How wonderful to be back in the Instruction Lab working with students to find materials for their research. The professor sends me a list of what they need to know about, and I just follow the list, using simple searches to demonstrate each database and feature.
The students smile and thank me for showing them the resources, and I know they will be back when they begin their papers. Who can remember all those little details unless you are smack dab in the middle of your topic and needing to use the online databases? If only we could find a way to make the information available when needed instead of upfront.
Of course, I create handouts that tell how to find full text of an article you have only a citation for, etc. but there are too many words. I have some capture demos, but they are not necessarily specific to the particular situation. For all that I love online instruction, it has its limitations. Sometimes there is no replacement for that face to face personal instruction at the moment of study.
Einstein once said he never bothered memorizing anything he could look up. I wonder how he would navigate today's plethora of resources. First you have to remember where to look it up and how to get to that resource. Then you have to know what terms that resource uses for your topic. Then you have to know where to go to get the rest of the information if you only find a reference to something you need!
Perhaps the inimitable Mr. E would need a personal research assistant to keep it all straight for him! Meanwhile, I encourage the students to contact me if they encounter a roadblock. Sometimes I can help.
No comments:
Post a Comment