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Mid Semester Reflection - Hannelore Lewis

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Mid Semester Reflection - Hannelore Lewis

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As some others have said, everything in this class so far has been new to me, so there has been a lot to takeaway! Overall I am slowly feeling more confident in my search capabilities, as well as in my search results. Still, there is so much to learn that I often feel I am missing something, or only scratching the surface. I look forward to honing my skills in the workplace, while I search for myself and help others search. I know that the more “real” scenarios in which I put what I’ve learned to work, the better it will stick and the better I’ll get at searching.

A couple of my biggest takeaways have been:

* Command line searching - how to do it and how it actually works and doesn’t work.
* The ways in which using a basic search somewhere like the Rutgers library home page either catches or fails to catch/communicates or doesn’t communicate with all the databases it subscribes to, and how to carry out a better search.
* Using thesauri and some of the search tool offered by specific databases - I had no idea before this course that they were even there! If only I had taken this course before undergrad..

I look forward to learning more in the next couple months, and as I said, to practicing in the workplace!

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Everything we cover in this class is new to me. In that way, it feels a lot like 550 to me! The learning moments that stick with my from the first half of the class: to fill up my tool box with a variety of resources. I really was just using Google for everything. I might now be trending in the direction of using Google Books for everything...databases! I use them all the time now and have taught many public library patrons to use them... and more generally, to think about the time before and after the search. The idea that the steps and thoughts I take before and after search are the pieces that add value has stuck with me and motivates me to really address the questions that come my way, either at the library or from my kids or from friends.

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This class has been a wonderful crash course in the myriad ways that I can interact with and search for information, and has helped me understand my role in that space as intermediary between the information world and my patrons.
I think the biggest threshold I have crossed is in understanding how circuitous and multi-faceted the search process can be.  The information world is not a series of nails, screws, or bolts; the problems we face are not the sort which have a pre-made tool ready to service them.  Instead, it has become clear that as a professional I need to start building up my very own toolkit, figure out which processes work best for me, but also to be aware of the roads less traveled.  Even if I don't plan on using a specific tool or strategy, I am learning the importance of at least being aware of as many as possible, because there may always be a time when that method turns out to be a perfect fit for the challenge I am facing.
Finally, I am thankful that this course is helping me develop strategies to keep myself informed of changes in the information landscape, so that when a new tool or strategy becomes available I will have the option to either learn to adopt it or, at least, to file it away in the back of my mind for later use.

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I feel like I’m grasping a lot of information in a short amount of time. I’m learning to use different platforms to promote ideas such as Smore, Storybook, Screencast, Jing (my favorite), even YouTube, though I still haven’t figure out how to record, don’t judge me. I think I have gained confidence in conducting searching and using technology. It’s the reason I took this class, to dive into the Internet and its offerings. Most of my friends are either extreme social media posters or do not post at all about their lives, but read and browse social media. I’m working in libraries where the patrons don’t know how to use the copier, so when I’m asked a question about technology or books about certain subjects, I want to be able to conduct meaningful searches by utilizing the thesaurus for quick search retrievals, exposing myself to different databases, instead of sticking with EBSCOhost, though it is fabulous and so on. I’ve learned to look for controlled vocabulary, to rely on Boolean operators in advanced searches, but to check out the related searches at the bottom of the page, it may lead me down a different path. I’ve not utilized Google more than joining this class; its features are vast and useful.

~Nyrie Jackson:
I'm still learning because I don't know how to write my name at the top. lol

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I feel as if I’ve learned a lot since starting this class. When I started this class, I thought of search as a pretty basic thing (boy, was I wrong). I think my biggest takeaway is that search is an ever-evolving process, with the scope of the search depending on the quality of resources needed and the amount of time that can be spent in the search. A lot of work goes in behind the scenes to make searching efficient and easier for the user, such as controlled vocabularies. On the other hand, a lot of work can be put in by the user in order to streamline and specify their search every further, such as command line searching. I’m looking forward to learning more in the rest of the semester!

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When we began this semester I said that this is my new search story because prior to this course I did not consider all of the really fascinating aspects of search we have began to explore this semester.

