Reading #5

Article: "Information Navigation 101"
Author: Andrea L. Foster

The 20th century is more advanced in technology than 20, 10 even 5 years ago. People, especially students, are relying way too much on the internet and search engines, such as Google. Anyone can post anything on the internet and these search engines will pick up anything anyone has posted. Many believe that anything on the internet is true and a reliable source for information. Many professors are noticing the information students are turning in is not always true. Cal State was among one of the first to start teaching information technology. Many other colleges are starting to tech students how to use other sources to find information, like going back to searching libraries and journals. In 1989, the American Library Association said it was necessary to skill and urge schools and colleges to teach information technology to students. That same year Patricia Breivik and E. Gordan came out with Information Literacy: Revolution in the Library motivating many to take these teachings seriously. This encouraged librarians to take action and teach students the importance of information outside of the internet. Now schools across the States are getting evolved in teaching theses methods.

Students, especially, take on wide loads and think a quick search on Google will give them the information they may need to write a paper or study for tests. Librarians are taking action by helping students understand how to use databases and other ways to find information other than Google. I think many rely way too much on computers to do all the work for them now. Not too long ago it wasn’t an option to have a quick search of the internet people had to go into the library and search through books, journals, news papers and more to get the information they were looking for. My experience in LIB 103 has taught me so much about accessing information I didn’t know how to get to before. I think it should be a required that every student should take an information technology course and learn more than we think we already knew.

Reading #4

Article: “The Infodiet: How Libraries Can Offer an Appetizing Alternative to Google”
Author: Bell, Steven J.

Are students becoming too attached to search engines like Google? Google might be a great source for a brought quick response to what you are searching for, but isn’t as accurate as a database may be or as reliable. The term Infobesit is used to describe the way many people use Google to Goole-ize information. Instead of really learning material people are Google-izing into much shorter and quicker material so they can just get the gist of the full information. Now, people are trying to get students to go from infobestity to infodieting. Infodieting, is a good way for people to cut back from the junk-information diet, this information is hard to digest and can be very overwhelming. This is the process of teaching students to use more databases and how to recognize correct information. Many student and even faculty do not understand to usefulness of databases. I feel people now are in such a rush to find the information and get the work do and they don’t even care if the information is truly correct or not. Many only know how to use Google and get so over whelmed when asked to use a database search or even read a book. Professors really need to help their students out in understanding there is more out there beyond Google and everyday search engines. If the teaching staffs would all get together they could all work together and learn how to teach students the importance of the web. Google does not even scratch the surface of what is really out there in the web. Students as well, need to broaden their knowledge of the Internet by wanting to explore the Internet. It may be a little overwhelming at first but once you get the hang out it, it’s just like any other web application we use everyday.