LIS 598 U/TU Google Janes

Winter 2004

Syllabus

Google--it's not just a search engine any more. Now the most popular way to search the web, Google has become a cultural phenomenon. In this course, we'll look at how it started and how it works, compare it to other search mechanisms (web-based and otherwise), look at its business model, technologies and competition, and examine its broader uses and significance.

Course Objectives

At the end of this course, it is expected that students will:

understand how Google works, and how to use it effectively as a search tool
know more about its technology, business plan, cultural and social impact
be able to think about Google—and by extension other information tools—in a professional manner

Tentative Outline of Topics including What to Do This Week

Date	Topics
1/13	Google the Search Engine (slides)
1/20	Google the Technology and Object of Research
2/3	Google the Business
2/17	Google the Cultural Phenomenon
3/2	Google the Ravager of Worlds

Text

There is no textbook for this course.

Evaluation Criteria

There will be two categories of work that will be used to award credit for this course.

Important note: Assignments will be due in class on the date specified. Late assignments will only be accepted (a) if you have discussed this with me and received an extension in advance or (b) if a sudden illness or other emergency arises. In such an instance, after receipt of appropriate evidence, a reasonable extension will be granted. I reserve the right not to accept late work.

To receive credit for this course, students must complete both of the following. Each individual item must be at a 3.0 level or higher to receive credit. Assignments may be submitted via Catalyst (strongly preferred method) or via email or hardcopy.

Journal

Final Report

Other Stuff

office:	370, 330M Mary Gates Hall
phone:	206 616-0987
email:	jwj@u.washington.edu
office hours:	by appointment

Academic Integrity

The essence of academic life revolves around respect not only for the ideas of others, but also their rights to those ideas and their promulgation. It is therefore essential that all of us engaged in the life of the mind take the utmost care that the ideas and expressions of ideas of other people always be appropriately handled, and, where necessary, cited.

Specifically, in working on assignments for this course, I encourage you to feel free to work together with other students in discussing the assignments, possible approaches and ideas, etc.

For writing assignments, when ideas or materials of others are used, they must be cited. The format is not that important--as long as the source material can be located and the citation verified, it's OK. What is important is that it’s clear to the reader what’s yours and what isn’t.

In any other situations, if you have a question, please feel free to ask. Such attention to ideas and acknowledgment of their sources is central not only to academic life, but life in general.