Download - TSEM Fa 2012 Class1a McArthur
TSEM 102 Laksamee Putnam
Research & Instruction Librarian
Slides: http://bit.ly/TSEMamcarthurslides112
First… Laksamee Putnam
Cook Library Reference:
410.704.2462.
IM/email
Phone: 410.704.3746.
Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
Albert S. Cook facebook profile!
Slides: http://bit.ly/TSEMamcarthurslides112
Agenda
Article/Video Discussion
Background reading/Internet searching
Keywords
Evaluating Resources
Wikipedia Woes and Google Gaffs
What are the pros and cons of so much information being online?
What do you do to be sure you’re finding more than “information junk food”? How do you evaluate
the information you find while researching?
Why is it important to support your argument with valid sources?
Appelbaum, Y. (2012). How the professor who
fooled Wikipedia got caught by Reddit. The
Atlantic. May 15.
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archi
ve/2012/05/how-the-professor-who-fooled-
wikipedia-got-caught-by-reddit/257134/#
Prater, E. (2011) Beware online filter bubbles.
TED: Ideas worth spreading.
http://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_
online_filter_bubbles.html
Interpreting the Assignment
Reading Background Information
Using Online Databases & Indexes
Gathering Sources
Drafting Paper or Presentation
Identifying & Listing
Vocabulary
Citing Sources
Refining a Topic
Evaluating Sources
The Research Process
Selecting a Topic
Web “Pre-Searching”
Why start your search online?
Find background information
Help solidify research topic
Find new terminology to use as keywords
Find links and/or citations to other sources
Improve Google
internet and bully
Advanced Google
searching
Power searching
Duck Duck Go
body image and girls
Cook Library’s
Guide to the Web
Try new features to help build
your keyword list and search
strategy.
Keywords come from the search question
Use Boolean “search connectors” to
combine keywords in ways that capture
the results you need
Search Tip #1
Boolean “search connectors”
AND OR NOT For example:
internet AND children Combining >1 topic
instruct OR teach Combining synonymous terms
Search Tip #2
Use truncation!
Educat* finds
Educate
Education
Educating
Educator
Etc…
Search Tip #3
Phrase Searching…
Use quotations to keep a keyword phrase
intact (words will be searched in the
specific order)
Examples:
“No Child Left Behind”
“school reform”
Keywords are critical!
Sample topic:
What are some ways elementary teachers can assess whether a certain technology solution is effective?
First, break the question down into keywords:
What are some ways elementary teachers can assess whether a certain technology solution is effective?
More on keywords… Expand your list to include synonyms then add to it
once you have done some background reading.
What are some ways elementary teachers can assess
whether a certain technology solution is effective?
teach* assess* technolog*
learn evaluat* comput*
strateg* test* [software name]
method gauge
instruct*
Putting it all together… What are some ways elementary teachers can assess
whether a certain technology solution is effective?
teach*
instruct*
method*
learn*
assess*
evaluate*
test*
technolog*
comput*
[software name]
teach* OR instruct* OR method* OR learn*
AND
assess* OR evaluate* OR test*
AND
technolog* OR comput* OR kidspiration
Evaluate what you find
Go to one of the websites below and analyze it
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb1
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb2
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb3
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb4
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb5
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb6
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb7
Currency
Reliability
Authority
Purpose/Point of View
Check for CRAP
Check for CRAP Currency
How recent is the information?
Can you locate a date when the resource was written/created/updated?
Based on your topic, is this current enough?
Why might the date matter for your topic?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helloeveryone123/3937374193/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Check for CRAP Reliability
What kind of information is included in the resource?
Does the author provide citations & references for quotations & data
Where am I accessing this information?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schnappi/5930145952/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Check for CRAP Authority
Can you determine who the author/creator is?
What are their credentials (education, affiliation, experience, etc.)?
Who is the publisher or sponsor of the work/site?
Is this publisher/sponsor reputable
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://rantchick.com/a-doctrine-on-respect/
Check for CRAP Purpose/Point of
View Is the content
primarily opinion?
Is the information balanced or biased?
What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/5484085301/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Begin your own research
Fill out this worksheet
http://bit.ly/TSEM102mcarthurWS112
Next class:
“Read” and prepare for discussion
Use your keywords to find books/articles
Questions? Feel free to contact me:
Laksamee Putnam
410.704.3746.
Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
Or any reference librarian:
Visit Cook Library Reference Desk
410.704.2462.
IM – tucookchat