tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236290111599871898.post8968082161167591685..comments2024-03-22T00:21:34.256-07:00Comments on Daughter of Hypatia: Indexes and Resources for Science ResearchEsperanto Grrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11255411270358682407noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236290111599871898.post-8002351273140906012010-06-29T13:29:20.008-07:002010-06-29T13:29:20.008-07:00Sergio -
As Randy Newman said:
"College m...Sergio - <br /><br />As Randy Newman said: <br /><br />"College men, from LSU<br />Went in dumb, went out dumb too."<br /><br />I've always thought that one possible solution to the crisis of college students with bad research skills would be a one-credit course required of students in their first semester, along with many Freshman Experience courses, of Research Skills and Methods that explain how to use a library, basic research skills, and how to utilize databases.<br /><br />One of the greatest problems I have with Wikipedia is the gigantic authority problem, and the fact that experts don't play a specialized role in the community. I think we can all agree that Wal-Mart are a bunch of assholes, but all the same...if you're guaranteed to find a variable power supply of the right range there, and it's more up in the air at your neighborhood electronic parts or hardware store...where do you think you're going to shop? We can talk all we like about how Wal-Mart is "evil," but there's a very real reason people go there and it's disingenuous to ignore that. <br /><br />When I was writing the article on Lord Kelvin's brother Jimmy, I went to Citizendium, a website that is supposed to "correct" the problems with Wikipedia, e.g. greater expert involvement. However, there was NO article there on James Thomson at all! And plenty on Wikipedia...!Esperanto Grrlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11255411270358682407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236290111599871898.post-84445969329237090452010-06-29T08:16:21.647-07:002010-06-29T08:16:21.647-07:00I went to one of the large state universities in N...I went to one of the large state universities in NY and it pained me how people left the place dumber than they came in (and they came in pretty dumb). The library was a sanctuary, I'm still friends with some of the librarians (though I never used them as throughly as you probably have). <br /><br />I've been out of academia for a while, it feels, it's good to be reminded of all the resources that are out there for when/if I ever go to grad school. One thing for sure, while I trust Wikipedia I can't be going back there as often as I did in undergrad. The comparison to Wal Mart is valid. I figure if everyone asked WHY Wikipedia is so convenient it would get them looking into the other databases and taking library science as an important skill, which in turn would bring out a more holistic (for lack of a better word) approach to this sort of thing, from the professionals that devise the databases to the students who use them. Kind of how if people looked at, understood and lived the positive aspects of smaller business and alternative transportation, things like big box stores and cars would fit into our society in a healthier way.<br /><br />-SergUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990144043411232965noreply@blogger.com