Searching as Strategic Exploration

The lesson plan was for first year History undergraduate students at UWC. The topic was, “The lack of Social Justice in South Africa”

Learning outcomes 

1. Students should be able to construct effective search terms too effectively and efficiently search for information that relates to the topic,  “The lack of Social Justice in South Africa”.

     2. Students should be able to identify different sources of information to source information on their topic from.

  3. Students should be able to select the best possible source of information for their topic as a myriad of information are available for students. If the retrieved information does not meet the student’s information need, the search is continued or refined.

 

 

Class activities

• 1.   Students will be asked to participate in a Boolean Table Game. This type of activity will make it clear to students as to how to effectively construct Boolean terms when doing a database (online) search for the information for their topic. Here is a YouTube tip on how to efectively use Boolean terms:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTJygQwYV84
  2. Students will be asked to evaluate the various information about the research topic that they retrieved via the internet. The information needed for the project were retrieved (internet) via their ICT devices. They (students) will then write a brief paper, whereby they identify the “good” and “bad” information. Also motivating their decisions why the “good’ information must be used for their project, and not the “bad’ sources 
  3. Students must source information for their topic from a variety of sources (internet, databases, experts, and books). This is done to improve the students understanding of the topic. Also, to help the student understand the differences between the information sources.

Disposition

1. The first class activity encourages students to collectively arbitrate and to carefully think through their search terms before initiating any search activities.

2. The second activity will teach the students that not all information are credible (trustworthy). The student will also learn that some (credible) information might be more applicable and relevant to the topic than others.

3.The third and last activity allowed students to retrieve information on their topic from a variety of sources, this will allow the student to appreciate the different formats of information.