TSEM 102: Library Session 1 Evaluation and Keywords

Laksamee Putnamlputnam@towson.edu

Research & Instruction Librarianhttp://bit.ly/tsemmcarthursp17c1

First…Laksamee Putnamlputnam@towson.eduCook Library Reference:

410.704.2462.IM/email

Phone: 410.704.3746.Twitter: @CookLibraryofTUAlbert S. Cook Facebook profile!

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AgendaPre-class reading DiscussionEvaluating Resources - TILKeywordsFind a website resource

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 credible resources?How do you evaluate the

information you find while researching?

What does A or B testing mean for your research online?

New York Times (2013) If a Story Is Viral, Truth May Be Taking a Beating http://nyti.ms/1d7MUUB

A or B. (2015). Planet Money podcast. http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/12/11/459412925/episode-669-a-or-b

Today I Learned (TIL)In Reddit people share “headlines” in TIL

format

Which resources are “good”

Which resources are “bad”

How do you know?

Today I Learned (TIL)

Check for CRAAPCurrencyRelevanceAuthorityAccuracyPurpose/Point of View

Check for CRAAPCurrency

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 CRAAP provided by the Bluford Library

Check for CRAAPRelevance

How does this information relate to your topic?

Who is the intended audience?

How does this resource compare to others you have looked at?

Check for CRAAPAuthority

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

Check for CRAAPAccuracy

Is the information supported with evidence?

Has the information been reviewed?

How confident are you that the content is correct?

Check for CRAAPPurpose/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

Which words?Take a look at these

pictures. What do you see?Go here and fill in a word

to describe each picture

A

D C

B

Keywords are critical!Sample topic:

What is being done to close the gender gap in technology related careers in the United States?

First, break the question down into key concepts:Concept #1: gender gap Concept #2: technology careersConcept #3: United States

More on keywords…Expand your list to include synonyms then add

to it once you have done some background reading.

What is being done to close the gender gap in technology related careers in the United States?

Gender gap technology

careersUnited States

womenunder representedfemale equality

STEMComputer ScienceEngineer

AmericaNorth AmericaMaryland

Putting it all together…What is being done to close the gender gap

in technology related careers in the United States?

Gender gap OR women OR female equalityAND

Technology OR STEM OR Computer Science

ANDUnited States OR America OR North America

Gender gap technology careers

United States

womenunder representedfemale equality

STEMComputer ScienceEngineer

AmericaNorth AmericaMaryland

Create keywords Complete Part 1 of your worksheet

Write your research topic on your worksheetBreak down your topic into key conceptsAsk a partner to help you create synonyms

Improve Google

Search EnginesAdvanced Google se

arching

Duck Duck Go

iSEEK

Specific WebsitesEdutopia

Department of Education

Child Stats

Remember to check the Research Guides from the library!

Find a website resource!Use your keywords in Google/Edutopia/etc

Pick the most interesting resultsAssess one website with CRAAP on your

worksheet

Enter 2 of your results here:https://padlet.com/lputnam/tsemsp17mcarthur Enter your name, keywords, and a link to the

website

Take a look at the resultsAssess the results posted with the CRAAP

assessment on Part 2 of your worksheet

What problems did you have ….Coming up with keywords?Searching for a website?

Remember to find scholarly websites!

Thanks for listening!Fill out Part 2 of your paper worksheet

Fill out TIL statements about your library session today

Hand the worksheet in to the librarian

Next library session:Pre-class reading and prepare for discussionUse your keywords to find books/articles

Questions?Feel free to contact me:

Laksamee Putnamlputnam@towson.edu410.704.3746.Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU

Or any reference librarian:Visit Cook Library Reference Desk410.704.2462.IM – tucookchat