UNDERSTANDING SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND COMMUNICATION - LIBRARY AND INFORMATION-SCIENCE IN THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM

This article describes an experimental undergraduate seminar on the pr oduction and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The course takes a multidisciplinary approach, using case studies to draw together theor etical principles from library and information science, insights from the philosophy and sociology of science, issues in critical thinking a nd problem solving, and details on the construction and use of informa tion retrieval systems. Offered as an elective course to juniors and s eniors, the course is designed to meet the needs of students who do no t expect to become information professionals but who can benefit from a better understanding of the principles of scientific knowledge produ ction and the cultivation of information retrieval skills. It is sugge sted that courses such as this represent an opportunity for schools of library and information science, which traditionally operate at the g raduate and professional level, to meet the increasing need in undergr aduate curricula for new forms of information-oriented instruction.