Moving Beyond Venn Diagrams: Using Concept Mapping to Visualize the Search Strategy Process Allison King, Andrew Todd & Barbara Alderman, University of

Moving Beyond Venn Diagrams: Using Moving Beyond Venn Diagrams: Using Concept Mapping to Visualize the Concept Mapping to Visualize the

Search Strategy ProcessSearch Strategy ProcessAllison King, Andrew Todd & Barbara Alderman, University of Central Florida – Southern Region

ACRL 13th National Conference, March 30th 2007

Our ChallengeOur Challenge

Our Our Challenge-Challenge- Faculty Faculty RequestRequest

As part of a larger research effort, As part of a larger research effort, Dr. Kathleen Bell, Associate Dr. Kathleen Bell, Associate Professor, Department of English, Professor, Department of English, Orlando, asked us to create a script Orlando, asked us to create a script for a library research “game” that for a library research “game” that could be incorporated into her could be incorporated into her online writing class, ENC3311, online writing class, ENC3311, Advanced Expository WritingAdvanced Expository Writing

Our Challenge – The Our Challenge – The AssignmentAssignment

Students are asked to find Students are asked to find information on an issue with a global information on an issue with a global perspective. The example used was perspective. The example used was CITIZENSHIP.CITIZENSHIP.

Our Challenge – Primary Our Challenge – Primary GoalGoal

The library research game would The library research game would introduce students to the wide introduce students to the wide assortment of information available assortment of information available that specifically addresses the that specifically addresses the course assignment.course assignment.

Our Challenge – The Our Challenge – The FoundationFoundation

Dr. Bell provided us with samples of Dr. Bell provided us with samples of how students are currently thinking. how students are currently thinking. The students recorded where they The students recorded where they would begin a search, what paths they would begin a search, what paths they would take, and what sources they would take, and what sources they would use in their investigations. We would use in their investigations. We converted these textual explanations converted these textual explanations into graphical info-paths to better into graphical info-paths to better understand their current logic.understand their current logic.

The Foundation – Student The Foundation – Student Thought ProcessesThought Processes



Our BrainstormingOur Brainstorming

Our Brainstorming – Our Brainstorming – Questions AskedQuestions Asked

How should we arrange information – according to How should we arrange information – according to form or according to topic?form or according to topic?

How should we present the search strategies and How should we present the search strategies and resource information – using standard flowcharts, resource information – using standard flowcharts, concept maps, mind maps, or another method of concept maps, mind maps, or another method of visual representation, such as cluster diagrams or visual representation, such as cluster diagrams or tree graphs?tree graphs? flowcharts are diagrams that show the sequence of operations flowcharts are diagrams that show the sequence of operations

or a processor a process concept maps are diagrams that show the relationships concept maps are diagrams that show the relationships

between concepts, ideas, etc.between concepts, ideas, etc. mind maps are diagrams of activities, ideas, etc., that are mind maps are diagrams of activities, ideas, etc., that are

linked to a central pointlinked to a central point How should we deliver our “script” for conversion How should we deliver our “script” for conversion

to a game – Word, PowerPoint, or other to a game – Word, PowerPoint, or other commercial/free software?commercial/free software?






Our Preliminary DecisionOur Preliminary Decision

Our Preliminary Decision – Our Preliminary Decision – The ContentThe Content

Paths would start with the type of Paths would start with the type of information being sought:information being sought: Personal NarrativesPersonal Narratives Legal ResearchLegal Research Public Opinion/Facts/StatisticsPublic Opinion/Facts/Statistics Summary InformationSummary Information International InformationInternational Information Dictionaries, Etymology, and Related Dictionaries, Etymology, and Related

TermsTerms

Basic Information and Specialized Services Basic Information and Specialized Services would be presented separately (and not would be presented separately (and not integrated/repeated with resource integrated/repeated with resource information):information): Remote AccessRemote Access Search StrategiesSearch Strategies Finding Scholarly ArticlesFinding Scholarly Articles Evaluating World Wide Web SitesEvaluating World Wide Web Sites Interlibrary LoanInterlibrary Loan Finding Full Text and SFXFinding Full Text and SFX Citation Management Software & MLA FormatCitation Management Software & MLA Format


Resources presented would be Resources presented would be electronic, primarily:electronic, primarily: Electronic BooksElectronic Books Subscription DatabasesSubscription Databases World Wide Web SitesWorld Wide Web Sites


Information provided for each Information provided for each resource would include:resource would include: Overview/Summary of the sourceOverview/Summary of the source Sample SearchesSample Searches Screen ImagesScreen Images Example ResultsExample Results


Flowcharts typically present a process Flowcharts typically present a process as a linear top-down graphic. as a linear top-down graphic. Relationships are not usually provided Relationships are not usually provided but process procedures are depicted but process procedures are depicted by standardized flowchart symbols. by standardized flowchart symbols. We did not believe a flowchart would We did not believe a flowchart would give us the flexibility to present the give us the flexibility to present the multiple options desired.multiple options desired.

