It is amazing to see the huge number of question and answer sites out there. I have used several of them with students - and consider them to be good reliable sources. I regularly have students use Factmonster.com, for one.
When do I use online answer sites? When I want to look smart. Really. I do this most often during sporting events on tv. The usual scenario goes something like this:
We're watching the game. An athlete makes a great play and someone in the room (my father-in-law, husband, son) asks "What college did he go to?" They make a few guesses while I turn around to the pc and type in the athlete's name. Bingo. I give the answer to the group and they swoon in amazement.
These are the easy questions. Generally these types of questions fit into the trivia category. The other time I find myself using sites like these is to help my son with his homework. I am amazed at the resources students have in their own homes, due to the Internet. However, I am also amazed at the lack of instruction and direction students are given in using these resources. I have rolled my eyes many times when my son either doesn't even try the best resource that was suggested by his instructor, or when he attempts to use it but doesn't use it correctly and can't find an answer.
One of my favorite stories was the high school student who spent an hour in the library on the Internet trying to find research for her topic. She finally threw her arms up in the air and spouted to the media specialist (whom she hadn't asked for help) "There just isn't anything on the Internet about alcohol abuse!"
I do believe that one of the primary roles of a library media specialist today is to teach students (and everyone!) how to access and use the tools that are available to them both inside the walls of the school and through the Internet. I don't think this will take anything away from a good media specialist - but will only add more to the program!
Hi Laurie,
ReplyDeleteI like your illustration of the student who said there was nothing about alcohol abuse on the internet. In public libraries we get that a lot too, where they don't ask about what they are looking for and then they leave frustrated because they don't have anything.
A good librarian (media speciliast or otherwise) helps students not only know where to look but how to look. The use of answer sites is a good indication that people don't know where to go or even look up the information themselves sometimes. I commend you on recognizing the importance of teaching research skills. As a recent college graduate (I consider a year and a half ago recent) I can tell you that several of my upper level course instructors actually had units on doing research in the library and the internet. If college students don't know how to research, it's certainly an indication that someone down the line isn't doing a good job or enough in that area.
Best of luck with the rest of the things. It's nice, as a public librarian myself, to read the thoughts of someone in the academic field.