This document outlines an instruction session on evaluating online resources. It provides contact information for the librarian, Laksamee Putnam, and describes an upcoming student symposium. The agenda includes discussing a pre-class reading, evaluating resources using the CRAAP test, developing keywords, finding a website using keywords, and discussing credibility of online information. Students are asked to write three "Today I Learned" statements and submit a worksheet to receive credit for the session.

1. Laksamee Putnam
lputnam@towson.edu
Research & Instruction Librarian
http://bit.ly/tsemfathsp2017c1

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!

3. A quick plug…
 Apply to be a part of
the library’s Civil
Rights Student
Symposium!
 May 12th, 2017
 Find out more here!

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?
 What does A or B testing mean
for your research online?
 Who do you think is responsible
for fact checking? Why?
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/
New York Times (2013) If a Story Is Viral, Truth May
Be Taking a Beating http://nyti.ms/1d7MUUB
A or B. (2015). Planet Money podcast.
http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/12/11/4594
12925/episode-669-a-or-b

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 CRAAP
Currency
Relevance
Authority
Accuracy
Purpose/Point of View

11. Check for CRAAP
 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?

12. Check for CRAAP
 Relevance
 How does this
information relate to
your topic?
 Who is the intended
audience?
 How does this resource
compare to others you
have looked at?

13. Check for CRAAP
 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

14. Check for CRAAP
 Accuracy
 Is the information
supported with evidence?
 Has the information been
reviewed?
 How confident are you that
the content is correct?

15. Check for CRAAP
 Purpose
 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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
 Use these websites to help you create
keywords/synonyms

21. Potential Topics
 Positive/negative effects of fish farming
 Environmental problems/solutions with the meat
industry
 US government support for farming, pros/cons
 Food deserts in urban populations
 Sustainability of a vegan diet

22. Improve Google
 Advanced Google
searching
 Duck Duck Go
Try these alternatives
 Environmental Protection
Agency
 Check out the TSEM
Research Guide

23. Find a website resource!
 Use your keywords in Google
 Use your keywords in one of the Google alternatives
 Pick the most interesting result
 Enter your results here:
 https://padlet.com/lputnam/tsemsp17c1
 Enter your name, search string, and a link to the website

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

25. 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

26. 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