Instruction: Exercises for FYS and Other Courses: Inquiry (FYS)

(posted on ili-L)

"This exercise is based on an exercise in the book The Curious Researcher by Bruce Ballenger (see exercise 1.4).

Here's a shortened and adapted version:

Students write their topic on a large piece of paper: under it, they write everything they already know about it (outline), then they come up with all the questions they may have about it. Finally, they circle the key words they've used.

Hang the papers up, give each student 2 colors of sticky notes (one for key word suggestions and another for possible questions). Direct the students to walk around, and look at the other students' topics. For each sheet, they can add questions and/or key word suggestions by using their sticky notes.

This exercise gets students out of their chairs and involved in the process. By the end each student has a bank of words and questions they could follow."

NARROWER

·         use AND to add more terms

·         use date limits

·         switch from key word to subject search

·         use NOT to exclude terms

·         use limiters: document type, audience, etc.

BROADER

·         add/switch databases

·         use OR to add synonyms or related terms

·         go to a broader subject term: move up in the subject hierarchy

·         remove limiters

·         use truncation

• How many results did you get from your search?
  • If too many, consider adding additional search terms.
  • If too few, consider removing search terms, or using fewer phrases and more individual search terms.
• Are the results relevant to your search?
  • If not, have you considered:
    • changing your search terms?
    • trying the search in another database?

This worksheet guides students through:

• using a reference book to find keywords for further searching
• identifying subject headings from the online catalog
• using the subject headings to do a search in Worldcat

(Maryke Barber, from Fall 2009 ART 197)

Activity by Rebecca Seipp

• Students can work alone or in teams to make concept maps to develop key words (Zoom whiteboard? Shared app?)
• Worksheets for brainstorming keywords can be used ahead of class, then shared and discussed in class.
• Students can brainstorm alone or in teams, post ideas in chat or on the whiteboard; a variation is to ask who can come up with the most terms for a concept.
• Making a research question, small group activity: start by thinking of who/what/where/when; next, how many questions can you think of for this subject?
• Students can work together to find gaps in a literature review (higher level)

Each small group is assigned a database and worksheet. Their instructions are to use them to prepare a 3-minute introduction to the database. After 10-15 minutes of exploration, the groups present.

-Maryke

Create 3 searches using Boolean operators AND or OR.  Combine terms across columns using AND.  Combine terms inside columns using OR, and put parentheses around them.

*Use for FYF

Stop at 2:40 to review where to locate OneSearch and other databases