This article touches on many of the same points that we have been discussing in class over the past few weeks. Students around the world are no doubt much more tech savvy than they were 10 years ago. However, it seems that they still don't know how to understand and manipulate the massive amount of academic information that is out there. There are over 18000 scholarly databases out there for students to choose from, and still they all flock to Wikipedia or Google due to the "easiness" factor. Many schools are beginning to work on Information Literacy programs, such as this Library class, to teach students just how to go about searching through the library and through the massive amounts of scholarly information out there.
Some proof that most students could be considered "information illiterate" came in 2006 where the ICT literacy assessment was given to 5338 college students and 1012 high school students from around the country. It's a 75 minute test that evaluates students abilities in seven different areas. The results were that 48% of test takers couldn't even identify the objectivity of a web page. Several colleges are beginning to administer this test to Freshman. Just like upcoming freshman are given a math and language placement exam, now they will have to prove that they can research at a college level.
It's no question that there is much that students need to learn in order to begin researching and writing correctly. I believe that over time, if programs are continued to be put in place such as this one, that the future generations will be much better off than we were.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Infodiet
The Infodiet: How Libraries Can Offer an Appetizing Alternative to Google. By: Bell, Steven J., Chronicle of Higher Education, 00095982, 2/20/2004, Vol. 50, Issue 24
This article is about the current problem libraries around the country are having in this new “Google” era. The problem that many libraries are facing, are dwindling numbers due to more and more students turning to Google for their academic answers, rather than their local or university library. The big problem is that the database manufacturers are spending more time competing with the other companies, and not enough time developing easy, navigable databases for the people actually using them. Another huge problem with these databases is that by trying to be so competitive with eachother, they are putting as many “full text” articles up on their databases as they can, often from questionable journals. This is leading to students searches of the databases not being much better than a Google search in terms of academic credibility.
Ultimately it is up to the faculty and professors to try to wean students off of their Google search habits. By giving assignments prohibiting the usage of Google, or simply educating the students on how to go about searching the databases easily, such as our Library class, the students will be more inclined to want to use resources other than the almighty Google. One such idea in the works is the “RedLightGreen” project. It has a single search box interface like Google, but upon searching, gives students suggestions to other terms that may lead to a more relevant search. These new databases also give students the option to put the material they find on the databases into several types of citation formats, which will drastically cut down on the time spent at the end of the paper referencing.
This article is about the current problem libraries around the country are having in this new “Google” era. The problem that many libraries are facing, are dwindling numbers due to more and more students turning to Google for their academic answers, rather than their local or university library. The big problem is that the database manufacturers are spending more time competing with the other companies, and not enough time developing easy, navigable databases for the people actually using them. Another huge problem with these databases is that by trying to be so competitive with eachother, they are putting as many “full text” articles up on their databases as they can, often from questionable journals. This is leading to students searches of the databases not being much better than a Google search in terms of academic credibility.
Ultimately it is up to the faculty and professors to try to wean students off of their Google search habits. By giving assignments prohibiting the usage of Google, or simply educating the students on how to go about searching the databases easily, such as our Library class, the students will be more inclined to want to use resources other than the almighty Google. One such idea in the works is the “RedLightGreen” project. It has a single search box interface like Google, but upon searching, gives students suggestions to other terms that may lead to a more relevant search. These new databases also give students the option to put the material they find on the databases into several types of citation formats, which will drastically cut down on the time spent at the end of the paper referencing.
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