Paseo

Step 1: Select a topic and write a clearly stated objective that follows and includes the ABCDs. Your objective should be clear and measurable, not "wishy-washy".

For this Paseo assignment, I decided to explore the information inquiry topic “Search Strategies,” and more particularly, the different search techniques and strategies to effectively searching electronic databases. The objective for this topic is as follows:

Given a formal session on search strategies ,an in-depth guide, as well as a group activity centered on applying those strategies (C), first-year advanced English students (A) will be able to use and apply Boolean Operators and other search techniques(Limiters, etc.) effectively, to find two peer-reviewed articles for their essay assignment (D).

A: Sixteen first year freshman students at a small community college taking an advanced introductory level English course, with a persuasive essay assignment requirement (as part of series of research assignments). Students have some knowledge of databases from a prior session, but lack advanced search strategy skills.

B: Students, working in pairs and individually, will learn to apply various different search techniques to find relevant peer-reviewed articles for the topics on their worksheet, as well as for their own essay assignment.

C: After a short (15-min) session demonstrating to students where to find certain search options, and how to use certain options (removing options, selecting options), students will engage in a group activity (40 min) to practice constructing search statements and applying search techniques, by completing a database search worksheet with a partner. After doing so, ...

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...s a post-activity discussion (Smith 11-12; 19; Keyser 12).

After the first worksheet would be completed, the students would then re-convene and work on a second worksheet (Research Strategy Proposal), independently. This last part would be a culmination, building on the foundational skills learned within the group activity, and would be used for assessing whether students reached the objective. This second worksheet would consist of the student applying what they learned to develop a search strategy for their own topic, including identifying three keywords, constructing three search statements, applying and justifying appropriate search limiters, and finding two peer-reviewed articles for their research assignment. This individual assignment would then be assessed by a librarian/professor, using a rubric, which would also be provided to the student.