The concepts first discussed by Mary Ellen Bates set the tone that information search is a skilled profession that has time and monetary value.  Each concept we learned every subsequent week was another tool that helped to make us more skilled information professionals.

In the beginning of the course I found much of the vocabulary like learning a second language, and now I am becoming much more confident with the terms used.

I've enjoyed learning about various databases and the special features involved that can be especially helpful in the search process. For instance,
the thesauri was a huge sticking point for me, learning the language of the database search.

I thought building our own customized google search was also really helpful and I could see this applying to my professional practice.

Overall, I have really enjoyed all we have learned and I look forward to learning more!

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Being immersed in this course for the past eight weeks has been an eye-opening experience for me. After reflecting on past searches, I’ve come to the realization that I was completely unaware of just how involved and time-consuming one can be. My previous searches were very surface-level- I only made use of one or two databases and used the same keywords or phrases in the search bar to try and find information. Oftentimes, I would get frustrated with what I was (or was not) finding and ended up either changing my search topic or using the top few hits on my results page because I figured those were best. Looking back, I realize that many have this experience with search and as a librarian, I will continue to encounter those dealing with difficult inquiries. Search requires technique and skill – something that can take years to develop. This course has allowed me to build my own search toolkit, whether that be through the use of Boolean operators or knowing how to find a specialized database. I still have a lot to learn, but each week, I feel that I have a deeper level of understanding.

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I’m feeling more confident with my searching skills. Some of the methods I use have been reinforced (limiting a search to a site, or type of site, or filetype) but I have also learned new tools that will assist me in searching, like finding the thesaurus or the controlled vocabulary in a database and trying Google Books.

Big takeaways:

Image your ideal source and predict where it will live, what form it will be in, what language it will be written in, etc. Also important is to predict what results you will get before you hit enter on a search.

When assisting others with a search, try out what you think they have already done, then consider how to take them beyond that. Don’t invest more time in the search, than the value they have placed on it.

Sometimes there is importance or meaning in what we don’t find when searching (or where we don’t find information).

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Filling up the toolbox.

I think that the biggest take-away of all with this course has been taking the skills I learn every week and using them to help people better.  I feel like a broken record saying it, but it's true.  I am now constantly using search techniques at work for helping people find what they need and making it easier to say with confidence, "here's the answer."  Even things I don't find right away are located after applying more in-depth strategies and a great deal of planning.  I think it's the planning and prep work that made the biggest impression on me. I'm learning to slow down and think things through rather than shot from the hip and take what I receive for value. I'm diving deeper with searching and finding ways to get ALL the information needed.

It may sound corny, but the feeling I get after applying these skills and getting what a patron wants (even the more annoying ones) gives me a warm feeling inside.  It's been so long since I had that feeling.  Now I just want to continue learning and finding out everything I can so I can be better and help others when they need me.

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Mid-semester reflection•	It takes a lot of training to become an expert searcher, and the best way to learn is by doing. It’s very time consuming to search well (at least now) and it’s easy to get lost in all our search activities. This was pointed out in our first week, but I see it more in practice now: search is very non-linear. •	I am more adamant in my belief that search should be a subject in and of itself, at least at the undergraduate level, if not in high school.•	To search well, one must be a good listener. To listen both to the initial information need (and negotiate it if necessary) AND to the back and forth dynamic that the information provides. •	Pre-search strategies are paramount in good search.•	Controlled vocabularies are essential at times, especially when a search needs to be scholarly or rigorous. •	Keep track of all search strategies; it’s really easy to lose your place and forget what you’ve done, which makes it difficult to develop a reproducible search.•	I still try to keep the term “search like a bird” in the back of my mind when I’m doing any kind of search. It has helped me to see things from a different angle, and to help diminish search bias.•	Dan Russell’s MOOCs have been a fun highlight for me. I’m glad I understand that Google has so much to offer. •	This has been my favorite course in the program so far because every activity feels like I’m training for the actual job I want. I am more committed to my idea of finding a way to conduct searches for systematic reviews.

