Today we had a library orientation with Professor Steve Gerstle. Write a brief response to the orientation ( (250 words min.). Note what your learned about libraries and research. What was new information and what reinforced previous knowledge?
Talk about the library databases online and your experience using them.
Talk about how you plan to utilize the COA Library and Library Services. Have you ever used the library databases off campus?
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10 comments:
Allen Lee
Professor Sabir
English 1B
8 February 2012
Instead of the usual classroom setting, class settled in the COA library. Another alteration was instead of Professor Sabir we had Steve Gerstle lecturing the class on the possible ways of obtaining reliable resources. We received crucial information of how to locate and use search engines along with the ways to access them. Although many of people know how to include outside sources, they all might not be strong supporting data.
Although many were not fully awake during the early morning gathering in the library (evident in the constant silence when questions were asked), many still learned something from the orientation. The session started with an introduction of the librarian, Steve Gerstle, and his purpose of standing in front of the room. Discussion went from a brief introduction to a long half hour of discussing how to find citable sources.
We observed a walk though on the location and functions of the search engines. On the white screen, it showed the directories of multiple search engines. We were warned that it was free to use on campus, but when using the websites somewhere else, it requires a user and password. Easy enough the a handout with the details were passed out. When searching for information, it was important to know what you are looking for; either search for the title or author. When key information was found, the source could be emailed straight to a person’s email. Not only written work but also audio was provided.
After learning easier ways to obtain reliable sources, I plan on abusing the free system of information. From what I learned today, the library directories are located online. I can save time by checking online to see which Peralta college has the information I would be seeking and if they have any left on the shelves. Not only the library a useful tip, but I can also receiving entire resources by emailing them to myself instead of writing down long websites.
Marie Heide
Prof. Sabir
English 1B
08 February 2012
Today, English class met at the library located on the COA campus. Once there, we were introduced to Prof. Steve Gerstle, who gave us a crash course in using the library’s resources on the physical campus and the on-line resources. It was such a revelation to know that information is readily available at our finger tips at any given time.
When assigned a research paper, I typically do it the “old fashioned” way. I like to go to the library and physically touch the books and flip through the pages, taking in all of the information that is being presented to me. I particularly like to talk to the librarians who are more than ready to offer help. One thing I did learn, especially when checking out books from the library, making a photocopy of the front cover of the book as well as the publishing information to aid in completing the works cited page. This is a seemingly simple and yet common sense thing to do, something I never thought of doing. Many times, after I return my book, I cannot complete the works cited page because I do not have any information. This is a good thing to remember to do.
In addition to going to the library, I can also do research from home on the internet! That is incredibly convenient. I discovered that I could log onto the school website and access the library website and look up research information that way. Some sites even have an audio feature, which for me, is very helpful in reinforcing the information as well as aiding me in catching important information that I may have overlooked while reading the article. Out of curiosity, when I got home, I logged into the Alameda Library’s website, and discovered that I could do the same thing there! How convenient to have such access to countless information.
Giao Bui
Professor Sabir
English 1B
8 February 2012
The lecture today in the library mostly reinforced my knowledge about researching. Professor Gerstle covered all the basics about researching. He showed us how to access research databases, search authors, sort the results, and email articles to ourselves. I was surprised at the fact that we could listen to the articles and that some of the search results are not purely text. I pretty much knew how to do basic searching but did not know how to send myself the articles. I typically print out the articles so I do not have to go through the trouble of finding them again but now I know I can save some paper.
Doing research was required throughout most of high school career and was a necessity for every GE class I have taken. From my experience, library databases are extremely helpful because they show me resources that are acceptable for writing papers. It saves a lot of time from having to confirm if the websites I find through a search engine have plausible. That is why they are typically my main medium for finding information.
I plan to use library resources but will not limit them only to the COA library. Some public libraries seem to be bigger and subscribed to more databases. I will surely utilize the databases. I typically do research at home and as I find that is the most convenient for me. Since I will mostly be working from home, I do not know if I will be using much of what else the library has to offer.
Ryan James Gozinsky-Irwin
Professor Wanda Sabir
09 Feburary, 2012
Period 8-8:50
English 1B
Today as the fog rolled in and sat on the bay area our English 1B class was privileged with the opportunity to learn for the knowledgeable Liberians about our awesome online resources. It was interesting to learn about the different things that were offered in the online database such as, the different mediums that we can select from for information wether it be a review or multimedia coverage. It was awesome to learn that not everything is something that you have to read but something that you also may be able to listen to. Like the example that Miss Sabir had brought up with a student in one of her previous sections that was blind and have media that could be transmitted aloud was extremely helpful.
