ED150 Instructional Session
When using the Barber Library site (and conducting research in general), it's important to have a strategy. Let's start off with a question....
You just received an assignment.....
You were assigned a research project that requires you to base your instruction in best practice. This might require you to do some research and find scholarly sources relevant to your topic. What do you do:
- Where do you start searching?
- What type of materials are you finding? How do you determine what you'll use and what you'll ignore?
- How do you evaluate information? How do you define "scholarly"
Basic Library Search Resources
Let's look at the Barber Library webpage to find our resources:
I would suggest you start your research by exploring the Resources by Subject page on Early Childhood Education.
That page breaks down ECE resources into different categories. Why might you use one category over another?
That page breaks down ECE resources into different categories. Why might you use one category over another?
Library Search Strategies
Protip: Think of a library database like Netflix or Hulu (which both happen to also be databases!) You should avoid combining more than four concepts in one search so that you don't get too specific and narrow your results to 0. For example: I want to watch cooking shows? I would only search for the following: cooking
Protip: You should avoid combining more than four concepts in one search so that you don't get too specific and narrow your results to 0. For example: What is a developmentally appropriate activity involving mindfulness? My keywords might include the following: mindfulness, preschool (or the appropriate grade level).
Protip: Avoid using relationship words like benefits, pro, con, best practice, negative, positive, etc.
But how do you combine those concepts in a library database? Use advanced search techniques, of course!
Boolean operators: Limit your results using AND, expand your results using OR, eliminate unnecessary results using NOT
Protip: make sure to use all caps when using Boolean operators.
example: mindfulness AND preschool OR pre-K NOT mentoring
Title Searches: Too many results? Using the drop-down menu next to the search bar, limit your search keywords to only appearing in article titles.
Protip: Avoid using relationship words like benefits, pro, con, best practice, negative, positive, etc.
But how do you combine those concepts in a library database? Use advanced search techniques, of course!
Boolean operators: Limit your results using AND, expand your results using OR, eliminate unnecessary results using NOT
Protip: make sure to use all caps when using Boolean operators.
example: mindfulness AND preschool OR pre-K NOT mentoring
Title Searches: Too many results? Using the drop-down menu next to the search bar, limit your search keywords to only appearing in article titles.
Using Library resources you can filter your search even further, evaluate the author and--oh yeah--you can even create a fully-formed citation!
Too much? Ask for help!
I know that there's a lot of information here, and you might still have questions, even after this session. That's what librarians are for! You can always contact me, but there are also several other options for you to contact any Barber Library librarian.
Just look for this icon or go directly to Help page and you'll be connected to someone who can help you come up with keywords, cite your sources, choose databases, and help with your general library needs! |