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Mid-semester reflection•	It takes a lot of training to become an expert searcher, and the best way to learn is by doing. It’s very time consuming to search well (at least now) and it’s easy to get lost in all our search activities. This was pointed out in our first week, but I see it more in practice now: search is very non-linear. •	I am more adamant in my belief that search should be a subject in and of itself, at least at the undergraduate level, if not in high school.•	To search well, one must be a good listener. To listen both to the initial information need (and negotiate it if necessary) AND to the back and forth dynamic that the information provides. •	Pre-search strategies are paramount in good search.•	Controlled vocabularies are essential at times, especially when a search needs to be scholarly or rigorous. •	Keep track of all search strategies; it’s really easy to lose your place and forget what you’ve done, which makes it difficult to develop a reproducible search.•	I still try to keep the term “search like a bird” in the back of my mind when I’m doing any kind of search. It has helped me to see things from a different angle, and to help diminish search bias.•	Dan Russell’s MOOCs have been a fun highlight for me. I’m glad I understand that Google has so much to offer. •	This has been my favorite course in the program so far because every activity feels like I’m training for the actual job I want. I am more committed to my idea of finding a way to conduct searches for systematic reviews.

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My overall perspective as an information professional has been the greatest area of growth for me so far this semester. Starting at the beginning with Mary Ellen Bates’s VoS, I began to see some of the fascinating opportunities and creative skill sets within this field. I have found the VoS to be a valuable look at life outside of our program as well as my own professional work, which is something that hasn’t happened often in my student life!

My confidence in navigating and recommending databases has grown tremendously since the start of the semester. Although I had experience and instruction prior to this course, the extent to which we have been asked to engage with and analyze these resources has made all the difference. At times I have definitely felt frustrated as the learning curve has been steep, especially when I have carefully thought about and selected a search with facets and limiters that I thought seemed great, only to yield zero results! These failures have lead to more learning, namely by allowing me to step into my students’ shoes and recognize possible sources of frustration for them. With the knowledge I now have about how database engines run coupled with hours of trying them out, I am in a good position to lead my students and staff through their various searches. I have plenty yet to learn- becoming proficient with search is a lifelong process- but I am in a much better place now than where I started.

Finally, I am grateful to be learning so many new platforms for sharing information such as Pearltrees, Screencastify, Smore, and Piktochart. Again, the immediate applicability to my work is an excellent way to solidify those development skills, and knowing that I will be able to use most of these smaller projects as I build my LibGuide has made the lessons authentic.

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Though this is both extremely general and somewhat redundant, as I’ve made similar points a regular basis in our weekly discussions, my biggest takeaway so far is the interwoven nature of the vast search universe. There are so many common threads—tools, techniques, strategies, fortes, and foibles—that run through every platform and context we’ve explored, from specialized subscription databases to garden variety Google searches, from the classroom to the boardroom, from medicine and law to animals and colors and beyond. “Concept fusion” is the only adequate description of the process whereby my understanding of environment, structure, and vocabulary is at once immersive, emergent, and incidentally imminent! I’m not quite sure if I can pinpoint how and when I cross these thresholds; rather, my experience, like Boolean search, is best conceived as a mass of Venn diagrams riddled with convergences, tangents, and standalone knowhow.

In terms of specific skills, I can cite two other critical components. The first, though admittedly mundane, occurs every time something I take for granted is revealed as niche, peripheral, or acroamatic in the discussion boards. I find that interacting with other thoughtful, intelligent people is the best way to moderate informational extremes and temper otherwise irregular opinions; I also notice that the discussion board format, wherein people have time to take pause, reflect on what’s said, and offer a measured response sans interruption is much more conducive to sharing search skills than, say, a straightforward tutorial or text. In some regards, what we’re doing is akin to virtual reference, and these exchanges are truly invaluable.

The second stems from our weekly search activities. This is one of the few learning experiences I’ve had wherein there is no busywork or extraneous material: every assignment ultimately builds toward our larger projects, which in turn function as viable professional resources. Moreover, seeing the creativity and diverse interests of my colleagues on display reinforces my appreciation for this line of work and ensures I don’t find myself trapped in the bubble of my perennial hobbies and fascinations.