Professional Documents
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GA Conf15 Forum
GA Conf15 Forum
@EloquentScience
David.Schultz@manchester.ac.uk
BuildYourOwnEarth.com
ManUniCast.com
Our Earth (Coursera, starting on June 8)
Research interests:
Meteorology, climatology
Scientific communication skills
Research Interests
• Modern-day glacial and periglacial environments
• Glacier-permafrost interactions
• Geoconservation
• Supporting student transitions into Higher
Education
“Information literacy is the adoption of
appropriate information behaviour to obtain,
through whatever channel or medium,
information well fitted to information needs,
together with critical awareness of the
importance of wise and ethical use of
information in society.”
http://www.sconul.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/coremodel.pdf
Avoiding plagiarism
Developing
appropriate search
Referencing skills strategies
Constructing
appropriate search
terms
Managing your
resources Using online
databases
Information Literacy:
The Continuum of Skills
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8314929977_36b1d58cf6_o.jpg
Information Literacy:
The Continuum of Skills
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8314929977_36b1d58cf6_o.jpg
“The uncertain quality and expanding quantity
of information also pose large challenges for
society.
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
A-level students – Use of Resources
4.0
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
A-level students – Value of Resources
5.0
4.5 Comprehensive (n=11)
Mean value to studies(1 = v. poor, 5 = v.
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Frequency of use of information resources by
new arrivals
4.0
3.5
Mean (0 = never, 4 = all the time)
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Class notes General Specific Textbooks Journals Print media TV/radio
internet internet
Geography (n=33) Chemistry (n=66) Politics (n=47)
Perceived value of learning resources
5.0
4.5
4.0
(1 = v. poor, 5 = v. good)
3.5
Mean value to studies
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Class notes General Subject- Textbooks Journal Print media TV & radio
internet specific articles
internet
Geography (n=33) Chemistry (n=66) Politics (n=47)
“The real paradox lies in the fact that the more
resources are made available, the more
students are inclined to confine their
search strategies to a few of those resources
due to the lack of necessary skills required.”
(15 mins)
Source 1: NSIDC – Glaciers and Climate Change
http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/climate.html
Source 2: IPCC 5th Assessment Report
http://www.climatechange2013.org/images/report/WG1AR5_Chapter04_FINAL.pdf
Source 3: Climate change reconsidered (heartland.org)
http://heartland.org/media-library/pdfs/CCR-II/Chapter-5-Cryosphere.pdf
Source 4: BBC weather centre
http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/impact/glaciers.shtml
Source 5: Journal article
http://www.geography.osu.edu/faculty/bmark/2008%20ESR%20Vuille_etal.pdf
https://heartland.org/
Google Scholar
• Enables students to search for more explicitly “academic” and research-
oriented material using a familiar interface.
• Much more research literature freely available than ever before…
Concluding comments
Developing basic skills in information literacy can help
enhance student performance at A-level and ease
student transition into HE study.
Key skills to work on include:
Locating a diverse range of resources using tools such as
Google Scholar.
Introducing advanced sources such as journal literature.
Evaluating the reliability and “usefulness” of sources.
Introducing the importance of referencing.
Happy to work with anyone interested in trying to
integrate these skills into their teaching programme.
Waller, R., and D. M. Schultz, 2014: How to succeed at university in GEES
disciplines: Enhancing your information literacy skills. GEES, Higher Education
Academy, 30 pp.
https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/node/10230 OR
http://bit.ly/InfoLiteracySkills