Aims and Objectives: My goals for this class this week were to continue my research, specifically through our library’s available databases. I wanted to find several different useful articles for me research. I also set out to learn how to create a webliography. Since I have never created anything like this before, I first had to learn what it was and then how to make it. I set the goals to try and get ahead in the research process and also to complete this weeks assignments.
Declarative Knowledge: In order to complete the weekly assignments I had to know several different facts. First, I had to be aware of the available databases that our library offers to find information for my topic. I also had to know that each database has subject specific articles. Since my subject is cochlear implants, I knew I would possibly find more articles in the medical based databases. Therefore, I used MEDLINE and then used ERIC. After finding the articles I needed, I then cited the articles using the APA format. I learned that this is the format we had to use for this particular assignment as well as most of our other assignments in this field. Next, I learned about what an annotated webliography is and the steps that allow me to create one.
Procedural Knowledge: In order to conduct a search for scholarly articles, I had to go to the library web page and click on the “articles” link. From there, I had to decide which databases I thought I would get the most accurate and a larger variety of information related to my topic. I then chose MEDLINE. Knowing that different keywords/keyword/phrases would give me different results, I first tried the phrase “benefits of cochlear implant.” This only gave me one article, which luckily was useful for my research. Then, I rephrased my key words and searched for “cochlear implant and language,” I received significantly more articles; several that were useful/interesting and some that were not. The articles I found to be useful I had to either click on the link to the full text of the article, or I had to request thearticles through the interlibrary loan. I found more than the limited 5 sources we were required to find, but I had to use a different database to complete the assignment so I then went to ERIC and searched for “benefits of cochlear implant.” Once again, there were limited amounts of articles but I found one useful article to use and site for the assignment. Then I changed my keywords to “cochlear implant and language.” Again this gave me more results and I found another article that was very useful. After finding the articles I needed, I then went to Knight Cite on the library web page in order to know how to cite my articles. I also referred to the APA Publication Manual to ensure the correct citing. Next, I created an annotated webliography. To do this, I went to wordpress, logged in, and went to my dashboard. Then, I had to click on write, and write page. I had to give my page a title and then insert the text of my webliography. I then came up with 3 different links for each category which were: fun/weird/zany/outrageous,sites for SLP’s/Audiologists, Research Resources for cochlear implants, Personal Interests, and Anything else we want. I then had to write 3-5 sentences (annotation) about each website and insert the links. In order to insert the links I had to highlight the words/phrases where I wanted the link and then choose the chain link in the formatting toolbar. Then, insert the URL and then click on insert. Once they are all finished then save the page and publish it.
Conditional Knowledge: Further using the databases from our library web page will ultimately assist me for finding important information for this particular class/project topic, other classes, and other projects I may have in the future on different subjects. It is good to know what resources are available to us as students, and what the resources can help us with. Citing our sources is something that I personally can use all the practice I can get. I’m sure I will never really memorize all the APA citation formats, but I am sure that I will forever need to cite different sources that I utilize. The webliography was very interesting to me because I have never created anything like it. Along with being part of our MRP, I think it will be a good way to learn about our classmates interests and will be interesting to look at a few years from now.
