Orientation for the Online course in Legal Research and Information Literacy

1. Welcome to:
Legal Research
and
Information Literacy
Dr. Catherine M. Hendrickson, Professor

2. Successful Distance Education Students
• Are independent learners
• Are self-motivated
• Are responsible
• Are able to meet deadlines
• Are able to follow directions
• Are good communicators
• Are successful students

3. You should have located the course
syllabus before continuing with this
orientation.
Obtain your course syllabus by clicking the
button in your Blackboard course labeled
“Syllabus & Prep Plan”

4. Dr. Hendrickson’s
Contact Information
My online office hours are: Virtual
Send emails to:
VirtualLegalResearch @gmail.com
EMERGENCY CONTACT:
My cellphone # will be distributed during class

5. Required Materials
Textbooks: We do not have an “official textbook”
Books I have found useful are listed on your
Handouts: (or directions for assignments will be
available through the Blackboard site, and/or our
class “Cloud”
Please check your Syllabus for further details.

6. Course Overview
• Introduction to legal researching skills and information
literacy analysis will be carefully covered during class.
• Emphasis is given to:
– The history of law and its relationship to the
information literacy skills necessary to locate legal
materials
– Social responsibility & ethical demands in a new world
overflowing with “information”

7. Grading Scale
(See the “Grading Scale” section in course syllabus)
Course grades are based on the percentage of the points
earned compared to number of possible points.
If you have any questions regarding your grades before,
during or after class, please contact me.

8. Course Lectures:
• Available as either a printed or an audio
document, a video, a podcast, a transcript, or a
narrated presentation or a group or individual
online conference

9. Exams and Quizzes:
(See the “Exam Procedures” section in course syllabus for instructions)
• See the “Exam Procedures” section in your
Syllabus for instructions
• The emphasis of this course is LEARNING, it
is not on unnecessary pressure preparing
for Exams.
• All material on Quizzes/Exams will be
thoroughly discussed beforehand.

10. Keys to Success:
• Submit required assignments by their completion deadlines
• Read our study guides, they are always available on our “Cloud”
• Take notes while viewing videos/reading the handouts
• Use the course Discussion Board “Sidebar” to interact
• Read & understand the course syllabus – Oh, excuse me, “Did I say that
already? Hummm, it must be important!”

11. Course Schedule
See the last page of the course
syllabus, for the exact deadline dates
and times.

12. Questions?
Read your syllabus carefully and
email me your questions or concerns
I hope you have a great semester!!
Catherine M. Hendrickson, JD