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ENG101 - F24- McCann

Library Activites

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Scavenger Hunt Topics

  1. Climate Change Solutions: Find a peer-reviewed article discussing emerging technologies for climate change mitigation.
  2. Mental Health in College Students: Locate an article focusing on the impacts of social media on college students' mental health.
  3. Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: Search for a source on how AI might change employment in the next decade.
  4. Renewable Energy Innovations: Find a current report or news article about a new renewable energy technology.
  5. Plastic Pollution: Locate a study examining the effects of plastic pollution on marine life.
  6. Vaccination and Public Health: Look for an article on the history of vaccine hesitancy and its impact on public health.
  7. Education and Digital Learning: Find research on how digital learning tools affect students' academic performance.
  8. Privacy Concerns in Social Media: Search for an article about privacy issues on popular social media platforms.
  9. Fast Fashion and Environmental Impact: Find a resource discussing the environmental impact of the fast fashion industry.
  10. Mental Health Benefits of Exercise: Locate a study examining the connection between physical exercise and mental well-being.

     

Scavenger Hunt Instructions

Welcome to the Library Database Scavenger Hunt! This activity will help you develop skills in strategic searching and using academic databases to find reliable information. Follow the instructions below, and use the provided log sheet to document your search process. At the end, you’ll share your experiences, challenges, and search strategies with the class.

Instructions

  1. Form Teams: You will work in pairs or small groups. Each group will be assigned one topic from the list provided.

  2. Select Your Database: Choose from the list of databases below to conduct your searches. You are encouraged to try multiple databases to compare results. The databases you may use for this scavenger hunt are:

    • Academic Search Complete: A broad database that includes peer-reviewed journal articles, magazine articles, and news on various subjects.
    • ProQuest Central: Offers a wide range of sources, including scholarly journals, trade publications, and newspaper articles.
    • JSTOR: Focuses on humanities, social sciences, and sciences, with a strong emphasis on scholarly journals.
    • Science Direct: The world's leading database of peer-reviewed, full-text scientific, technical, and health literature. 
    • Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints: Provides resources that present opposing perspectives on current social issues, useful for exploring debates.

  3. Search Your Topic:

    • Use the keywords provided on the topic list or brainstorm additional keywords with your group. Try a few variations and refine your terms as you go.
    • Apply filters where needed. For example, you may want to narrow down results to recent articles, peer-reviewed sources, or full-text availability.
    • Record the database, keywords, filters, and any challenges or findings in the log sheet.

  4. Analyze Your Findings:

    • Review the sources you found and pick one that best represents your topic. Take note of the source's main arguments, data, and any interesting perspectives.
    • Use the “Key Findings” section of your log sheet to briefly summarize this source.

  5. Reflect on the Search Process:

    • Document any challenges you encountered while searching, such as too many or too few results, difficulty in finding recent sources, or needing to adjust keywords.
    • Write down one or two tips you’d share with classmates, such as a helpful keyword, filter, or database feature.

  6. Prepare for the Class Share-Out:

    • Be ready to discuss your search process, including the databases and search strategies that worked best, as well as any challenges.
    • Highlight your top findings for your assigned topic and provide at least one helpful tip for classmates on using databases effectively.

Example Share-Out Format

When sharing with the class, consider following this format:

  1. Topic: Introduce your assigned topic.
  2. Best Database(s): Share which database(s) provided the most relevant results and why.
  3. Keywords & Filters: Describe keywords and filters that were effective.
  4. Top Source: Summarize the main findings from the source you selected.
  5. Challenges & Tips: Explain any challenges and offer a useful tip for future searches.

By completing this scavenger hunt, you’ll gain practical experience in navigating academic databases, refining search terms, and critically evaluating sources. Good luck, and happy hunting!