Online course in Legal Research and Information Literacy initial ORIENTATION

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 self-disciplined
• Are good time managers
• Are responsible
• Are able to meet deadlines
• Are able to follow directions
• Are good communicators
• Are successful students

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

4. Dr. Hendrickson’s
Contact Information
My online office hours for my distance
education students are:
Monday through Friday, 8:00-10:00am
In addition to the officially scheduled hours, I can be reached by email all the time. Send me an email at
VirtualLegalResearch @gmail.com
This is my personal email and I will get back to you as quickly as possible

5. Required Materials
Textbooks: This class does not have an “official
textbook,” we do, however, have books that I feel
would benefit your studies.
All directions and handouts: Any handouts (or
directions for preparation will be available through
the BlackBoard site, and/or a class “Cloud” (further details
about working in the Clouds will be covered during class)
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
– Critical analyses of physical and intellectual
processes involved in locating legal research in
according to basic procedures
– 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 audio document,
a video, a podcast, a transcript, or a narrated
presentation or a group or individual online
conference

9. Exams:
(See the “Exam Procedures” section in course syllabus for instructions)
• Completed online by deadline date & time
• Complete in a comfortable location of your
choice
• Immediate grading of quizzes
• 1-day (or immediate) feedback on quizzes
• Our class Gradebook is always available for
your inspection

10. Keys to Success:
• Submit required assignments by their completion deadlines
• Read, but don’t necessarily print out our study guides, they are
always available in our “Cloud”
• Take notes while viewing videos/reading the handouts
• Use the course Discussion Board “Sidebar” to interact
• View PowerPoint/Video presentations (if you have difficulties
contact the Help Desk immediately)
• Read the instructor’s emails/course announcements
• 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