The online database will prove to be very useful for me in the future. I know that not only in english class can I utilize it but in my psychology and most likely economics I can use the online resources to gather more information about my topics. I also like how the database is tied into the other Peralta campuses, I think that a terrific idea that were able to network information like that. However, I think It would be even cooler and more effective if we could work with schools like CC San Francisco and other community colleges that may not be in our system. It would be great if there was a single database for all of the community colleges in California or even the nation but that is a completely crazy idea. I look forward to my future endeavorers and late nights with our online resource.
Sherrlyne Apostol
Professor Sabir
English 1B
8 February 2012
Today the class met in the library. I’ve never been in the library so I thought it was rather fascinating to be exposed to the environment. We met in a room that was designed to fit a class. There we met professor Grestle, he introduced himself and went straight to business. He began by talking about information and the importance of having the right information. Then he proceeded with our class syllabus and the expectations we were held by. We discussed about the literature we were designed to read this semester. He asked us about “The Dance Boots” since it was the book we were presently on and asked if we knew any background on the author.
In a nutshell he showed us how to research an authors background, reviews about them, books they’ve published, and other neat information that may aid in the understanding of the literature. I thought it was pretty convenient how students were able to access this information in the library but most importantly at home. In addition, I thought it was pretty neat that for some authors you could actually hear interviews that they’ve broadcasted. I find that being able to hear information is much more entertaining than reading sometimes.
I find this type of resource very convenient especially if I need to cite anything. Being able to have access to immense amounts of resources will become a tremendous help later with my studies.
Pauline Ng
Prof. Sabir
Eng 1B
2/9/12
Today we did not meet in our usual classroom and instead we met in the library. Professor Steve Gerstle had given us a great orientation on the basic knowledge on how to use the off-campus library databases. First we have to know the username and password to even look at the database, and it was great how he gave out hand-outs with steps on logging in the library and the necessary information. He also gave us another hand-out on how to find book reviews and author biographies to help us to have a better understanding of the book. I learned that the library database has a lot of different type of information that can be helpful when writing our essays after all the different type of literature. I learned where to go to search for the author or key words for the book and that you can e-mail the needed information or listen to it. The information they have on the databases is also reliable and can be used as sources. I did not know much about our off-campus library databases before the orientation, and I think it can be very useful for the future. The databases have a lot of good information, not only on the book but also how others view it and some may even have critical essays. I will definitely use the College of Alameda library and Library Services. I will use it review the book to reassure I did not miss anything important while reading and that I have the main idea down.
Great reflections. I like how a couple students set the scene and were very descriptive in their responses.
I also like how comprehensive the responses were. Almost all of you answered all my questions.
It was good to know that for some students, you'd learned about library research in high school and for others that you were familiar with the research process and had a routine developed which was expanded given this new information about COA resources during the orientation.
Maribel Arrizon
Professor Sabir
English 1B
14 February 2012
We had class in the library today instead of in the classroom, which took me off guard a bit because I had forgotten. I was quite surprised that the library was open at such and early time whereas the math lab and many other of the computer rooms in the second level didn’t open until later. It made me wonder as to what the librarians were up to at such an early time because I doubt that many people go to the library at eight in the morning specifically to check out books.
I found most of the information that was given quite repetitive given that my last English teacher had made us have a similar lecture in the library too. One of the few things that were different though, was that instead of viewing the scholarly databases like Expanded Academic ASAP, we viewed the database relevant to literature, but I know that I could have easily located if I hadn’t known before.
I’ve used the databases quite a lot in my English classes and I know that this semester won’t be any different. I quite preferred the databases as opposed to debating whether the website I was in was scholarly or not or trying to cite it properly when the information in the databases already provided that and certainly had scholarly information. I’ve also used the alameda free library databases too, which can be accessed simply by owning a library card from them. I found it quite odd though that the library is opened quite early but the computer labs aren’t.
Wanda Sabir
Juan Sanabria
English 1B
The introduction to the computer usage for library research was interesting. The video we watched described the hurt the obijwe tribe went through as a community.
I learned a few things on how to search for documents via library style. And how to request information from the computer data base. The class was short but lively and the info was correct.
Wanda Sabir
Juan Sanabria
English 1B
The introduction to the computer usage for library research was interesting. The video we watched described the hurt the obijwe tribe went through as a community.
I learned a few things on how to search for documents via library style. And how to request information from the computer data base. The class was short but lively and the info was correct.
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