Information Overload…

1. Information Overload… Using the Empire State College Online Library to Research & Evaluate Information Sources

2. Agenda • Academic Support • What is available? • How to access resources • The Steps in Conducting Academic Research • Using The ESC Library • Evaluating Sources

3. ANGEL Community Group NEC Academic Support http://www.esc.edu/ole Academic Support @ NEC Website Faculty & Staff Website Link http://empire2.esc.edu/staffweb/lisadadamo.nsf/web Accessing Academic Support Resources Additional Support • . One-to-one appointments in person (Latham & Residencies) or via phone, e-mail, webcam, etc. • Workshops (online & onsite) • Small group assistance (online & onsite) • Online Tutoring – Smarthinking (www.esc.edu/smarthinking) • & Writer’s Complex (http://www.esc.edu/writer)

4. What is a learning coach? A learning coach is someone who provides academic support to students in one-on-one or small group settings in all areas of the writing process and related study skills strategies including time management, organization, reading efficiency, developing a study plan, goal setting, critical thinking, library research skills, note-taking, and learning styles. Meet the Learning Coaches Sarah Spence-Staulters is located in Latham working with Schenectady & Latham/Albany students Her hours are: Mondays - 4:45pm-7:45pm Wednesdays - 4:30pm-8:00pm Fridays - 9am-11:30am Contact Sarah to make an appointment : (518) 783-6203 ext 5992 or Sarah.Spence-Staulters@esc.edu ________________________________________________________________________________ Kate Stockton is located in Latham working with Johnstown & Latham/Albany students Her hours are: Mondays - 4:30pm-6:30pm Tuesdays - 4:30pm-8:00pm Thursdays - 4:30pm-8:00pm Contact Kate to make an appointment : (518) 783-6203 ext 5992 or Kate.Stockton@esc.edu • Mary Sanders-Shartle is located in Saratoga working with Saratoga & Queensbury students • Her hours are: Mondays – 12pm-2pm • Wednesdays – 3pm-6pm • Thursdays 4pm-6pm • Contact Mary to make an appointment : • (518) 587-2100 ext 2827 or Mary.Sanders-Shartle@esc.edu

5. Steps to Conducting Academic Research • Step 1 – Clarify the Assignment • Step 2 – Develop Research Question/Thesis • Step 3 - Identify Keywords • Step 4 – Understand Basic Search Techniques • Step 5 – Begin Research Process

6. Step 1 – Clarify Assignment • Is topic specified? • Consider the … • question(s) you are asked to address/create • discipline through which you are approaching the topic • specific thing(s) you already know/want to know about the topic • What are the basic requirements? • Length of paper required? • Audience for your research • Time you have available to research • What citation format is required? • MLA – Modern Language Association • Used in the Humanities • APA - American Psychological Association • Used in the Social Sciences • Ask your instructor any questions you may have at beginning of process!

7. Step 2 – Develop Research Question/Thesis • THOROUGHLY UNDERSTAND YOUR TOPIC! • Know what you are being asked/what you must address • What interests you the most about the topic? • Make a listing of questions you would like to have answered about the topic • What would capture the interest of the reader? • Pick issue that can be researched • Make sure topic is not too broad nor narrow in scope • Resources: • WORKSHEET • Information Literacy– Designing Research Question • www.esc.edu/writer - Go to the “Research Room”

8. Click the word WORKSHEET to open an MSWord copy of the worksheet WORKSHEET

9. Step 3: Identify Keywords Keywords: Any informative words in the text of a document, chosen as indicating the main content of the document. CAUTION • Keywords and subjects are not the same. • Keywords are significant words from a document used as an index to content. • Subjects are the main focus of a work. Subject headings are assigned from standards created by catalogers. • Unless you know the word you are looking for is a subject heading, your search maybe unsuccessful. • Therefore, it is a good practice to start with a keyword search!!

