Libraries Collections of Knowledge
Libraries Objectives:
- Provide examples of primary and secondary sources of information.
- Outline a strategy for locating science information from a variety of resources, including how to cite sources.
It is a good idea to complete and submit the final portfolio well before the due date (Wednesday of finals week, 11:59 P.T.), so you can focus on studying for final exam in other courses. Your portfolio has 10 parts, starting with the introduction page that is this guide’s media piece.
Your final portfolio has 10 sections and is worth 20 points (20% of the course grade).
The portfolio is due Wednesday of final week (week #11) by 11:59 p.m. P.T.
Introduction
You will be introduced to writing a introduction page in Module 10. Basically it is an overview to the portfolio format you have selected, including how your portfolio demonstrates achievement of course outcomes and how you may use the portfolio beyond this course.
Concepts
Three sections, each with a substantial body of work demonstrating understandings of:
Science Concepts
Biology Concepts
Environmental Biology Concepts
Skills
Three sections, each with a substantial body of work demonstrating the ability to carry out the processes used to develop science knowledge:
Science Skills
Biology Skills
Environmental Biology Skills
Connections
Three sections, each demonstrating ways science connects with the “real world” including other fields of study and everyday life:
Science Connections
Biology Connections
Environmental Biology Connections
You are providing evidence that you understand the course concepts, can complete the skills, and make connections.
This is 20% of the course grade, fill each section with substantial evidence of your personal work.
If you reference any other work, cite the source. Information on citing sources is provided below.
Libraries
We rely on science information to make decisions about consumer, citizenry, and health issues. Finding and selecting information is key in researching science and nature topics.
A significant component of researching a science concept is finding out what is already known about a topic. Even with our current information storage and retrieval technologies, information often disappears over time, particularly if it is not published in a science journal.
As introduced in the previous module, information is generally categorized as being a primary source (research carried out by the author) or a secondary source (someone writing about other people’s research). Although we typically use secondary sources in everyday learning about a topic, there are times when primary sources are beneficial.
Common sources of science information include:
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science journals (primary source: peer-reviewed and not)
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science monographs (primary source: longer papers on a single topic)
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print & online news resources (secondary source: CNN, BBC, +)
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print magazines (secondary source: National Geographic, Discover, +)
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online magazines (secondary source: Science News, Daily Science, +)
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trade books (secondary source: pet manuals, field guides, +)
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social media (secondary source: blogs, videos, posts)
Information Strategy
It may be tempting to find a single source of information and stop there. However, different authors have distinct perspectives, and may offer conflicting information that paints a more accurate picture of the complexity of natural systems. Here is a strategy to collecting sources of information about a new topic.
Whenever using information generated by another individual, it is important to cite the source. This includes any work you include in your final portfolio. If it is someone else’s thoughts or products, they need to be acknowledged.
Different fields use different forms of citations. The most important rule it to cite everything. Even if you get the format “wrong,” crediting individuals is always essential.
In this course we are not holding you to a particular citation format, but you do need to provide some form of citation whenever you use someone else’s work.
Citing an article from a primary source
Author last name, Author First Initial. Author Second Initial. (Publication Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume(issue) (if issue numbered), pages.
Citing an article from a secondary source – print
Author last name, Author First Initial. Author Second Initial. (Publication Year, Month Day). Title of article. Title of Magazine,volume, pages.
Citing an article from a secondary source – web page
Page Author Last Name, Page Author First Initial. Page Author Second Initial. Page title [nature of work – web site, blog, forum posting, etc.]. (Publication Year). Retrieved from (URL)
This is the end of the Museums & Libraries Guide. The material from this guide and corresponding lecture will be the only material on this week’s quiz.
Check your knowledge. Can you:
- Provide examples of primary and secondary sources of information?
- Outline a strategy for locating science information from a variety of resources, including how to cite sources?
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Museums & Libraries Lecture Guide Contents
This guide and lecture material are assessed on the weekly quiz.
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