Information Literacy and HU Research Communities

A Workshop Sponsored by CETLA and University Libraries @ Howard University

May 22, 2008

Workshop Overview

Identify, manage, and share the latest research via library databases and catalogs.

Set up RSS Reader to maximize their Web research experience via RSS feeds.

Embed links in Blackboard to ScienceDirect and other restricted databases.

Apply social networking concepts via Blackboard’s social book-marking system (Blackboard Scholar).

Recognize how, where, and when to implement library services and resources to enhance student learning.

Workshop Goals

To highlight HUL information services and resources to facilitate the information search process (ISP)

To illustrate effective, transferable searching techniques

To employ social networking concepts for scholarly communication and student participation

To accentuate INFOLit as a critical HU course component

Morning Agenda

9-10 a.m. Welcome / Digital Natives

10-11 a.m. Information Literacy /INFOLit

11-12noon Supporting Faculty Scholarship

Afternoon Agenda

1-2 p.m. RSS > managing information

2-3 p.m. Explore Database Tools

3-4 p.m. Blackboard > database integration, Scholar

Questions? Comments?

Our Digital Natives

Common complaints…

Do not read (print)

Do not write (with pen and paper)

Do not know about the wide variety of information choices available to them (subscription databases)

Do not know how to evaluate information

Common complaints

Do not cite information

Need a lot of hand-holding through assignments

Tend to Google their way through assignments

Do not use the library

Digital Natives > a perspective

Dr. Norman Lewis Chief Strategy Officer, Wireless Grids Corporation, USA

discusses:

Adults Misunderstanding, Technology, Internet

Children Seeking Refuge in Virtual World

http://fora.tv/2007/10/27/Battle_of_Ideas_MySpace_Generation

What is our Desired Outcome:

Student-centered learning environments – the classroom, the library, the campus where

Inquiry is the norm

Problem solving is the focus.

Thinking critically is the process.

Library Support 2.0

Library Support 2.0

Library Support 2.0

Library Support 2.0 > INFOLit

Questions? Comments?

INFOLitInformation Literacy Competencies

addressed and unpacked via HU Library instruction classes

What is Information Literacy?

“the ability to recognize when information is needed, and then to find, evaluate, use and communicate that information effectively.”

What is information literate individual?

Determine the extent of information needed

Access the needed information effectively and efficiently

Information Literate Individual (continued)

Evaluate information and its sources critically

Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base

Information Literate Individual (cont’)

Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose

Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally

Determine extent of information needed

Determine extent of information needed http://www.sortfix.com/index.aspx

Access information effectively & efficiently

Evaluate information & its sources critically

Incorporate into one’s knowledge base

Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose

Citing information as an practice

Core Competencies

Information Management

store, retrieve, & reference resources

Searching

identify, locate, & evaluative salient and scholarly resources

Technology

agile & efficient use of information platforms and tools

INFOLit sessions (library instruction)

Incorporate primary information literacy competencies (INFOLit sessions) into the syllabus

Sessions range btw 45min-2hr

Move beyond big-box databases -- consider having multiple INFOLit sessions

Assessment via class assignments e.g. annotated bibliography > be weary of rouge assignments

HUL Web > Access via homepagehttp://www.howard.edu/library (resources)

Library Catalogs / OPACs

Databases < Search/Browse OR Sterling homepage EBSCOhost databases, ScienceDirect, ProQuest databases, LexisNexis, etc

Subject Guides < Research Assistance > Help Guides Political Science, African Studies, Education, Sociology, Women Leaders, Citing Sources, Steps in the Research Process, etc.

General Reference < Search/Browse Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, News Sources, Statistics, Thesaurus, etc.

