S401 Waiver Form

To obtain a waiver for this class, you must either print out and fill out the form, or copy it into an email message.

Students should send the completed form to Katherine Schilling, katschil@iupui.edu. If sent by email the file should be a Word document or plain text. Do not use any unusual compression formats

Deadlines for submitting the waiver form are:October 1, December 1, March 1, May 1.

New students can also submit the form during the orientation week. If you submit the waiver at any other time, you will have to wait until the next deadline before you will be notified about the approval or denial of the waiver.

Name of student:

Date:

Address:

Phone:

E-mail:

Course Description:
L401 is an introduction to fundamental concepts of and techniques related to computer-based information tools, computer platforms, major classes of microcomputer application software, online information retrieval, general networking, and the Internet. This course is a prerequisite for participation at SLIS, and understanding of the materials therein should be considered critical for current and future information professionals and librarians. The knowledge and experience gained in this course will also prepare SLIS students for participation in other technology-intensive SLIS courses in which these fundamental skills will be taken to higher levels.

Please describe your experience related to each of the course topics below. Note that all 13 areas must be adequately fulfilled to qualify for a waiver of L401.

1. Microsoft Windows and Word Processing with Windows

Ability to use a Microsoft Windows-based computer and understand the basics of the Windows operating system, including file manipulation, application launching, and printing. Ability to use a Windows-based word processor (e.g. Word) to create, manipulate, save, and print a document.

2. Macintosh and Word Processing with the Macintosh
Ability to use a Macintosh computer, and understand the basics of the Macintosh operating system, including file manipulation, application launching, and printing. Ability to use a Macintosh-based word processor (WordPerfect) to create, manipulate, save, and print a document. In addition, ability to exchange documents between PCs and Macintoshes.

3. Email
Ability to log onto a UNIX-based system and use the Pine (or an equivalent) email package to create, send, read, print, and file email messages. Ability to subscribe to LISTSERVs and majordomo distribution lists.

4. Unix
Ability to log onto a UNIX-based system and use simple commands such as cd, ls, cp, mv, more, rm, who, man, mkdir, find, grep. Basic understanding of the Unix operating system.

5. Internet: Using the World Wide Web
Understanding basic concepts of the web. The ability to retrieve documents using various search engines and navigate through web documents, save and print web documents. Ability to interpret search results and modify searches appropriately. Basic knowledge of internet security issues: viruses, privacy, and copyright.

6. Internet: Basic Internet Technologies
Familiarity with the structure of the Internet, and with the basic client tools used to access Internet resources: FTP, Telnet, HTTP and USENet. In addition, understanding of background concepts such as client-server architecture.

7. WorldWideWeb: Basics of Publishing on the Web
Ability to compose simple homepages. Basics of HTML mark-up and web page design.

8. Spreadsheets
Ability to use spreadsheet software to create, search, modify, graph, and print data. Ability to create formulas and do simple what-if analyses of data.

9. Data Types and Graphics
Understanding of the concepts behind various electronic data formats, including graphic images, sounds, motion pictures, and page description languages. Understanding of how these formats work with technologies like the World Wide Web and how graphics can be embedded into text documents for presentations.

10. Database Management Systems
Use appropriate software to create, search, modify, and delete records, as well as understanding of basic database design. In particular, understanding of the structure of database records, fields, and subfields.

11. Basics of Online Search Systems
Understand fundamental concepts of online searching, including Boolean logic, search preparation, search languages, controlled vocabulary, and search evaluation.

12. Library Online Catalogs
Ability to apply the principles of online searching to the use of library online catalogs and other bibliographic and fulltext databases (CD-ROM, online, etc.).

13. Advanced Topics Knowledge
Knowledge of at least two topics out of the following:
a) Usability and User-Interfaces (Understanding of issues involved in user-interface design and evaluation.)
b) Groupware and Collaborative Computing (Understand the principles of collaborative and group computing, and ability to use collaborative/groupware applications such as Lotus Notes and GroupSystems V.)
c) Putting the Tools Together (Familiarity with techniques for using tools together, e.g., embedded documents, document architecture, and interapplication communication.) d) Script Programming (Customizing a computer using scripts.)
e) Programming languages (Knowledge of at least one major programming language, such as C, Pascal, C++, Java, etc.)