Web-based Organizational Tools and Techniques in Support of Learning
Don E. Descy · Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) · 2003
A R L Y T H E WEB,is awonderful free source of information that can vastly improve the array of resources available to library patrons.Unfortunately, not all information is honest and accurate, and some of it is not suitable for certain age groups.Students using the Web for research often come upon unsuitable sites.We can get around this by constructing Web learning environments containing safe sites for students.These learning experiences include WebQuests, Pathfinders, Treasure Hunts, Scavenger Hunts, and Tracks.A s librarians, we pride ourselves on providing our clients with open and free access to uncensored information.We have always been at the forefront in the fight against censorship and threats to individual privacy rights.We realize that these two civil rights are important components at the base of a free society.Granted, we do pick and choose the materials that we place in our libraries.With limited budgets and space we cannot include everything in our holdings.We do pick and choose and, in doing so, may limit materials that may be deemed "controversial" by some.Saying this, we do not limit materials and opinions just on the basis of controversy.We also try to take advantage of services that expand our holdings in the most cost-effective way we can.We form partnerships and cooperatives to purchase materials and services.We share our materials through interlibrary loan and other cooperative efforts.As good stewards of our monies and the public trust, we take advantage of as many opportunities as we can to stretch our budget and acquire accurate and unbiased information for our patrons.