Searching as Strategic Exploration
Searching for information is a process requiring the selection and evaluation of different information sources with the option to refine and develop new search strategies to meet the information need. Learn more.
Learning Objectives
Key Sentence: Novice learners may search a limited set of resources, while experts may search more broadly and deeply to determine the most appropriate information. Likewise, novice learners tend to use few search strategies, while experts select from various search strategies, depending on the sources, scope, and context of the information need.
Learning Objectives
Learners who are developing their information literate abilities will be able to:
- Identify the sources and search tools to access relevant information;
- Use different types of searching language(e.g., keywords, controlled vocabulary, natural language);
- Develop and compare search strategies and results;
- Refine search strategies based on the search results
Classroom Activities
- Search Strategy WorksheetEach student has a handout that walks them through the steps to create a researchable question and select keywords.
- Search and Compare ActivityStudents are asked to search a single topic in a variety of databases and compare the search results.
- Compare Disciplinary DatabasesStudents search two databases focused on different disciplines and compare the results.