For the final week of the quarter, you will focus on cleaning and ordering all the shelves and leaving everything ship-shape for the next batch of SLA's. Please see the board for this week's schedule.
In this final blog assignment, I would like you to think back over what you have learned: your triumphs and your hardships, your favorite tasks and your least favorite tasks, and all your tricks of the trade. In the seven blog postings below, please add comments with your best advice for our next crop of student library assistants. Please use complete sentences and include details and directions. I will expect you to make at least seven substantive comments, but you may have more in some categories and less in others. If you have multiple tips for one category, please submit them as separate comments.
Reading your advice will be a first assignment for the new SLA's!
Thank you so much for your hard work this semester. I appreciate all that you have put into our library program and will miss each one of you.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
1. Tips for Future SLA's: ASSISTING PATRONS
Record below any advice you have for future SLA's regarding helping patrons in the library.
2. Tips for Future SLA's: CIRCULATION
Record below any advice you have for future SLA's regarding checking in and out and placing holds.
3. Tips for Future SLA's: SHELVING
Record below any advice you have for future SLA's regarding shelving in the library.
4. TIps for Future SLA's: TECHNOLOGY
Record below any advice you have for future SLA's regarding working with technology in the library.
5. Tips for Future SLA's: BLOG ASSIGNMENTS
Record below any advice you have for future SLA's regarding the weekly blog assignments.
6. Tips for Future SLA's: PERSONAL GOALS
Record below any advice you have for future SLA's regarding how to set good quarter goals.
7. Tips for Future SLA's: OTHER
Record below any advice you have for future Student Library Assistants regarding any other category!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Boolean Searching Assignment - due Sunday, January 30
Note, I forgot to ask you to print out your eLibrary search that you did last week. Please print out your saved list of resources (the citations, not the full articles!) and turn it in. Thanks!
This week we will focus on advanced searching using something called Boolean operators. Boolean operators allow you to put keywords together in your searches to expand or limit your results. Boolean operators help you to search smarter and faster. Look for Advanced Search options on search engines, databases, and even our library catalog, to combine your search terms.
Start by viewing two resources, a powerpoint and a video to get more information about using Boolean operators.
https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dghpmf88_85c9793whp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa66AxTbjxA&feature=related
Now go to this link and print out the activity sheet. http://web.rbe.sk.ca/learningplus/informationliteracy/search1.html Complete the search activity using a major search engine, such as Google. This sheet uses + and - instead of AND and NOT, but it does the same thing. Turn the sheet in to me.
If you have any questions about how Boolean searching works, please come talk to me. It is very cool and well worth knowing! In the comment section below, please include a statement that begins "Boolean operators are useful in refining an internet or database search. Today I learned..."
This week we will focus on advanced searching using something called Boolean operators. Boolean operators allow you to put keywords together in your searches to expand or limit your results. Boolean operators help you to search smarter and faster. Look for Advanced Search options on search engines, databases, and even our library catalog, to combine your search terms.
Start by viewing two resources, a powerpoint and a video to get more information about using Boolean operators.
https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dghpmf88_85c9793whp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa66AxTbjxA&feature=related
Now go to this link and print out the activity sheet. http://web.rbe.sk.ca/learningplus/informationliteracy/search1.html Complete the search activity using a major search engine, such as Google. This sheet uses + and - instead of AND and NOT, but it does the same thing. Turn the sheet in to me.
If you have any questions about how Boolean searching works, please come talk to me. It is very cool and well worth knowing! In the comment section below, please include a statement that begins "Boolean operators are useful in refining an internet or database search. Today I learned..."
Monday, January 17, 2011
Using eLibrary - due January 23
Over this quarter, you have experimented with several different tools that will help you with your upcoming research projects. You have set up a Noodle Tools account and learned how to make Bib cards and annotate, as well as share your project with a teacher. You have used the OPAC to create a resource list of print and web resources on a topic. You have evaluated a website based on a number of important criteria. You have used specialized encyclopedias, and some of you have used Gale Reference Library, an online database of specialized encyclopedias. As a bonus, you have gotten to be among the first at Marshall to use the Kindle e-reader device. As you have done these things, you have also maintained the library collection and served our patrons. Good job!
In our last few weeks of the quarter, we will explore eLibrary and Proquest, two very powerful databases for research. On both of these, you will be able to search for newspaper and magazine articles as well as websites, books, images, and other documents. eLibrary and Proquest are similar, but each has its unique features.
Log in to eLibrary using the username wa019remote and password remote001. Set up a my eLibrary account using your usual username and password. Conduct a search on your topic. Create a resource list with at least four different types of resources.
In our last few weeks of the quarter, we will explore eLibrary and Proquest, two very powerful databases for research. On both of these, you will be able to search for newspaper and magazine articles as well as websites, books, images, and other documents. eLibrary and Proquest are similar, but each has its unique features.
Log in to eLibrary using the username wa019remote and password remote001. Set up a my eLibrary account using your usual username and password. Conduct a search on your topic. Create a resource list with at least four different types of resources.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Research Skills - Website Evaluation - Week of January 10-17
The new year is off to a busy start, and last week we had special projects to keep us busy. Please be sure that you are checking the board for your daily task, though we may pull you off that to do a special project. If you finish early, a list of other duties is posted on the office door.
Before break you compiled a resource list of print and web resources for your project. This week you will focus on how to evaluate a website. First, watch this short, silly video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRIW1EhUDSk. Of course we know that the web includes lots of great stuff and lots of junk. Choose one of the websites from your resource list. Copy and paste the questions below into a Word document. Although many of the questions may be answered with a yes or no, please include details to support your response. Answer the questions, print and turn in. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.
This is due at the end of your next blog day.
Evaluation of a Website Questions
1. What is the web address you are evaluating?
2. What is the name of the site?
3. Does the page take a long time to load?
4. Are there pictures on the site?
5. Do the pictures/photographs look real?
6. Does the site contain advertising?
7. Is the spelling correct?
8. Does this site contain the organization's/author's name and contact information?
9. Does this site contain information about the organization's/author's expertise?
10. Is there a date? Is it recent?
11. Would you have gotten more information from the encyclopedia or a book?
12. Would the information have been better from the encyclopedia or a book?
13. Does the organization/author of the page write things with which you disagree?
14. Does the organization/author of the page include information that you know is wrong?
15. Are there links to other good sites?
16. Are you sure the information that is found on this site is true?
17. What is the purpose of the site? To inform, to sell, to persuade?
Before break you compiled a resource list of print and web resources for your project. This week you will focus on how to evaluate a website. First, watch this short, silly video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRIW1EhUDSk. Of course we know that the web includes lots of great stuff and lots of junk. Choose one of the websites from your resource list. Copy and paste the questions below into a Word document. Although many of the questions may be answered with a yes or no, please include details to support your response. Answer the questions, print and turn in. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.
This is due at the end of your next blog day.
Evaluation of a Website Questions
1. What is the web address you are evaluating?
2. What is the name of the site?
3. Does the page take a long time to load?
4. Are there pictures on the site?
5. Do the pictures/photographs look real?
6. Does the site contain advertising?
7. Is the spelling correct?
8. Does this site contain the organization's/author's name and contact information?
9. Does this site contain information about the organization's/author's expertise?
10. Is there a date? Is it recent?
11. Would you have gotten more information from the encyclopedia or a book?
12. Would the information have been better from the encyclopedia or a book?
13. Does the organization/author of the page write things with which you disagree?
14. Does the organization/author of the page include information that you know is wrong?
15. Are there links to other good sites?
16. Are you sure the information that is found on this site is true?
17. What is the purpose of the site? To inform, to sell, to persuade?
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