Research Pathfinders 2.0

Research Pathfinders 2.0: Information Streams for Student Research Presented by Buffy Gunter Hamilton, Ed.S. Georgia Council of English Teachers Conference 2009, Jekyll Island, Georgia February 6, 2009 http://theunquietlibrarian.wikispaces.com

Research Pathfinders

Used since the 1970s by libraries and librarians to help guide patrons to the resources needed for a research task.

Pathfinders include print and digital materials.

Carefully constructed pathfinders can help students access quality information more efficiently.

Elements of Research Pathfinders

Web Resources: Traditional

.edu or .gov

Newspaper or magazines online

Web Resources: Nontraditional

Podcasts

Videos (YouTube, TeacherTube)

Print materials

Database/subscription materials

Human resources

Assignment instructions/handouts

How Do We Find the Best Path to Information?

Image courtesy of Creative Common license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidanmorgan/3092101136/

Collaboration: The Key to Quality Pathfinders

Work with your media specialist/librarian to determine the best information sources for your students.

The research questions and research design impact the information sources you may need.

Research Pathfinders 1.0

Lists of information sources (books, websites)

Static

The user is required to seek all the information.

More time and efforts are involved in updating these pathfinders.

Created as a traditional web page or Word document.

Traditional Style Pathfinder http://www.archives.gov/research/alic/reference/women.html

How Do Research Pathfinders 2.0 Help Manage Streams of Information? Image used under a Creative Commons license courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/makelessnoise/240072417/

Research Pathfinder 2.0: Staying Afloat in a Sea of Information