This document describes an activity called "Keyword Hot Potato" that is used to teach students how to generate keywords and search library databases. The activity involves students in small groups brainstorming keywords for topics on sheets of paper that are passed around. They then construct different search term combinations to hypothesize what information those terms may retrieve in a database search. By trying out the student-generated terms, the instructor can discuss effective search techniques and strategies with the class. The goal is for students to practice developing search terms and strategizing for database research.

1. Keyword Hot P tato
An activity for practicing generating keywords and searching library databases
Lauren Wallis
Reference & Instruction Librarian

2. Keyword Hot Potato: Part 1
• Five groups
• Five sheets with a broad topic
• Five different colored markers
• One minute to write keywords about the topic
• Pass the keyword hot potato!
• Sheets are passed until each group has had each sheet
• At the end of the last rotation, groups Instagram pictures of the completed sheets
• We use the Instagram pictures to talk about their keywords

3. Students get practice thinking
through many different angles
of a research topic

4. As the sheets get passed
around, groups have to get
more creative with their
keywords

8. Keyword Hot Potato: Part 2
• Each group gets three “paper database” sheets
• Instructor briefly navigates to a library database and explains that first we’ll
practice with “paper databases”
• Using the topic on the hot potato sheet they ended up with, groups construct
three different combinations of search terms
• Groups discuss and write down the information they think they will get with
their search terms
• Groups Instagram their paper database sheets
• Instructor demonstrates database searches using student
keyword combos

9. Students generate three
different sets of terms and
make a hypothesis about
the information these terms
will produce

10. As we try out the terms in
the library database, we’re
able to discuss the
differenced between broad
and narrow searches…

11. …how some terms don’t
need to be included in a
search because they’re
already inherent…

12. …the benefits of being
specific about broad terms
and phrases…

13. …and more! This activity
is entirely guided by the
students’ ideas.

14. Student Learning Outcome:
Students develop tools for
strategizing about the search
terms they use in library
databases.

15. …and sometimes there’s
Instagram art…

16. …and selfies.