Today we had a library orientation with Professor Steve Gerstle. Write a brief response to the orientation (250 words min.). Note what your learned about libraries and research. What was new information and what reinforced previous knowledge?
Talk about the library databases online and your experience using them.
Talk about how you plan to utilize the COA Library and Library Services. Have you ever used the library databases off campus?
Talk about the library databases online and your experience using them.
Talk about how you plan to utilize the COA Library and Library Services. Have you ever used the library databases off campus?
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 8:36 AM
25 Comments:
John Sills
Professor Sabir.
English 1A
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Today we spent the entire class period in the library. This is not the first class that I’ve had a library session with, so most of the content was review. I have used the tools the library has to offer. They are easy to use although, I have found comparable materials using my own methods of search on the internet. The library is a great resource, but an internet search seems to go more in depth in terms of specific information I am looking for. The Peralta libraries are limited in the physical copies of references due to budget constraints. I have always had better luck in Berkeley or Oakland public libraries. All in all the session would be very useful to for anyone who has not taken it before, but I find myself banging my head against the table when I have done this exercise five or six times.
Analise Bostrom
Professor Sabir.
English 1A
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Response to Library Orientation
Today we met at the library to discuss how to utilize the COA Library and Library Services. Professor Steve Gerstle walked us through the library database so we can use it to do research and find necessary recourses for our upcoming papers. He took us step by step through the actual websites and then he passed out papers with instructions of how to do it on our own. I’m glad he passed out the papers because even though I absorb most of what he says, I find it hard to remember....
One of the papers gives us a list of useful websites that will help us find our woman entrepreneur; I will definitely be using that. At first I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to find a woman entrepreneur to research, especially one who lives so close by. I will also use our online database to find recourses for my upcoming papers. I usually just use Google to find my recourses, but it’s hard to find both reliable and effecting articles with a simple Google search. If I use the database we have, it should be easy to find something I can use in my papers. Now that I’m acquainted with our library system, I will definitely take advantage of the things it has to offer.
While I find our library system her at COA very useful, I think I will still continue to use the Alameda Public Library. They have an extensive research facility and a wide database. And...it’s closer to my house.
Samantha Swain
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
8 February 2012
For class today we met at the library. We were shown by one of the librarians, Professor Steve Gerstle, how to navigate the online database. He started the class by asking us about a current essay or project. We told him about our essay on “Mighty Be Our Powers” due on February 27th. He then used the database to research the author of the memoir, Leymah Gbowee, and references came up that we could use as our two other sources for the essay, even an interview with Gbowee herself.
Something I didn’t like about the presentation was that - I think - the instructor thought he needed to buy time by just looking up different sources. It was helpful seeing it the first time, and useful with remembering the second time, however when he kept on researching and researching, I did get bored, and I could tell I wasn’t the only one in the class who was.
I’ve never really been inside of the COA library, so it was nice to be there and taught how to use its resources, since everyone at COA expects you to know how to do everything yourself. It was nice to learn something else about what COA has to offer.
I found this tour very useful, and will use the databases if my usual sources don’t produce any substantial references. In the past with research projects and essays I have utilized the Alameda Free Library’s database. It’s proven to be able to narrow down my searches to scholarly letters, reviews, and other types of references I might need, so I do trust it. However if I am ever at the COA library, I will probably use its database.
Mike Lieu
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
08, February 2012
Today, we had an orientation with Professor Steve Gerstle. He talked about the topic of research. He introduced to me the article database on the College of Alameda website, and showed us how to use it, and what to use it for. I have never used anything like this before and the way it is set up makes using it very simple and easy to understand. It also makes citing or referencing information much easier which is very important to me because I have always had trouble doing that. I wish I had something like it when I was in high school, because it makes finding specific information that I need a lot easier and a lot faster. I have yet to use the online database, but I am sure I will be using it sooner than I expect. I know that the library staff will be very helpful to me and can help me only if I am willing to go in and spend time in there and ask for help. I think what you mean by library services, are the tutoring, math lab, accounting lab, etc. I plan on only using the service when I am struggling really badly and have absolutely no idea on how to do my work. I am actually taking an accounting class, and it is pretty difficult, but I don’t need the help yet, because there isn’t much fun in doing work if there isn’t some kind of challenge.
Flora Diamond
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
8 February 2012
Library Orientation response:
I thoroughly enjoyed the library orientation. It was nice to know that there is an entire archive of information stored on a computer. I am used to accessing online references through the Alameda public library. I definitely intend to use Peralta library guide before the Alameda one.
From what I've seen, comparing the two systems, Peralta allows you to access more things; such as multimedia and radio interviews. I plan to use both databases in the future for all my upcoming essays.
I just wish this kind of information was provided free to all people. I feel like we should share our education, rather than horde it over money. Such feelings are up to debate, and usually politics are involved in such decisions. It is my hope that one day, with the advancement of technology, that these important collections of authors works can be made free, for everyone.
