This document summarizes a library instruction session presented by Laksamee Putnam. The session covered evaluating online resources using the CRAP test, developing effective keywords and search strings, and having students search for and share relevant website resources. Students were instructed to take notes, develop Today I Learned statements, and complete a worksheet to be submitted for the session. Putnam provided contact information for any follow up questions.

1. Laksamee Putnam
lputnam@towson.edu
Research & Instruction Librarian
http://bit.ly/tsemmcarthurfall2015

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…
 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
 How did you score on the quiz?
 What are the pros and cons of so
much information being online?
 What do you do to be sure you’re
finding credible resources?
 How do you evaluate the
information you find while
researching?
 Why is it important to support
your argument with valid
sources?
Funk, C., and Goo, S.K. (2015) A look at what the public knows
and does not know about science. Pew Research Center.
http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/09/10/what-the-public-
knows-and-does-not-know-about-science/
New York Times (2013) If a Story Is Viral, Truth May Be Taking a
Beating http://nyti.ms/1d7MUUB
Prater, E. (2011) Beware online filter bubbles. TED: Ideas worth
spreading.
http://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bu
bbles.html

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

9. 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/

10. 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/

11. 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/

12. 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/

13. 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

14. Keywords are critical!
 Sample topic:
 What is being done to close the gender gap in
technology related careers in the United States?
 First, break the question down into key concepts:
 Concept #1: gender gap
 Concept #2: technology careers
 Concept #3: United States

15. More on keywords…
 Expand your list to include synonyms then add
to it once you have done some background
reading.
 What is being done to close the gender gap in
technology related careers in the United States?
Gender gap technology careers United States
women
under represented
female equality
STEM
Computer Science
Engineer
America
North America
Maryland

16. Putting it all together…
 What is being done to close the gender gap in
technology related careers in the United States?
Gender gap OR women OR female equality
AND
Technology OR STEM OR Computer Science
AND
United States OR America OR North America
Gender gap technology careers United States
women
under represented
female equality
STEM
Computer Science
Engineer
America
North America
Maryland

17. 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

18. Improve Google
 Advanced Google
searching
 Duck Duck Go
 Cook Library’s Guide to
the Web

19. 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/tsemfa15mcarthurpadlet
 Enter your name, search string, and a link to the website

20. 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?
 Remember you need to find 3 scholarly websites for
you bibliography assignment!

21. 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

22. 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