Literature Search

I began the literature search for my practicum project by looking at the thesaurus in Wilson's Library database. As the first step in an "actual" research project, I thought that a "real" librarian should start with a thesaurus search. I quickly abandoned that methodology in favour of an advanced search using keywords and limiters. What can I say - I am just more comfortable searching that way!

One item is worthy of mention from the thesaurus search: the thesaurus did not recognize my requested term of distributed learning, instead recommending the term distance learning. So I guess the thesaurus search was not completely wasted, as I did use distance learning as a subject term to limit my query. Later in my searching, I found an article entitled distributed learning from a Canadian author, so I wonder if this is a Canadian term; which could examine the lack of recognition in the thesaurus? I am eager to explore this concept a bit further, inquiring whether distance education is simply the preferred term OR is there a difference between the two concepts.

My first successful search involved looking for Information Literacy Instruction (ILI) and limiting it by the subject of distance education. I surmised that ILI is a library concept, so I should retrieve results only from a library perspective. I did in fact retrieve 12 useful articles. I am currently reading two of the articles, hoping to find some clues into other paths that I could explore!

Meanwhile, my practicum supervisor was hard at work drafting the research proposal for the Ethics Board. Looking at the draft was an exciting experience! It made the project feel very real, but it also helped to ground the research process into concrete and measurable goals.