Abstract
Online searching is now a recognized specialization in library schools, but there are certain problems involved with offering online courses. There is a large amount of material to be covered, especially in one course. Students must learn new concepts and make them work in a machine environment. It is difficult to offer suggestions for a fruitful search when students are stumped at the terminal, because there are many reasons for search failures. Search mechanics are easily taught, but not search concepts, particularly in the absence of an established search theory. Hands-on experience with all major search services and many databases is demanded by students; as a result, library schools cannot offer online courses on a cost recovery basis. The amount of online time available and the utilization of this time have become causes of controversy as the number of databases increases. Instructors of library school online courses should not attempt to replace training by vendors; they should emphasize concepts and principles rather than techniques and tactics. This paper is based on information from the literature of online searching and on the experiences of an instructor, graduate assistants, and former graduates at St. John's University of Jamaica, New York. (Author/ESR)
Citation
Huq, A.M.A. The Challenges, Rewards and Pitfalls in Teaching Online Searching. Retrieved August 12, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/135620/.
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