Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Information Literacy (Face-to-Face)

INFO 1010-02

Course: INFO 1010-02
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Library & Information Science
CRN: 31849

Course Description

From the SUU General Catalog: An introduction to the library research process and related information skills such as developing a research topic, searching, finding, and evaluating information, synthesizing information across sources, using information ethically, and reflecting on the research process. 

Information literacy is a set of integrated abilities that includes the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning (ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education). Information literacy is both a way of understanding information and a set of skills for effectively finding, evaluating, and using it. Developing this understanding and skill set will help you in your school work and in the future as you continue to learn and grow on your own after college.

The course content has recently been paired with AI Literacy, or the ability to know ethically and critically use and evaluate AI. This will be through the context of Information Literacy and the research process. You will use AI to learn information literacy skills, and use Information Literacy to learn AI Literacy. In order to use AI effectively for academic research, it is important to understand how to use AI, its strengths and weaknesses, and the ethics behind its use.

Note: This section of INFO 1010 is an in-person course. Class attendance is not optional. 

Required Texts

You do not need to buy a textbook for this course. All course materials for INFO 1010 are provided online as part of the course modules. For information about the Canvas Learning Management System and technology requirements, see the sections Canvas Information and Technology Information below.

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Access to a computer or device with an Internet connection is required. Much of your work will be completed in the Canvas learning management system (LMS), which may be accessed through the mySUU portal. You may be required to use Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and other software that is readily available to you as a student, such as Zoom.

Technology Information

Participation in this course will require basic technology used for all online classes at Southern Utah University:

If you are new to Canvas, quickly review the How to Use Canvas materials. Students should be able to access and navigate websites and online material and have basic computer skills.

Learning Outcomes

This course is a General Education (GE) designated class and fulfills the University learning outcomes for Information Literacy.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Follow the library research process to identify, locate, evaluate, synthesize, attribute, and share information effectively and ethically.
  2. Examine academic research to gain understanding and extract insights for further applications.
  3. Apply critical thinking to make connections between concepts and ideas, across sources and disciplines.
  4. Consider using the systematic approach of the library research process for future personal or professional information needs.

Course Requirements

Quizzes, Assignments, and Tests (check the course schedule for deadlines)

  • Quizzes (10% of your grade). There are 6 quizzes based on the weekly material for each module. Quizzes have a varying number of questions. Each quiz can be taken two times, with the highest score kept as your grade for that quiz. You will have 2 minutes per question to complete each quiz. Quizzes must be submitted no later than the assigned due date. You may use your course materials and notes to complete the quiz.
  • In-Class Participation (10% of your grade). This section of INFO 1010 is face-to-face. For each class session, you will be asked to complete one or more activities for which you will receive participation points. These points can not be made up unless the absence is excused. Depending on our meeting day, some class periods will be online, such as holidays or other breaks.
  • Assignments (60% of your grade).  There are 2 assignments per module in Modules 1-5, for a total of 10 assignments, where you apply the skills you learn in the weekly course modules and progress through the research process. Many of the assignments have a Google Docs worksheet that you download/make a copy of, fill out, and submit to Canvas. If you do not have these capabilities on your personal computer, the software is available on all of the machines in the Library computer lab. Also, as a student at SUU, you can download Microsoft Word for free from the SUU Portal (Log in with your SUU credentials).
  • Final Project (20% of your grade). The Final Project and Reflection are the culmination of the course and research process, as they involve creating and sharing your research through a chosen dissemination modality and reflecting on the research process as a whole. For the final project you present your research to the class, either in person (face-to-face courses) or through an online forum (online courses), and interact with your classmates' presentations.


Due Dates:

  • Each assignment in this course builds on the last. As a result, late work will not be accepted unless an arrangement with your instructor is made. Approved late work may be subject to a penalty.

Course Grading

Course letter grades are calculated based on the percentages described in the table below. NOTE: Automatic grade calculations made by Canvas may not always align with those of your instructor. In this case, your instructor's calculations take precedence. Click on How to Check Your Grades to see how you are doing in the course.
Excellent (A, A-)
A | 100% | to 93%
A- | < 93% | to 90%
Above average (B+, B, B-)
B+ | < 90% |  to 87%
B | < 87% |  to 83%
B- | < 83% |  to 80%
Average (C+, C, C-)
C+ | < 80% | to 77 %
C | < 77% | to 73%
C- | < 73% | to 70%
Below average (D+, D. D-)
D+ | < 70% |  to 67%
D | < 67% |  to 63%
D- | < 63% |  to 60%
Fail (F)
F | < 60 % |  to 0 %
Note: You will receive a letter grade based on the table above. 

