Online Courses

LAI 759 Scientific Writing

The one-credit course will emphasize both case studies and original writing. For case studies selected science stories will be examined to see how they were written and how the original scientific material on which the story was based was translated into the published form. A written critique of each case study will be required. For the original writing portion selected scientific publications will be supplied from which a science story will be written in a form suitable for publication in the national media. The course will thus require an analysis in both directions of how a science story is created – from story back to the original science and from the original science to the story.

Date/time: (Completely Online)

About the Instructor: Professor David Triggle is a University Professor and SUNY Distinguished Professor, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo.  He is President, Center for Inquiry Institute

LIS 702 Map Cataloging

This introduction presents map cataloging and classification practices common in most North American libraries and information centers. Students will learn enough about map cataloging to either continue on to more advanced coursework with the goal of becoming catalogers, or—for current practitioners—gain the knowledge to enable them to catalog maps with more confidence.

The course, delivered entirely on the Internet, presents practical and theoretical facets of the control and organization of maps, atlases, aerial photographs, satellite imagery, and other cartographic materials and information products. Students will learn to use basic cataloging tools such as the Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (AACR2), Library of Congress subject headings (LCSH), and the Library of Congress classification scheme, along with map-specific tools and guidelines, focusing on the Maps Format for cataloging.

Providing a good learning experience to build practical and theoretical knowledge, the course objectives relate directly to cataloging and organization of cartographic materials:

  • The purposes and functions of cartographic materials
  • Organization and control of maps in a collection
  • Interpreting bibliographic data on a map and translating it into a descriptive catalog record
  • Exposure and knowledge of tools for map cataloging and classification
  • Familiarity, through practice, with basic original and copy cataloging activities using OCLC and relevant rules and standards for input of catalog records
  • Understanding the role of subject analysis and authority control in accessibility of cartographic materials and resources

Date/time: Completely Online, with weekly contact on Wednesdays, September 9–November 18. (No class on November 11, 2009.)

About the Instructor: David J. Bertuca is the Map Librarian at the University at Buffalo (UB). He began cataloging maps in 1992, responsible for original map cataloging and overseeing copy cataloging activities. In addition to cataloging maps and cartographic materials, David has cataloged monographs, government documents (U.S., Canadian, EU), and other formats in a variety of languages. After retirement of the previous Map Librarian in 2003, Mr. Bertuca assumed full-time management of the UB Map Collection. In this position, he provides reference services, acquisitions, cataloging assistance for the collection and maintains its web site. His UB career began in Central Technical Services in the Serials Department, as part of a preservation program for books and journals. He became a serials cataloger, involved with original cataloging in all serials formats, and from 1986-1991, ran the Serials Management Section, responsible for retrospective conversion of serials and periodicals for the UB Libraries.

David has taught workshops and class sessions for students and faculty, and has run half-day and full-day map cataloging courses designed for catalogers and map catalogers. David teaches cataloging for Master of Library Science students in the Department of Library and Information Studies at UB, and makes regular presentations about map cataloging and map use in courses taught by colleagues.

LIS 703 Integrating Web 2.0 into the Classroom

Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, VoiceThread, Zoho, Googledocs, Pixton, Trailfire, Ning, RSS - does this sound like a foreign language to you? Find out what all the hype is about by actually using these Web 2.0 applications. Learn how to use Web 2.0 applications to meet NYS standards, in a pedagogically sound way, while engaging your students and enriching their learning. During your journey into the world of the Web 2.0 you will use many of these applications to learn, and will read and discuss how to incorporate them into your classroom or library to enhance student learning. Integrating these technologies will not require discarding your current lesson plans, but will inspire you to modify them.

LIS 703 will be conducted on Web 2.0 applications. The use of these various applications gives participants hands-on experience as well as modeling their use in the educational environment. The class portal where information and assignments are delivered is a wiki. There is a weekly podcast that talks about what is expected for the week as well as giving background information on the topic for the week. One of the major vehicles of learning is asynchronous discussion forums. One or two forums are seeded with a discussion topic each week and the class carries on discussion via this method. There is a required reflective blog that is read weekly by the instructor. All assignments are emailed to the instructor and returned the same way

The course cohort will be other educators and librarians who want to get past the hype and tour the world of Web 2.0 together...

The course will be delivered entirely on the Internet, with three hours of contact weekly, September 12 - October 17, 2009.

Date/time: (Completely Online)

About the Instructor: Susan Allen is Director of Libraries & Academic Technology at Nichols School in Buffalo, NY. Susan has designed and developed this online course to be taught using Web 2.0 tools as the vehicles for learning. She is a national facilitator for the PBS Teacherline online courses, teaching classes on various topics including instruction technology and instructional strategies. Susan has presented at national conferences on technology integration. She has more than 20 years experience in education, having spent the past decade as coordinator of academic technology for Nichols School in Buffalo, NY, working daily with teachers to integrate technology into their classrooms. She is an adjunct instructor in the UB Department of Library and Information Studies Master of Library Science program, teaching LIS 568 Computer Applications in the School Library Media Center.

LIS 705 Cataloging for School Librarians

This course is designed to teach practical cataloging applications specific to school libraries. You will learn K-12 friendly subject headings, Dewey classification, patron records, MARC fields, types of automation systems, where to obtain free MARC records, how to analyze your collection, how to incorporate multimedia items, and how to use temporary records. You will be prepared to hit the ground running to effectively catalog all materials in your library. The course will be delivered entirely on the Internet.

Date/time: (Completely Online)

About the Instructor: Christopher M. Allen is the School Library Media Specialist at Wayland-Cohocton High School in Wayland, NY. Christopher personally catalogs most of the materials he purchases for the school. He has a passion for accurate documentation and creating subject headings appropriate for practical searching by high school students. For cataloging materials, he uses Mandarin M3. Christopher has hosted graduate students from several library schools for observations, projects, and student teaching at Wayland-Cohocton High School. He chairs both the Council and Liaison committees for the School Library System of the Genesee Valley BOCES.