On Tuesday we learned that if you are researching a specific topic, it is important to find the overall branching topics first in order to search the research guides. From there, it is much easier to find a database that will help narrow the search. For example, in class we have been using the Freshmen Fifteen. The overarching topics we discovered were health, news, nutrition, mobility, etc. This allowed us to start with the most general databases and then get narrower. After that, it is best to search for key words that vary, like weight gain, college, food/dining, and freshmen fifteen/15. This will help make sure that I get the right terminology to find a good range of sources when I need to for academic research. For practical use, this could help me to think of a broad range of subjects to help me decide which resources I want to choose to look in for information.

We also learned that for each subject there is a librarian who helps create a Research Guide. This means they are very qualified, and design a guide that has the best tools for research for us students. Thirdly, we learned that there are specialized collections at PSU, which can make the difference between a “so-so” paper, and an A. For example, there is a 3-mile island collection that has special footage allowed to PSU students. These are just one more type of tool offered to help students gain more knowledge from more sources. This will definitely come in handy for academic research of all kinds, however, I don’t think I would use a research guide for any everyday use and questions, because it is pretty in depth and specific.

On Thursday, we discussed how to use Wikipedia in the best way, along with the sequencing of how information is passed along, going through waves of both credible and not so reliable. The timeline we created sort of showed the difference in how long it takes to produce different forms of information. For example, instant news comes first (almost instantly), then there is more in depth news, then magazine articles, then scholarly journals, then books, then references sources like encyclopedias.  Though most of us usually think that books are the most credible, we discussed how scholarly journals may actually be better sources of information because they must be passed through a panel of other experts, where as anyone can really publish a book as long as they have the finances. The most important questions we had to address were who? When? And why?.  This helps us to see the purpose for why the piece is written, as well as if there is a credible source claiming the information. This information is extremely important and will be necessary all the way through my future, even non-academically, because it teaches me what sources to trust. It has made me aware of the sequencing of information, and usually the longer things take to be published the generally are more reliable.

The main question I had, was how do we find the special collections? Is it better to see them in person or can they be found entirely online?