Monday, June 12, 2006, 11:43:16 PM, you wrote:
BE> May this not also mean that many people spend a lot of time fiddling
BE> with Google even when what they are looking for is not there and
BE> cannot be there because it isn't online at all? Thereby losing all
Of course that is true.
BE> the time they might have needed to find and obtain a copy of the one and
BE> only right book.
But there are also a vast number of times when the information isn't
in any book, or isn't any book that is in your local library. That
information may well be on the net from a reliable source. Examples
abound.
Local example: state government info is in the Blue Book of the state.
However, anyone using that for info on our governor and his
staff/cabinet will find almost completely wrong information. Why? Our
governor until a couple of weeks ago is now Sec. of Interior, and the
former Lt. Gov is now Gov, with almost completely new staff and
cabinet.
BE> For the time being, information seeking skills
BE> must not be dumbed and narrowed down but are in need of a grading up.
I've no argument with upgrading info skills, but we also have to keep
the "dumb person access" as well. But ONE of the basic skills that
we've taught for decades is learning WHERE to start looking for WHAT
kind of information. I'm sure we all get students coming in wanting
"a book on the Karl Rove investigation". Most of us would refer the
student to an index to current periodicals, since there probably isn't
a book on it yet. Same thing is true of looking on net vs looking for
print info.
So one of the skills needing upgrading is the "where do I look for
which type of information" skill.
dan
--
Dan Lester, Data Wrangler dan_at_RiverOfData.com 208-283-7711
3577 East Pecan, Boise, Idaho 83716-7115 USA
www.riverofdata.com The Road Goes On Forever....
Received on Tue Jun 13 2006 - 10:00:16 EDT