Searching for information for your project
Evaluating information
Why research?
Your finished product (or essay, project etc) is just the tip of the iceberg.
Below it is should be loads of research ie. looking at theory and facts, being inspired, getting ideas, stimulating your imagination etc.
Hand out paper and pens. One sheet per person
Students in tutorial groups.
Write their project keywords on sheet. Hand sheet to next person in group. Add more keywords. Repeat.
Show the students how to refine their search using:
FT
Content type
Subject terms
Publication date
Language etc
Have another go.
Students can also search individual databases.
Select ‘Computing science’ for a list of subject specific resources.
Trend and colour forecasting, business strategy, trade news etc
A84
Uni email
With reference to information. What do these words mean?
Answers next slide.
Currency
How old: How old is the information? Does it need to be up-to-date?
Last updated: When was the information last updated?
What: Do you know what was updated. Think Wikipedia. There is often an explanation of what has been updated in new edition of a book.
Authority
Author: Do you know who the author is?
Qualifications: What is the author’s knowledge base?
Verifiable: Can the information be supported? Another witness or further info from a different source. Is there any peer review?
Divide class into groups.
Hand out pack of cards.
Students have two headings ‘Authority’ and ‘Currency’ (black cards).
Plus a double set of information sources. They should put the cards in order of which offer the most currency and authority.
Discuss.
