Helping Students Navigate the Sea of Information in a Digital World

Jonathan Goldman; Constance A. Harris; T. Mills Kelly; Wendy Mann

doi:10.13021/G8itlcp.9.2017.1815

Authors

Jonathan Goldman George Mason University; Volgenau School of Engineering; Computing Resources
Constance A. Harris George Mason University; Office of Digital Learning
T. Mills Kelly George Mason University; College of Humanities and Social Sciences; History and Art History
Wendy Mann George Mason University; Data Services; Digital Scholarship Group https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7982-5157

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13021/G8itlcp.9.2017.1815

Keywords:

digital tools, student engagement, digital pedagogy

Abstract

BRIEF SESSION DESCRIPTION:

This panel will discuss how to teach students how to effectively evaluate online sources for research purposes.

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FULL ABSTRACT: Students question the need to learn from textbooks and possibly outdated course material when current information is always available online. Additionally, students can find it challenging to find effective strategies to cope with the fire hose of data available 7 x 24 with no curation. Our panel will provide some hands-on tips to help your students with this problem. At last year's Innovations in Teaching & Learning conference, this panel focused on how to design course material to align with these student expectations of ubiquitous access to information and data. This year our panel will extend that conversation into discussions about guiding students through source evaluation, identifying confirmation bias in searches, and managing data overload. Our panelists will discuss their own experiences in working with students and ideas they have considered and open the discussion to the attendees.

For more information about how to help students through the research and writing process:ÃÂ https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/teaching/writing-and-research

Author Biographies

Jonathan Goldman, George Mason University; Volgenau School of Engineering; Computing Resources

Jonathan Goldman is the IT Director in the Volgenau School of Engineering and co-chairs or participates in several campus IT-oriented committees. He has been engaged with the use of technology in higher ed including distance learning for several years. Jonathan has an MBA in leadership from Virginia Tech and is working on his PhD in Higher Education at George Mason University.

Constance A. Harris, George Mason University; Office of Digital Learning

Constance oversees instructional design, course building, and training for the Office of Digital Learning. Her leadership ensures integrity and excellence in all phases of course development work with faculty members for online, blended, and face-to-face courses. Constance also collaborates with partners throughout the university community to strategically promote and support effective teaching practices. Her practice includes coordinating ad hoc online faculty services and exploring new strategies, technologies, and resources which ODL might test or deploy.

Constance earned her PhD in Learning Design and Technology from Purdue University. Her research interests include servant leadership, social network analysis, project-based learning, and problem-based learning. Prior to Mason, she worked in the private sector and as an educational technologist and instructional designer at Purdue University.

T. Mills Kelly, George Mason University; College of Humanities and Social Sciences; History and Art History

Mills Kelly is a professor in the Department of History and Art History here at Mason. He regularly teaches undergraduate courses in the digital humanities and in 2005 received the Commonwealth's Outstanding Faculty Award. He is also the president-elect of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

Wendy Mann, George Mason University; Data Services; Digital Scholarship Group

Wendy Mann is the Head, Data Services and acting Head, Digital Scholarship Group at the George Mason University Libraries. Wendy graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Political Science and a Masters in Library Science. She also is a graduate of George Mason University with a Master of Public Policy.