Mortimer Text Assignment

EDIT 6380
Mortimer Text Assignment
Value: 10 points (total)
Mode: Individual

7-1-08

Mortimer, M. (2007). Learn Dewey Decimal Classification (Edition 22; First North American Ed.). Friendswood, TX: TotalRecall. ISBN 978-1-59095-804-9.

Purpose
The science of Information Organization involves a great deal of highly specific knowledge and skills. For the SLMS, frankly, much of this content ranks at lower levels of Bloom's Taxonomy, although a significant amount qualifies as application. In this class, it is not possible to evaluate each student's application of cataloging skills in the field - although you will likely apply some of these concepts in the larger course projects.

The purpose of this assignment is to hold all of us accountable for the information in the Mortimer text. Consider this as one independent-study component of this partially online class. All of the material should be valuable for your work in the future, and this course may be your only opportunity to study it carefully. I have made every effort to eliminate redundancy and excessively low-level work from this assignment, and I am open to suggestions and negotiations for making this assignment more relevant.

I very much admire this text because its information is extremely useful while also highly concise. Having it as a resource is something you will value in the future. Categorically, however, I believe that number-building is not a critical skill for SLMSs. This book spends many chapters on that topic. I would like you to read these, because they help give you an idea of some of the patterns within the system. Few exercises are assigned that involve number-building.

One useful way to approach this text is: how would you teach these skills to students (of a given age)? Which of the skills are relevant to certain ages?

Task

Work independently on this assignment.
Read through the Mortimer text, from start to finish.
As you go, work through the exercises listed below - I have omitted those that I do not feel are useful for the SLM context.
I will build a 'quiz' in WebCT that "tests" understanding. It will feature mastery achievement, open access to all resources, and applied, multiple-choice, closed-ended questions.

Selected Exercises

Chapter 1:

1.3.

Chapter 2:

2.1.

Chapter 3:

3.1. Just do a few of these, enough to get the idea.
3.2. Likewise, do a few.
3.3

Chapter 4:

Chapter 5:

5.1
5.2: 3-6,8-9,11-15 (I've omitted some that seem unlikely for K-12 use)

Chapter 6:

6.1: just do any 3 of these.
6.3: Use any tool to complete these. Do 3-6 only.
6.4: Again, use any tool. Do 1-2,4-9,11-15.
6.5: Any tool. Do 7, 10-12, 14-16,18.
6.6: Any tool. Do 1-4, 6-10, 13-15.

Chapter 7-12: Read these, but skip all of the exercises.

Chapter 13: useful to read this if your system or school subscribes to WebDewey.

Chapter 14:

14.1: do 5 of these for practice - your choice.
14.2: do 1-2, 5-6, 8, 14-15
14.5: do 4, 5, 9
14.6: 1, 3-6, 8, 14-15

Format

Exercises will not be handed in or peer checked.
When you feel prepared, access the Mortimer quiz in WebCT/6380 (from the homepage). It has 12 multiple-choice questions.
You may use any tools that you like, including texts. In fact, you will likely need one or more online databases.
You may repeat the quiz until you are happy with your score. WebCT will record your latest score.

Created by M.Fitzgerald 5-27-08; completed 7-1-08. Additions through 6-13 but still incomplete.
Expires 12-31-08.

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