 Course Assessment Table

Course Assessments/Course Outcomes Alignment
1.1 Introduction Discussion | Outcome 4
1.2 AI Philosophy |  Outcome 4
2.1 Picking a Research Topic |  Outcome 1
2.2 AI Prompting Writing and Keywords |  Outcome 1
3.1 Database Search Strategies |  Outcome 1
3.2 AI as your Search Partner |  Outcome 1
4.1 Evaluating Sources with CRAAP |  Outcome 1
4.2 Evaluating AI output |  Outcome 1
5.1 Synthesizing Information |  Outcome 2,  Outcome 3
5.2 AI tools for information synthesis |  Outcome 2,  Outcome 3
6.1 Final Project: Disseminating Research |  Outcome 1,  Outcome 2,  Outcome 3,  Outcome 4
6.2 Final Reflection |  Outcome 4

Course Outline

Module 1: AI and Information Literacy
Module 2: Planning and Research Topics
Module 3: Searching
Module 4: Finding and Evaluating
Module 5: Synthesizing Information
Module 6: Dissemination

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Due Dates and Late Work:

 Each assignment in this course builds on the last. As a result, late work will not be accepted unless an arrangement with your instructor is made. Approved late work may be subject to a penalty.

 

Student Responsibilities:

  • INFO 1010 Academic Integrity Policy: Course requirements (i.e., assignments, exams, and quizzes) must be completed independently. If I find that you have been dishonest in completing any course requirement, you will receive a zero for that work and may fail the course and receive further disciplinary action from the University. You should be familiar with your responsibilities and rights as an SUU student.
  • Generative AI Use: The use of generative AI tools is only allowed in the contexts described in each assignment. Whether or not you can use AI to complete an assignment will be indicated on each assignment page. Some assignments will require heavy use of AI and others will not allow the use at all, to allow you to develop the skills you need independent from AI. AI use is NOT permitted in any other instances, including using an AI to complete any coursework for you. Unauthorized uses of AI violates SUU's POLICY #6.33: Academic Misconduct, Links to an external site.and will be handled accordingly. When in doubt about permitted usage, please ask for clarification.
  • Check Canvas Notifications: Make sure you don't miss deadlines. Course information and deadline alerts are sent through Canvas, depending on how you've set up your Profile and Notifications. Visit the course regularly, so that you can get these alerts.
  • Writing: Students are expected to communicate clearly and thoroughly, using writing appropriate for undergraduate-level coursework. 

 Academic Integrity and Online Etiquette

Please be considerate of how you interact with your instructor and peers. 
  • Online etiquette includes being respectful of others and their opinions and experiences, avoiding strong language, all caps (shouting), and excessive exclamation points
  • Be careful with humor and sarcasm, as it may not come across as clearly online
  • Use appropriate spelling and grammar
  • Be understanding when reading other posts, and give the benefit of the doubt
  • Be concise and focused on the topic
  • Only use generative AI tools as permitted for certain assignments, not in any other instance
  • If you are using external sources, remember to cite them 
  • Remember, this is a classroom, and communication should be professional.
Tip: If you doubt how it will sound, reread or read aloud everything before you hit send or submit. 

Attendance Policy

  • Attend class and engage with the online course content: The American education system has standardized course credits so that academic qualifications are compatible across colleges and universities. Students should be expected to spend 3 hours per week for every 1 credit hour: one hour of class time, plus two hours outside of class working to achieve the learning outcomes through homework. 

Course Resources and Canvas Information

  Canvas Information

Canvas is  where course content, grades, and communication will reside for this course.

For Passwords or any other computer-related technical support:

For Canvas help:

  SUU Campus Resources and Services

SUU has several resources and services available to support you during your time here at SUU, please review this list of SUU Campus Resources and Services and the Student Code of Conduct. For more information on Canvas and other technologies, and their statements on Accessibility and Privacy statements please review our Vendor Resources page.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.