As this LIBY 1210 comes to an end, I can honestly say that I am grateful for this class. In fact, I think that it is very beneficial that it is a required class among freshmen. Although the atmosphere was not the most ideal nor conducive for teaching, the things that we learned are items that we can apply to every aspect of real world living. Legitimate research of a topic returns desired results, and when a question arises, it takes more than the simple Google search to find a good answer.
As I’ve stated earlier in one of my logs, the only “research” tools that I knew how to use were Google and books. As I entered in the ranks of students of East Bay, I realized that it would take more than those two in order to excel. This class not only refreshed me on my citing skills, but also introduced me to another world of researching and thinking in general. Early on in the course, we discussed the importance of evaluating sources. In today’s society, information is changed and clandestinely distorted by opinion leaders. This surreptitious switching reflects the idea that evaluating sources is necessary for finding truth. Knowing what to look for and thinking of questions that would return desired results are what I absorbed from this class. There is no doubt that these skills are things we must guard in order to succeed in the real world.
When we first discussed the usage of databases, I was amazed with its applicability and versatility in all subjects. As I stated in a previous log, “No longer would we have to spend long hours through aisles of books, laboriously search through mountains of pages, and carry tons of hard-covered dumbbells in and out of the library” (Research Log Entry 4.1).
Of course, books still have their place. If a person was not able to find desired information in a book, he could at least say that he burned a few calories carrying it, checking it out, and flipping through its pages. A few more books and he could set up a workout plan. He’d be in good shape by the end of the quarter.
Another thing that I learned in this course is that not every search term will return a result. Sometimes, they return articles not even relevant to the topic that is being researched. Being able to revise and change search queries is one of the strengths of researching. It’s frustrating when you can’t get the results that you want. Being able to manipulate terms is the way to get around that. Through this course, I’ve learned how to narrow and widen searches, and it has proven beneficial. It has satisfied curiosity, helped finish assignments, and found things faster.
Although the database contains many articles, not every article would pertain to my subject. Through this course, I was first introduced to the abstracts of scientific articles. As I’ve stated in my mock final, “I think that the abstracts are a vital tool not only for description purposes, but also the managing of time.” Before I knew of them, I was intimidated by scientific studies. The pages of results would have taken a long time to finish reading through. The abstracts are a very nifty aspect of scientific studies. By being able to see the summary of the study, I was able to filter out which articles I needed and which ones I could pass up.
Since childhood, I’ve been adept at finding books in the library using their search engines. After leaving the computer, I would always be able to find the designation that the book was under. However, I never really understood what the jumbled numbers and letters really meant. It was only until this class that I was really exposed to them. As I’ve stated before, “It's a very good thing to know. I will now navigate the labyrinth of cardboard, paper, and information with my newfound skill” (Research Log Entry 7.1). I’ve always been good at getting through mazes, too. When I was a kid, I would be holding a crayon, scribbling through the mazes and other activities that they printed out on the kid’s menu. My secret was that I started at the end instead of the beginning. Now that I am older, I can use my knowledge of call numbers to start at the beginning and finish at the end, reading the book that I need.
Walking out of class on Friday, I was slightly disheartened. The picture of training wheels being detached from a bicycle invaded my mind. Although there is a scary journey ahead of us, the only thing that we can do to keep from faltering is to keep peddling. Without this class, I think I would be heading back in the other direction by now. Fearlessly, I can peddle through the rain, sleet, and research projects ahead.
Thank you, Professor Soules.
See you on Monday.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
You're fine without your training wheels, believe me. Besides, you can always ask for help - don't forget the reference desk, the ability to email the library, and the chat reference 24/7. You can always get help and librarians love to help people.
I'm glad the class was useful. I would still recommend books, though. They may be old fashioned and there are certainly other ways to get information, but there is something about the tactile and sustained experience of reading a book that still has value. Of course, with new e-readers coming on board from Sony and amazon (the Kindle), there will be new ways to have the sustained experience of reading a book, but the tactile aspect will change. It will be an interesting journey in itself.
Post a Comment