Userful Resources for Portfolio

1. On the following page, there is a video record for Portfolio Q&A
          https://ci.uky.edu/lis/student_news
     
2. Portfolio Guidelines Fall 2012
             https://ci.uky.edu/lis/sites/default/files/PortfolioGuidelinessFall2012.pdf 

 You should thoroughly read the above guidelines.  (Well, I've heard that the tutorial is not that helpful. While waiting for  a better version, please check on this blog  frequently as I am going to add more information about portfolio. Also feel free to email me if the answers are not available on this blog)


Some suggestions:

1. When to prepare?
The earlier the better. My suggestion is: after your first semester, start collecting artifacts from the core courses you took or from selected courses that you think you did a great job. (Details about how to select artifacts are available in the guildlines).

2. How to organize my portfolio?
You will be enrolled to a Portfolio space on Blackboard in your last semester. Before that, you should have access to some practice space on Blackboard (Will said he has sent out several emails regarding this, so check your mailbox if you forget or just check the course list once you log onto Blackboard).

My suggestion is: just create a folder on your hard drive or dropbox and name it as 'portfolio', then start to save relevant files to it. Properly name those file (e.g., LIS601_Artifact_CommunityAudit) and write a few sentences about each artifact in a memo file (You will be surprised how much you have forgotten about each artifact, now matter how much you enjoyed/suffered back then, when you approaching graduation. So it is better to write some notes for 'future you') .

It's about that time of the year...

Soon you should decide what courses to take for spring 2013 ! (how time flies...) Note that the following spring syllabus is still a draft and there might be some minor changes in the next week or so.
http://cis.uky.edu/lis/content/class-schedules-0

If you want to meet with me for course planning, please drop me an email. We can either meet face to face or online using Adobe Connect, in which case you need a working microphone or headset, and a webcam is preferred,.

Where to find course information

You can find course syllabi and schedule on SLIS site. Here is a screenshot showing you where they are located.

First semester registration

Will will register you for classes for the first semester, after he received the course planning form. Once students are registered, he do let them know via email. It may take him a week or two.

SLIS goodie

If you come to campus, visit Will, he will be happy to give you some free SLIS merchandise such as a pen, pencils, cup, etc..

MS VS. MA degree

UPDATE: THIS POST IS NO MORE RELEVANT SINCE SLIS DECIDES TO SUSPEND THE MA OPTION.

When you apply for SLIS, you are already asked to choose either MS or MA degree. However, you can always switch through a request to the graduate school.

There are a few differences between MS and MA degree.
1) MS degree requires 36 credit hours while MA degree requires 42;
2) Upon graduation, MS students need to build a portfolio while MS students can do either a portfolio or thesis;
3) MS students have to take at least 6 credit hours course in cognitive science.

Details can be find on the Exit Requirements page.

Overall, MS degree is designed for those students who are interested in research and may pursue a doctorate degree afterwards.

You would need to form a thesis committee if you decide to do the MA w/ thesis option (almost right away). This is probably not easy to manage if you are not on campus.

When will school start?

Go to the UK registrar page and find your answers under Academic Calendar 

Will I get a student ID?

You don't have to. If you want to, however, you can stop by student center at UK and get one for $15. The only advantage of having a student ID is to get student discount at your local museum, park, etc. (Or to use the swimming pool on campus.) You don't need a student ID to get library materials or using online learning systems.

Full-time or Half-time?

If you are an American citizen, then you can register as many/few classes as you want. Although I would NOT recommend you to take more than 3 courses (9 credit hours, counted as full-time).

If you are on fellowship/scholarship or have student loan, you will need to check the requirement. It may require full-time enrollment.

Student Course Planning Form

This form(attached in the Welcome email, also available here) needs to be filled and signed by you and your advisor, me, before you can register.

This form helps you to plan your course ahead so that you get to take all the required courses as well as electives that interest you by the time you graduate. (Although all the required courses are offered each semester, the electives may only be offered once a year or every two years.)

You may not know exactly what you want to take when you just started, but please try your best to fill out as much information as possible and we can always discuss course enrollment before each semester. NOTE: please be accurate for the first semester since Will will register for your first semester and he will reply on this form.

Here are some resources that will help you fill out the form:
* a list of SLIS courses and their descriptions/syllabus: http://cis.uky.edu/lis/courses
* a list of courses offered in the coming semester: http://cis.uky.edu/lis/content/class-schedules-0
* the SLIS curriculum track (Sent to you in email and also available here)
* Beware of courses with pre-requisites! If you want to take a course with a pre-req, The following fall electives have pre-requisites: 630, 638, 655 & 668.