Searching for information is often nonlinear and iterative, requiring the evaluation of a range of information sources and the mental flexibility to pursue alternate avenues as new understanding develops.
Encompassing inquiry, discovery, and serendipity, searching identifies both possible relevant sources as well as the means to access those sources. A searchers level may differ based on their established previous expertise.
- Novice learners
- May search a limited set of resources;
- Tend to use few search strategies,
- Experts
- Realize that information searching is a contextualized, complex experience that affects, and is affected by, the cognitive, affective, and social dimensions of the searcher.
- May search more broadly and deeply to determine the most appropriate information within the project scope; Select from various search strategies, depending on the sources, scope, and context of the information need.
Realize that information searching is a contextualized, complex experience that affects, and is affected by, the cognitive, affective, and social dimensions of the searcher.
First Year Student Objectives (SaSE)
- Novice learners may search a limited set of resources and tend to use few search strategies.
- Expand the first year students ability to "utilize divergent (e.g., brainstorming) and convergent (e.g., selecting the best source) thinking when searching."
- . . .
