This document summarizes a library instruction session on evaluating online resources. It includes the instructor's contact information and an agenda covering pre-class reading discussion, evaluating resources using the TIL and CRAP criteria, developing keywords, and finding a website resource. Students are asked to assess website results, discuss problems with developing keywords or searching, and provide three "Today I Learned" statements about the session. The instructor thanks students and provides further contact details.

1. Laksamee Putnam
lputnam@towson.edu
Research & Instruction Librarian
http://bit.ly/fathc1fa2015

2. First…
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 Cook Library Reference:
 410.704.2462.
 IM/email
 Phone: 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Albert S. Cook Facebook profile!
 http://bit.ly/fathc1fa2015

3. A quick plug…
 Programming for Latino
Americans: 500 Years of
History
 National Endowment for
the Humanities (NEH)
and the American
Library Association
(ALA)
 Library exhibit and
collection coming!
 Check the library
calendar for more info!

4. Agenda
 Pre-class reading Discussion
 Evaluating Resources - TIL
 Keywords
 Find a website resource

5. 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?
 Which criteria did you like best
from the “Spotting Bad Science”?
Why?
 Why is it important to support your
argument with valid sources?
 Why do you think there is a
difference between what scientists
and the public think?
Pew Research Center. (2015) Chapter 3: Attitudes and
beliefs on science and technology topics. Public and
Scientists’ Views on Science and Society. Pages 37-57.
http://www.pewinternet.org/files/2015/01/PI_Scienc
eandSociety_Report_012915.pdf
Brumming, A. (2015) A rough guide to spotting bad
science. Compound Interest.
http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/04/02/a-
rough-guide-to-spotting-bad-science/

6. Today I Learned (TIL)
 In Reddit people share “headlines” in TIL format
 Which resources are “good”
 Which resources are “bad”
 How do you know?

7. Today I Learned (TIL)

8. Today I Learned (TIL)

9. Today I Learned (TIL)

10. Check for CRAP
Currency
Reliability
Authority
Purpose/Point of View

11. Check for CRAP
 Currency
 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 CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helloeveryone123/3937374193/si
zes/m/in/photostream/

12. Check for CRAP
 Reliability
 What kind of
information is included
in the resource?
 Does the author provide
citations & references
for quotations & data
 Where am I accessing
this information?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schnappi/5930145952/sizes/l/in/photostream/

13. Check for CRAP
 Authority
 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
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://rantchick.com/a-doctrine-on-respect/

14. Check for CRAP
 Purpose/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
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/5484085301/sizes/m/in/
photostream/

15. 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

16. Keywords are critical!
 Sample topic:
 How have processed foods negatively altered the health
of Americans?
 First, break the question down into key concepts:
 Concept #1: processed foods
 Concept #2: health
 Concept #3: Americans

17. More on keywords…
 Expand your list to include synonyms then add
to it once you have done some background
reading.
 How have processed foods negatively altered the
health of Americans?
processed foods health Americans
convenience food
junk food
food preservation
fitness
BMI
energy
United States
North America
children

18. Putting it all together…
 How have processed foods negatively altered the
health of Americans?
Processed food OR junk food
AND
Health OR obesity OR “body mass index”
AND
United States OR USA OR North America
processed foods health Americans
convenience food
junk food
food preservation
fitness
BMI
obesity
United States
North America
children

19. Create keywords
 Complete Part 1 of your worksheet
 Write your research topic on your worksheet
 Pass it to a group member
 Group member fills in key concepts and synonyms
 Give the worksheet back to the original owner

20. Improve Google
Food and athletes
Sustainability and
vegan diet
 Advanced Google
searching
 Duck Duck Go
 Cook Library’s Guide to
the Web
Check out the TSEM Course Gateway

21. Find a website resource!
 Use your keywords in Google
 Use your keywords in Cook Library’s Guide to the Web
 Pick the most interesting result from both
 Enter your results here:
 http://padlet.com/lputnam/tsemfa15padlet
 Enter your name, search string, and a link to the website

22. Take a look at the results
 Assess the results posted with the CRAP assessment
 What problems did you have ….
 Coming up with keywords?
 Searching for a website?

23. Thanks for listening!
 Fill out Part 2 of your paper worksheet
 Fill out 3 TIL statements about your library session today
 Hand the worksheet in to the librarian
 Next library session:
 Pre-class reading and prepare for discussion
 Use your keywords to find books/articles

24. Questions?
 Feel free to contact me:
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Or any reference librarian:
 Visit Cook Library Reference Desk
 410.704.2462.
 IM – tucookchat