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Assessment in Action: First Year Seminar (2013): 3. Organization of Knowledge

Information literacy and library instruction guide for first year seminars participating in the Assessment in Action project.

Before Class (pre-assignment #2)

3. Watch this 13 minute TED talk by Mark Nolan, "How to separate fact from fiction online."

4. Be prepared to discuss "fact checking" or using evidence in scholarship and problem-solving at the university-level (and in your future working lives).

Key Concepts

    • How do different types of sources fit into the research process/role?

    • Compare the same topic across different sources (scholarly/popular press; liberal/conservative)

  • Differences in role of publication and scholarly communication across disciplines; evaluation criteria; purpose of research (i.e. methodology)


  • Primary vs. Secondary in your discipline: how is context important?  Compare a primary vs. secondary account of the same event.

Information Cycle

Example In-Class Activities