See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
No-Tech Technology
After reviewing my learning goal for the authority exercise--As a result of the authority module, 80% of the class will be able to recognize the difference between a credible authority that could be used in a college-level paper and a not so credible authority--I realized that the first part of the exercise will be completely old school, no tech. Students will have paper copies of three different types of sources: a website, a magazine article, and a journal article. This is a group exercise, so students will get an opportunity to discuss. Once they have created a hierarchy based on only the paper materials, they can then use their computers (moving into standard tech) to see how their initial hierarchy compares to the reality of the source authority. At this point, they can revert to their comfort level of digital searching.
In terms of aligning with Horizon report, this exercise ties in to the NMC Horizon Report: 2015 Library Edition, especially the section on Competition from Alternative Avenues of Discovery. By allowing students to experience a new (old) way to access information, they can focus on the content more closely. Challenging their default settings can be a good thing.
I am hoping that the mild discomfort that students may feel by forgoing access to their default searching will ultimately spark substantive conversations about what to evaluate rather than where to evaluate.
I really like your old school approach. As I work with my students - who work in reference, I often use old world examples, particularly of indexes and handbooks, dictionaries and almanacs. Students still need reminding that not everything is available online, particularly historical information.
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