2. Take Away… Search strategies and Search tips Finding books: Cook Library Catalog Finding articles: Databases Website evaluate http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_weird_or_just_different.html
3. Information Technology “the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware.” – Information Technology Association of America Image retrieved from Twitter Image retrieved from MailOnline
4. Technology Brainstorming What kinds of (information) technologies? Technologies used to achieve specific goals Encourage communication or learning, etc. Targeted towards certain populations Business or college students, etc.
5. Preparing to Search Articulate your topic Choose important ideas Brainstorm Synonyms More specific terms Broader concepts Strategize where to search What sources of information will you need? Background information Encyclopedias?
6. Search Terms & Keyword Reminders Keywords come from the search question Use broader terms/concepts when looking for BOOKS. Use narrower terms when looking for ARTICLES.
7. Search Tips Understand and use Boolean “search connectors” spam AND internet security Combining >1 topic OLED OR organic light emitting diodes Combining synonymous terms
13. I’m interested in how information technology can affect how well college students are able to learn a foreign language….. information technology and foreign language and learn*
15. Searching the Catalog Cook Library Research Library Catalogs Advanced Search Options Location Call number Library Map Other locations Request Interlibrary loan (Illiad)
16. Searching Databases Cook Library Subject Gateways Computer Science From: Scholarly Journals Magazines (inc. Trade Publications) Newspapers Peer-reviewed articles in multiple journals Journals Towson: 64 journals with the words “Computer Science” in the title Databases Computer Science Index: 500 journals on a variety of topics Research vs Review
17. Evaluate Authority/Authorship – Determine who is responsible for the information. What are his/her credentials? Currency – Is the information current and up-to-date? Is there a publication date? Objectivity – Is there any bias? What is the purpose of the web page (to inform or to persuade)? Scope – Are sources cited? Is the subject covered in depth? Usability – Is the site easy to navigate? Are spelling and grammar correct? Examples Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus RYT Hospital
18. Questions? Feel free to contact me: Laksamee Putnam lputnam@towson.edu 410.704.3746. Twitter: @LibrarianLaks Or any reference librarian: Visit Cook Library Reference Desk 410.704.2462. IM – tucookchat
Editor's Notes
Applications of information technology within a specific field – this can still be a huge topic that can benefit from some whittling down. Otherwise you can have too many sources to wade through, and too much trouble focusing your final product.Some ways to think about it:What are some examples of kinds of technologies you might want to pursue? (mobile communications, social media, software, robotics, etc.).Technologies are tools. They ideally should be used to achieve specific goals. For instance, certain technologies might encourage certain kinds of learning by college students. So one way to approach this would be to think of the goals that are important and then find out which technologies are being used to achieve them.Or, in some (many!) cases, technologies applied in certain ways might cause problems; then other technologies might be used to solve those problems. Computer hacking vs. computer security is one obvious example, but there are others!!Since your professor’s expertise is in INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, you might want to focus on this kind of tech. “as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), is ‘the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware.’” – Wikipedia
Example: Someone studying technology and educationWhat population? (k12, college)Specific tasks/venues: Classroom or assignment use?What subject matter? (ex: biology or history?)What specific technology? (Blackboard, wiki, web site, videoconferencing, IM, online databases, what?)Who is using/”making” that technology? (Student or teacher?)What country? (one or comparing countries)What time period? ( and change over time)
We can’t search the innards of a book when we use the Towson Catalog to find books. Think of a book that is likely to talk about your subject.Examples: maybe you won’t find a book on the subject of motion detectors in the home. But you might find one on security systems for the home.Maybe you won’t find a book on Blackboard per se. But there might be a book that discusses online education that has a chapter on different systems like Blackboard or even Blackboard specifically.When we search for articles using databases, you can search for much more specific topics. Articles because of their length are more specific & also we can search the entire text of articles most of the time to find that needle in the haystack.
First go over Cook Library Website Help locations: Need Help, Ask a Librarian Quick Tools: Off campus login, Journal List, Help GuidesCatalogs – Towson, USMAI, Worldcat TU Search Foursquare -> Social Media Advanced SearchLook at entry Find it or Availability Subject headings Cite feature
Databases are more efficient!Search Academic Search Premier - facebook AND privacy Note difference between magazine and peer reviewed