10. Step 4: Understand Basic Search Techniques Combine Words and Phrases “Quotation Marks” & (Parenthesis) : allows for the search of groups of words occurring together EXAMPLES “workplace literacy” “sleep deprivation”

11. Use Truncation Truncation: to use a shortened form of a word to search for all alternate endings. sleep* will result in sleeping, sleepy, sleeps depriv* will result in deprived, deprives, deprivation

12. Combine Words and PhrasesUsing Boolean Searching AND Click here for a link to more information about this search technique OR NOT Source of Pictures: ESC Library website

13. Boolean Phrases And = a grouping of two specific ideas (ex. Hurricane and Katrina) Or = one idea or anther idea (ex. United states or America)

14. Step 3 – Begin Research Process • WHAT TO USE -- ESC Online Library • http://www.esc.edu/- Click on My ESC, then Library and Learning Resources – go to Find Info Quick Start Tutorial • All Databases & Subject Guides • Provides links to all databases based on subject area • College recommended academic focus websites • WHAT TO AVOID • General Google searches • Avoid certain “sources” i.e., Wickipedia, unsubstantiated sources such as blogs, statements from non-experts.

15. WHAT DO I RESEARCH? • Locate background information using summaries and overviews in "reference" materials. • Find books on your topic. • Use online database services to search for periodical articles using online indexes and abstracts. • Research your topic on the Internet using search engines and subject directories. • Evaluate, document and organize your resources.

16. Using the ESC Online Library The Best Links for Conducting Your Research

17. www.esc.edu/library Links to a comprehensive annotated listing of all the databases the library subscribes to – a one-stop-shopping site for your research. The 3 best databases are EBSCO, JSTOR & PROQUEST. EBSCOHost

18. Best Search Sites to Go To • Jstor – Most Academic • Ebsco – Combo Academic & Popular • Proquest – More popular & academic EBSCOHost

25. If you needed immediate help you can always chat live with a librarian • Best Place to Start for an Overview of • FIVE STEPS FOR FINDING INFORMATION: • Identify Your Topic • Find Keywords That Describe Your Topic and Create a Search • Get Definitions and Background Information • Find Journal and Newspaper Articles and Books • Document Your Information Sources

26. There are 6 main sections of the library website outlined in red above: • 1 - Get Started: Everything you need to get started with your research, including Dictionary & Encyclopedia Search. • 2 - Journals & Articles: search for articles using our collection of databases. • 3 - Books: search for e-books, or print books anywhere in the world. • 4 - Cite Your Sources: how to create your bibliography and footnotes (or in-text citations.) • 5 -Help: Ask A Librarian via e-mail, phone, or web chat. You can also access our how-tos (tutorials) here. • 6 -Search Tips & News: this area shows current tips & news articles from our Library Research Blog.

27. What Additional Library Resources Do You Have Access To??? Academic Library Services • Public access to academic libraries will depend upon the nature of the institution (i.e., public university, private college, community college, etc.). Generally, you may be able to use materials within the library itself, but will not be able to borrow books or use interlibrary loan. Some institutions also restrict public access to certain times of the day, so it’s a good idea to call ahead. • If you use a library at a State University of New York (SUNY) or City University of New York (CUNY) institution, you will have partial access to the collection under the SUNY Open Access and CUNY library agreements. Public Library Services • The major benefit is that you will have full access to library services in your city or county of residence. • As collections tend to support the general interest needs of its community, collections will be limited in the availability of "scholarly" materials. • Depending upon the size and funding of the library, interlibrary loan services may be available.

28. Upcoming workshops November 23:Introduction to Library Research Skills November 30:Don’t Fall Behind, End the Term Right: Time Management and Origination Strategies for Success December 3:Don’t Fall Behind, End the Term Right: Time Management and Origination Strategies for Success December 7: Introduction to Library Research Skills

29. all fields/multidisciplinary  Search one or many of the different EBSCO databases. [view tutorial] www.esc.edu/library

30. www.esc.edu/library For more assistance and information about doing library research choose any of these links.

31. INFORMATION LITERACY www.esc.edu/infolit