library user instruction - wikipedia presentation
DESCRIPTION
This presentation was created for LIS 746: Library User Instruction, Dominican University. It uses Wikipedia to teach students resource evaluation and research skills.TRANSCRIPT
Using Wikipedia to Begin Research
Christina Janiczek
LIS 764: Fall 2011
Instruction Session
Agenda
Look at Wikipedia article about a fictional hero
Use the citations & references to find resources
Evaluate resources using the CRAP test
Class activity - Apply the CRAP test to a website
Citations & References Wikipedia and beyond
You can use this research strategy for just about any source in which information is cited: Scholarly articles Your textbook Websites, etc.
Looking at reference lists and bibliographies is an easy way to start exploring the existing literature on a topic.
Batman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman
Evaluating Sources
Evaluating Sources
Extremely important step!
Make sure the information you use is credible and appropriate for your project/paper.
Especially important with online sources Highly changeable - information could be here today, gone
tomorrow Unidentified authors make it difficult to determine authority &
purpose
Evaluating Sources
Apply the CRAP test:
C is for…
R is for…
A is for…
P is for…
Currency
Reliability
Authority
Purpose/Point of View
Adapted from Ken Orenic, Dominican University, http://loex2008collaborate.pbworks.com/w/page/18686701/The%20CRAP%20Test
Now it’s your turn!
Let’s say our topic is the transformations of Batman over time.
Apply the CRAP test to the article we looked at earlier from The Guardian.
Take a minute to skim the article on your own.
Currencyo How recent is the information?
o How recently has the website been updated?
o Is it current enough for your topic?
Reliabilityo Is content primarily fact or opinion? o If there are opinions, are they balanced?o Does the creator provide references or sources for data or quotations?
Authority o Who is the creator or author, and what are their credentials? o Who is the publisher or sponsor? Are they reputable? o What is the publisher's interest (if any) in this information? o Are there advertisements on the website?
Purpose/Point of Viewo Is this fact or opinion?o Is it biased?o Is the creator/author trying to sell you something?
Discussion
Would you include this resource in the annotated bibliography?
Why or why not?