The ACRL Framework

Threshold concept

Definition

Searching as Strategic Exploration refers to the understanding that information searching is often nonlinear and iterative, requiring the evaluation of a broad range of information sources and the mental flexibility to pursue alternate avenues as new understanding is developed.

Possible Learning Objectives for Students

  • Students will be able to find items in the catalog if given the author, title, or keywords and locate the item on the shelf.
  • Students will be able to identify keywords from a given topic and use appropriate search commands.
  • Students will be able to implement searches in a multipurpose database and on the web and understand the difference between web and database.
  • Students will be able to identify keywords and synonyms and construct a search strategy using appropriate commands for different interfaces.
  • Students will determine if retrieved information satisfied need and will refine search if necessary.
  • Students will be able to construct a search strategy using Boolean and subject headings or database-specific thesaurus terms.
  • Make connections between the importance of matching information needs and search strategies to appropriate search tools
  • Implement more advanced searching skills to respond to a discipline-based information need
  • Reflect on the usefulness of making mistakes in the search process and how searching is not solely transactional
  • Students will use discovery tool facets in order to find relevant info.
  • Teaching students how to understand and analyze scholarly peer-reviewed articles and understand statistics.
  • Students will be able to break down their research question in order to develop an effective database search.
  • Students will develop a topic and a list of terms in order to search sources databases effectively, efficiently, with confidence
  • Students will be able to brainstorm and discover search terms in order to find information about their topic.
    Search discovery layer to find scholarly articles to complete an assignment
  • Students will be able to demonstrate the use of indexes and advanced search techniques in order to retrieve relevant articles for their class project.
  • Students will be able to construct search terms and refine terms based on results to reduce frustration around information gathering.
  • Students will be able to break their search into core concepts and brainstorm additional steps for each concept. Students will be able to apply search strategies using keywords to reduce research frustration.
  • Students will be able to identify and describe 3 boolean operators.
  • Students will be able to select an appropriate source/database in order to locate relevant government content/sources of information for their [local] topics
  • Students will be able to explain the triangle concept in order to explore a topic before focusing.