HUL Web > Access via homepagehttp://www.howard.edu/library (services)

Faculty & TA < Research Assistance

Request Forms < Services

Creating Assignments, Library Instruction, Course-Related Web page, Library Evaluation, ILL, Library Purchase

Subject Specialists < About Us, Contact Us

Bibliographer Liaison, Information Facilitator contact information

Course Reserve Request < Search/ Browse

Note: complete Word doc and submit to appropriate library

Off-Campus Access to Databases, Sterling < Search/ Browse

Library Calendar

Library-involved Assignments

Check STERLING for resources (books, journals databases) listed in your syllabus

Consider the various formats a resource available

Place required readings on reserve in the library

Library uses Library of Congress call numbers

Photocopying cost .15 cents per copy, consider electronic reserves

Reconsider the scavenger hunt assignment

Benefits of working with information literate students Students will probably

produce quality research papers

make more effective oral presentations

use correct citations when writing or make appropriate attributions when speaking

plagiarize less

Questions? Comments?

Supporting Faculty Scholarship

HU Faculty Publications of the Week

Faculty Authors Databasehttp://www.howard.edu/apps/keyword/HUAuthors.htm

Creative Commonshttp://creativecommons.org/

Scirus

Keotag http://www.keotag.com

Questions? Comments?

RSS

Part IV

What is RSS

Rich Site Summary

Really Simple Syndication

Automatic Web Browsing

RSS

Simple XML encoded information and news items from Web logs or news sites

Syndicated content includes such data as news feeds, events listings, news stories, headlines, project updates, excerpts from discussion forums or even corporate information.

Aggregators read the “feeds” and provide current awareness delivered to one location

RSS

How does it work? Every time a site is updated with new content a “feed” (simple

XML encoded information) from that site is sent to an Aggregator / RSS Reader

What is an Aggregator or RSS Reader? Software that hold the “feeds” provides current awareness RSS are delivered to one location

What to Look for:

Syndicate this Site

What is an RSS (Aggregator) Reader

Software Client based Server based

Different aggregators that do basically the same thing

Saves time

Content is syndicated into one place

RSS Reader > Bloglineshttp://www.bloglines.com

RSS Readers

My Yahoo < http://www.yahoo.com>

Google Reader <http://www.google.com/reader>

Bloglines<http://www.bloglines.com>

Database content & information management

Managing the delivery of information

Database tools and services Alerts / email or RSS via RSS Readers Citation export options

Managing Resources on the Web via WorldCat.org del.icio.us Zotero

Database tools & services

Alerts – allow you to centralize resources Manage subscriptions Notifications of new search results based on initial search

summary

Receive Alerts via Email notifications of new results / new information based

on a search inquiry saved by the user (you) is sent via email.

Or, an email notification is sent to your RSS Reader (e.g. Google Reader) when a new issue of a journal, you chose is available.

Databases offering Alerts

EBSCOhost > journal, search

Proquest > subject, search

Project Muse > journal

ScienceDirect > journal, search, citation, topic

Bibliographic Tools

Citation Exports – variety of options Send citations to designated email account or Create accounts within database to centralize resources

Folders EBSCO’s My Folder, Save articles, images, searches ProQuest’s Research Tab, My Webpage, Save citations,

articles, searches, journals ScienceDirect, Webpage, Save citations, articles, searches,

journals JSTOR, My JSTOR, Save citations

Zotero (a free bibliographic research tool)

Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh] “a free, easy-to-use Firefox extension to help you collect, manage, and cite your research sources. It lives right where you do your work — in the web browser itself. “

http://www.zotero.org/

WorldCat (create an account for better bibliographic management)

“Build and maintain public and private lists of books, videos and other items owned by libraries” within WorldCat

Social networking potential – tag and share found resources

Utilize automated export function to link resources to your del.icio.us bookmark account.

del.icio.us (an online bookmaking, categorization, social networking tool)

http://del.icio.us

Questions? Comments?

Blackboard

EBSCO, JSTOR, Muse databases

Copy the “durable” link to articles

ScienceDirect DOI

Combine http://dx.doi.org/ with the assigned doi for the article, to create one URL:

http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.cis.2006.11.024

BB Scholar

Questions? Comments?

ahumber@howard.edu