Sample Works
SIRS Issues Researcher How-to Guide
I knew that SIRS Issues Researcher was one of the DSA LMC databases but I wasn’t actually fully aware of its exact location. I now know that it can be found in student resources on the DSA LMC website and that it may require a passcode to log in for students who have logged into this database before. I know after exploring the database that in order to cite a document all one needs to do is click on the topic and on the right side of the page is a green box that says Use This Document and under that it says cite. However before you cite it a CRAAP Test will need to be performed. Before this assignment I knew from last year that the CRAAP test was a way to evaluate the use of a website. During this assignment I was able to get a refresher on what it stands for: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. This project also allowed me to improve my search strategy by practicing finding better keywords. This improvement will help me better help students find materials in the LMC as it will allow me to show other students how to search for and find materials faster.
Fiction Collection Non Fiction Collection
https://bit.ly/3dEOo0J
Not being the most tech savvy person I didn’t really know much about how to search for fictional titles. Now I know how to look for comparable titles, add them to my personal list, and NCWiseOwl is your best friend when finding books that are similar in storylines and environments. I had the same experience with audio/ebooks that I had with print, didn’t really know too much about the options that I had and even how to get to them because of the change to virtual school, now I can access and use these audio/ebooks. When it came to the NoveList Plus database to be honest I’ve never even heard of it before and I didn’t ever really show any interest in learning anything that was on a computer. Now I am able to use it and understand how it works. Other technical skills I can now do is how to properly resize images on a computer and find different ways of what works and what doesn’t in researching by using keywords in databases and DSA library catalog. These new skills will be able to help me guide other students who might be as lost as I was at the beginning of the year. |
https://bit.ly/31lTQAI
When starting my Nonfiction Collection I was already familiar with NCWiseOwl because of my previous use of it through my last assignment, finding comparables. Now I know how much more NCWiseOwl has to offer other than just comparable books. Other databases such as the SIRS, Issues Researcher, Academic Video Online, eLibrary, are some I had never even heard of before. From this project I now know how much useful information such as books, magazines, articles, and videos can be found in these databases. Having only just started this class this year I haven't heard of a lot of things, but especially not how to or even the need to evaluate websites. Is it current/updated? Does it relate to my topic? Does the author actually know the topic? Is it even accurate? Is the purpose clear or even there? All 5 of these questions I now know are very essential in the process of picking a website to look at and share with others. At the end looking on this project I learned how to navigate my way through a database by using the Advanced Search which also helped me to improve on my strategies when researching with keywords and I learned how to find and use permalinks instead of just copying and pasting the words in the search bar. The skills that I learned while doing this project has bettered my knowledge in how to navigate the databases and finding more materials which will be extremely helpful for any student in need. |
Quarter Two
My Reflection : I now have learned to become more creative with Google slides and improve the way I use it. Originally I didn’t have any knowledge on how to make movies in Google slides, in the past I would just click through the slides as I’m presenting. Screencastify was a huge help with this project, however I never heard of Screencastify before this project. Now not only do I know what it is, but now I can add my background music and edit my final video. When it comes to this topic I knew prehand that there was a vast amount of diversity in literature, even more so nowadays, but this was the first book I read that was in this style. Windows and doors have an important role in book diversity as they allow you to relate to the character and/or the plot or if there is no relation then this can create a new outlook for you as you see someone completely different from yourself. My book Ghost Boys reflects this as it was a window for me to see how much police brutality truly affects families and the person themselves. Academically these new tech skills will help me to present better projects in the future whether it be in school or the workplace. These new thoughts on diversity will help me be more empathetic and compassionate to others and their situations as we truly don’t know what others experience.
Quarter Three |
My Reflection : While doing my PSA project I got more comfortable using screencastify and it’s editing features. In the future if I needed to create another PSA I would add more pictures or videos to express a clearer message. A big take-away I personally got from Checkology was the understanding that the media has much more influence in our lives then I originally perceived. From news to social media platforms we get all of our information off the internet and it is a true challenge to decipher what is real and what is fake. The Checkology modules educated me on how to sift through websites, social media, advertisements, and news articles. This new knowledge has made me more aware about what information I’m interacting with instead of just passively scrolling through posts, articles, and ads. Academically and personally this knowledge I gained will help me understand what I’m reading or watching.
All works on this website are original and are not for use without permission from the creator; © 2021, Ameerah, A.