Our Preliminary Decision – Our Preliminary Decision – The PresentationThe Presentation


Mind Maps generally radiate from a Mind Maps generally radiate from a central point. One of the main central point. One of the main objectives of this exercise from a variety objectives of this exercise from a variety of different viewpoints and branch out in of different viewpoints and branch out in a number of different ways, covering a number of different ways, covering multiple paths in no particular multiple paths in no particular sequence. Consequently, mind maps sequence. Consequently, mind maps were eliminated from consideration.were eliminated from consideration.


Concept Maps met our requirements. Concept Maps met our requirements. They allow us to present the information They allow us to present the information we wanted to present in a manner that we wanted to present in a manner that allowed for clarity and flexibility. It was allowed for clarity and flexibility. It was important that our presentation was important that our presentation was understandable to the individual who understandable to the individual who would create the “game.” A concept map would create the “game.” A concept map with well-thought-out relationships with well-thought-out relationships fulfilled this need.fulfilled this need.

Our Preliminary Decision – Our Preliminary Decision – The MechanicsThe Mechanics

Creating a concept map, using the Creating a concept map, using the familiar software package, PowerPoint, familiar software package, PowerPoint, would be tedious and cumbersome for would be tedious and cumbersome for us. The slide show feature does not us. The slide show feature does not adequately demonstrate relationships. adequately demonstrate relationships. We could manually cut out slides and We could manually cut out slides and paste them in an arrangement of our paste them in an arrangement of our choice but there was no flexibility for choice but there was no flexibility for change or further manipulation.change or further manipulation.


Off-the-shelf software, such as Off-the-shelf software, such as Inspiration, Smart Ideas, Visimap, Inspiration, Smart Ideas, Visimap, Topicscape, and Decision Explorer Topicscape, and Decision Explorer usually come with a cost.usually come with a cost.


IHMC Cmap Tools, a powerful and free IHMC Cmap Tools, a powerful and free software program, was selected to software program, was selected to create our concept map. Cmap create our concept map. Cmap features include: features include: ease of useease of use flexibleflexible options to add graphics and external linksoptions to add graphics and external links roll over optionsroll over options it was created by a research institute it was created by a research institute

affiliated with UCFaffiliated with UCF


Most of the other free software Most of the other free software programs for mapping that we found programs for mapping that we found focus on the creation of mind maps.focus on the creation of mind maps.


Concept map created using CmapTools Software Concept map created using CmapTools Software http://cmap.ihmc.us/

What Next ?What Next ?

What Next? – What Next? – The “Game” The “Game” PlanPlan

Would involve collaboration to Would involve collaboration to incorporate a Library Research incorporate a Library Research “Game” into an online writing class “Game” into an online writing class assignmentassignment

Pre-Test for AssignmentPre-Test for Assignment Students would be asked to record how Students would be asked to record how

they intend to find information on a they intend to find information on a topic, such as GLOBAL PEACEtopic, such as GLOBAL PEACE

Library Research Instruction would be Library Research Instruction would be presented in a “Game” formatpresented in a “Game” format The “game” would involve the creation of The “game” would involve the creation of

an avataran avatar The avatar could play the role of the librarianThe avatar could play the role of the librarian The avatar could play the role of the studentThe avatar could play the role of the student

The “game” would involve more than 10 The “game” would involve more than 10 possible paths to information (most likely possible paths to information (most likely beginning with electronic books, beginning with electronic books, subscription databases, and WebSites)subscription databases, and WebSites)


The “game” would include pop-up The “game” would include pop-up questions to assess student knowledgequestions to assess student knowledge Correct answers to research-related Correct answers to research-related

questions would earn the student a trinketquestions would earn the student a trinket Students would successfully complete the Students would successfully complete the

library research “game” after earning a library research “game” after earning a pre-determined number of trinkets and pre-determined number of trinkets and would then move to the next level (the would then move to the next level (the post-test)post-test)


Post-Test AssignmentPost-Test Assignment Students may be asked to find a certain Students may be asked to find a certain

number of citations pertaining to the number of citations pertaining to the same topic as the pre-test same topic as the pre-test

Students may be asked to find a certain Students may be asked to find a certain number of citations and record their number of citations and record their search strategy processsearch strategy process

Student search activities may be Student search activities may be automatically recorded (if a controlled automatically recorded (if a controlled environment can be created)environment can be created)



drawings created by Eileen Jolley

Presented by:

Allison King ([email protected])

Andrew Todd ([email protected])

Barbara Alderman ([email protected])

University of Central Florida – Southern Region

BCC/UCF Joint Use Library1519 Clearlake RdCocoa, FL 32922

The handout and PowerPoint presentation will be available The handout and PowerPoint presentation will be available through the UCF Regional Campus Libraries page: through the UCF Regional Campus Libraries page: http://http://

library.ucf.edu/brevard/presentations.asplibrary.ucf.edu/brevard/presentations.asp

Documents

Moving Beyond Venn Diagrams: Using Concept Mapping to Visualize the Search Strategy Process Allison King, Andrew Todd & Barbara Alderman, University of