the receipt by the instructor.

Other Guidelines

  • Sources used should be cited using APA format, especially outside sources.
  • Answers should be thorough and written in full sentences, paying attention to spelling and grammar.
  • Answers should not be copied from any source, unless credit is given appropriately (quotes indicated and source cited).
  • Use of AI writing tools such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini is permitted in this course ONLY with  specific prior approval from your instructor or if instructed in an assignment. If you receive instructor permission to use AI, you must clearly show where and how you used AI in your writing. Please talk with your instructor if you have questions about what counts as “AI usage” or about how to cite this AI usage appropriately. The Student Code of Conduct considers “reliance on prohibited technological assistance/artificial intelligence tools” as an academic integrity violation and may result in severe penalties.
  • Keep a copy of every assignment submitted. 
  • Students must submit assignments via Canvas. Students will receive grades and comments via Canvas.
  • You will typically receive graded lessons within one week after the date of the receipt by the instructor.
  • AI Policy (see below)

Communicating with the instructor

I encourage you to communicate with me.  Feel free to ask questions! Please use the conversation/message tool from within Canvas.

Grading

Written Assignments

10 Lessons: 60 points each

Scoring for Each Writing Assignment

Points Received

Letter Grade

54-60 points

A

48-53 points

B

42-47 points

C

36-41 points

D

<36 points

F

Total possible points for written assignments = 600 points

Midterm and Final Projects

Each require that you bring together knowledge from earlier in the course as well as demonstrate information literacy skills (searching for articles) and instruction skills (lesson planning) in a variety of ways. There are no exams for this course.

Grading for Projects
Project Points Possible
Midterm Project  150
Final Project 250
Total 400

Course Grade

Total possible points for the course = 1000

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

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO POLICIES AND RESOURCES

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

A core value at UI is the ideal of academic honesty and integrity. UI students live and work in a community which emphasizes their responsibility for helping to determine and enforce high standards of academic conduct. The University of Idaho expects all students to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty, and to refrain from any action which infringes upon academic freedom of other members of the community. Please review the UI Student Code of Conduct Article II - Academic Honesty. 

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is using someone else’s words, ideas, or work and presenting it as your own. This includes copying, rewording, or summarizing someone else’s writing without giving them credit, as well as taking another person’s ideas and putting them in new words without citing them.

Your assignments should be your original work. When using outside sources, you must cite them. If you use someone’s exact words, put them in quotation marks and give proper credit. If you use their ideas, make sure you cite them even if you’ve rewritten the wording. When you fail to do so, it constitutes academic dishonesty. 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

AI with Prior Permission

As artificial intelligence tools become more widely available, it is important to clarify how they may or may not be used in this course. The following policy is designed to support your learning and ensure academic integrity.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools—including but not limited to ChatGPT, Copilot, Perplexity, Grammarly, image generators, and automated coding/writing assistants—may be used in this course only with prior instructor permission. Email a description of your AI request to your instructor (see contact above) prior to completing your assignment. 

Unless permission is explicitly granted, all assignments must be completed independently and without assistance from automated tools.  

If permission is given, students must (1) cite any AI-generated material using a clear attribution and appropriate citation format (e.g., MLA, APA, etc.) and (2) include a brief (2–3 sentence) note explaining how the tool was used, including the prompt or settings. Unauthorized or undisclosed use of AI tools will be considered a violation of academic integrity under the University of Idaho Student Code of Conduct and may affect your grade.

This practice helps you reflect on your learning process and ensures transparency in your academic work. If you're unsure how to document or cite AI use, please reach out or visit the University of Idaho Writing Center for support.

LEARNING CIVILITY

In any environment in which people gather to learn, it is essential that all members feel as free and safe as possible in their participation. To this end, it is expected that everyone in this course will be treated with mutual respect and civility, with an understanding that all of us (students, instructors, professors, guests, teaching assistants, etc.) will be respectful and civil to one another in discussion, in action, in teaching, and in learning.

Should you feel any classroom interactions do not reflect an environment of civility and respect, you are encouraged to reach out to me or an appropriate campus resource to discuss your concern.

Some appropriate campus resources to express a concern or request support include the Dean of Students Office (208-885-6757 or VandalCARE referral), the Counseling and Mental Health Center (208-885-6716), or the Office of Civil Rights and Investigations (208-885-4285).

CENTER FOR DISABILITY ACCESS & RESOURCES (CDAR)

UI is committed to ensuring an accessible learning environment where course or instructional content are usable by all students and faculty. If you believe that you qualify for disability-related academic adjustments for this class, please contact CDAR to discuss eligibility. A current accommodation notification from CDAR is required before any modifications above and beyond what is otherwise available for all other students in this class will be provided.

Please be advised that disability-related academic adjustments are not retroactive. CDAR is located at the Bruce Pitman Building, Suite 127. Their phone number is 208-885-6307 and email is cdar@uidaho.edu.

For a complete listing of services and hours visit www.uidaho.edu/student-resources/disability-accessibility-resources.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

UI has a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. This policy applies to all programs, services, and facilities, and includes, but is not limited to, applications, admissions, access to programs and services, and employment. Sexual harassment violates state and federal law and policies of the Board of Regents, and is expressly prohibited. UI also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as stated in FSH 3215. The entire FSH can be accessed online at www.uidaho.edu/policies/fsh.

Complaints about discrimination or harassment should be brought to the attention of the Office of Civil Rights and Investigations (ocri@uidaho.edu, 208-885-4285). Retaliation for bringing forward a complaint is prohibited by FSH 3810.

UI MOSCOW LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The University of Idaho welcomes and respects all people. UI Moscow is located on the homelands of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce), Palus (Palouse), and Schitsu’umsh (Coeur d’Alene) tribes. We extend gratitude to the indigenous people that call this place home, since time immemorial.

TECHNOLOGY HELP

Keep Learning / CAPE Tech Support provides information on authentication and login issues, enrollment and registration, CANVAS help, dropping courses, profile updates, etc. You can also submit a support request if needed which can be directed to the Independent Study in Idaho office.