Creating a Search Journal

Learning about library research is an ongoing and dynamic process. We find that students and faculty often find having a search journal a helpful tool for this process. Using a search journal as a regular reflective process deepens and informs your process. What works? What doesn't?  With each journalling session you can reflect on your research process, weaving together practical discoveries with your own insights and state of mind.

The journal can take any form that works: a small handmade journal for each assigned paper, a binder full of paper, a Word document, or a Google Doc that you open and maintain every time you are online.

We suggest you follow a few helpful tips if you are starting a search journal for the first time:

The most important thing is to journal about what is useful to you. If you make it a natural part of your research, you will find that searching becomes easier.  What is the search process like for you? What are you learning from it? 

Be sure to document both useful keywords and keywords that proved to be deadends. What are their definitions and are they part of the language of a particular field? You may want to create a mindmap of terms you discover so that you can see where there may be patterns or gaps.

Document relevant authors you discover along the way. They may be future peers if this becomes your area of expertise. You can watch who cites these authors for additional good content. 

Track journal titles that address your topic. You can return to these journals when you find you want to keep up with new articles in this area.

Keep a list of databases or websites that yielded the best scholarship. You may want to use them again.

What I Learned At Google: Take Advantage of Their Learning Resources

Not that long ago, I went to Google's campus. It is so close to ITP.  We all use Google sometimes. The search engine seems so simple and easy, but there is an art to searching. Google educators have created blogs and webinars to help you improve your searching and use of Google tools.

SearchResearch blog
http://searchresearch1.blogspot.com/

Google Search Education Webinars
https://sites.google.com/site/gwebsearcheducation/webinars

Inside Search blog
http://insidesearch.blogspot.com/

Official Google blog
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/
 
These are great for you to check out, but you can also talk to an ITP Librarian for Google search tips and tricks.

What I Learned at Google: Digital Tools

During my recent trip to Google, I was inspired by the Google tools available for using or experiencing information.
Google has launched several new creative free data and search tools:

Google Goggles - It essentially allows you to query reality. Using a smartphone, take a picture of a building or other object. If there is a similar image on the web, Google
Goggles will find it and any related information.
http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=166331

Public Data Explorer - We are reaching a point where large sets of data are
accessible with a simple search. Google is giving us the tools to create
beautiful data visualizations which help us to express dynamic data sets.
http://www.google.com/publicdata/home

Fusion tables - Fusion Tables gives you the tools to visualize information in
dynamic ways. Search tip: look for csv files in Google search for data sets.
http://www.google.com/fusiontables/Home/

Google Charts
http://code.google.com/apis/chart/

Insights for Search
http://www.google.com/insights/search/#

For fun, try Agoogleaday.com. It is a challenge that is published in the New York Times as well as the web.
http://agoogleaday.com/