Lesson four introduced the debate between print and electronic reference materials. Traditionally reference materials have been print dominated. However, since the introduction of computer technologies and the internet, there has been a growing shift towards electronic based reference materials.
I have noticed the change in types of reference materials from my own elementary school education up to this point. As an elementary student the only reference materials I could access were print based. However, near the end of elementary and into junior secondary I was introduced to electronic reference materials such as Encarta (the computer disk encyclopaedia). Only a few years later and I had access to the internet and could find a wealth of reference materials online. Now I predominantly use electronic references materials. For university courses and lesson planning I rely primarily on electronic sources. However, I still use print based resources on occasion and ensure that I maintain the ability recognize when to use the different types of reference materials.
Realizing the shift towards electronic reference materials, Riedling states that as TL’s we must work with students to ensure that they get the most out of the web and electronic references (Riedling, 109). She went on to excellently illustrate the pros and cons of both print and electronic. This lead to the question of whether supporting print based reference materials was a losing battle.
I do not believe that supporting print references is a losing battle. While electronic reference materials do offer advantages with regards to accessibility, speed and currency, they are not the be all and end all of references. As Riedling states, electronic references have a tendency to lack authority and consistency (Riedling, 112). Furthermore, the amount of content can be overwhelming. So overwhelming in fact, that students may not have the skills to pick out the information which is relevant to them. Due to their problems and shortcomings, it is important to promote print based references. Students will always need to know how to read and print based materials will ensure that reading happens. Also, print based materials provide a better focus as well as ensuring authenticity. While print references need to be supported and promoted, TL’s need to balance instruction with both print and electronic references. As students become more technologically savvy and dependent they will want to rely more on electronic references. TL’s need to allow students to use the materials they want (in this case electronic). However, they must also teach them the skills students need to use both electronic and print resources effectively and efficiently.
A good index or table of contents in a book is often an excellent entry point for electronic searching.
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