Savannah Conley
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
8 February 2012
This morning we had an orientation in the library. I have never been to the College of Alameda’s library before, so it was a great opportunity to learn what they had to offer and what I could gain from learning more about its resources. A lot of the information about how to research and the data bases I already knew, I’ve used GALE and other resource data bases in other classes before. I’m very confident in how to search for information on the various data bases. Although, one new thing I did learn about the data bases that I didn't know or realize before, was the audio (interviews) that are sometimes available, I thought that was really cool, and look forward to using it as a source. I haven’t used the data bases through College of Alameda’s library before, but it seems relatively similar to the way I use the Berkeley Public Library’s data base system. I don't think I will have trouble using these resources on or off campus. But I’m confident that if I happen to have trouble, I know where to go for help. Another great thing I learned in the library today, was that they have various labs and other resources that I can use for not only this class but my other classes, and that was really great to find out. I also really enjoyed seeing that they have study rooms in the library where you can study with groups in the library, I will definitely use that!
Daniel Escudero-Whitney
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
8 February 2012
When I entered the College of Alameda library for the first time, I noticed the rows of desks and the projector just to the left of the entry way. I thought to myself,
"What a strange place for a classroom. I wonder what goes on in here?" Fast forward to today, and now I know.
The College of Alameda library orientation conducted by Professor Gerstle was an interesting experience, in that, we were talking, playing radio clips, and just being loud...in the library. I suppose there is no better place for a library orientation than in the library itself, but I guess I was expecting something quieter. I was afraid to ask any questions because I thought a librarian would come over and shush me. Now I jest.
I have conducted much secondary research at the college library, so I am already familiar with the resources Professor Gerstle showed us on the projector, such as Academic Premier, and the literary search engine. I am truly grateful that we have access to these fine online resources from home, but I will admit that I prefer working in the library because there are far fewer distractions than at home. I just get so much more work done in less time at the library.
Until someone grants my wish to have a library key, and of course, permission to use the library after I get off from work each day, I will have to do my best at home after the library has closed.
Colleen Low
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
8 February 2012
Library Resource Presentation
Today's presentation with Professor Steve, one of the staff members at the College of Alameda was very helpful and especially informative. He explained some of the processes, to which a student will have to know in order to write research papers. The visual aid projector was handy and easily showed where exactly to begin when finding sources. His presentation was easy to follow and presented compartments on the site, that I was not aware of. I like that the some articles also include audio and captions. These tools will most definitely be useful when the class begins their easy on women entrepreneurs.
Kenneth Magno
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
8 February 2012
Library Resource Presentation
Today we met at the College of Alameda's library to hear a presentation about how and where to find resources by one of Collefe of Alameda's staff members, Professor Steve. I learned quite a few things in the short period of time that he had with our class. I found the presentation really helpful because I learned new ways to look and find sources I could use when I need to research on a particular person. Learning tools such as the literary search engine, gale and other things that peralta let's it students access. I will definitely use some of the website's as sources when it comes to writing our essay in this class. Today was very helpful!
Jovita Wechsler
Prof. Wanda Sabir
English 1A
02/8/2012
It's been a while since I have used a library as my resource for schoolwork, since I have been out of the country for a while and the libraries weren't as nearly as sofisticated as they are here. So, today we spent an entire class period in the library while we were being shown different ways we could use what resources the library has to offer us and how to access them. I, particularly, found the databases something very interesting, seeing as it is not only written information that is at our disposal, but also radio interviews and other media.
Professor Gerstie would demonstrate how we had to access these databases and then how to do our searches and what might turn up for us. He repeated this a couple of times, that had it usefulness, until it became a bit too repeating and I began drifting a bit. What got my attention, was when we began talking about all of our upcoming projects and papers, I must say it made me a feel overwhelmed, however since Mrs. Sabir offered her help and now that I kind of figured out how to use these tools that are offered to us, I think I can manage.
Sherah McCurdy
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
February 8 2012
Library Resource Presentation response
Today instead of meeting in our regular room 202 we meet in the Library. There, Professor Steve Gerstle from college of Alameda taught our English 1A class about research. From what he taught I learned about popular websites for researching such as Library Data bases online, on and off campus, and sources for identifying social entrepreneurs. The first library database that we learned about was the off campus one. He gave us a sheet of paper about it and gave us step by step guidelines such as: what the website is and where to go once you get there and a couple other neat tricks. Professor Steve was very helpful. I haven't experienced using the off campus website yet but I will defiantly be using it in the future. The Next thing he showed us was the online Data bases which are also very useful for finding book reviews and Author biographies. The 2 recommended cites where Academic search primer and Literature resource Center. All of this information was new to me because I never done a research assignment I have been assigned a research assignment before but never did one because I didn’t have the proper help. After this meeting I got a lot of clarification on where to go for studying and succeeding in doing my assignment. To utilize this plan from the COA library and Library services is strictly simple. Just ask, listen, and retain then you’ll be one step further then when you first begin.
Stephen Yang
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
8 February 2012
Library orientation response
The orientation / introduction to the library databases was pretty refreshing to me. In a previous class, I attended one so I had a familiar understanding of it. I just didn't remember specific links and sites that were accessible for research. The new information I learned about was the audio clips of speakers and their speeches or interviews. As Professor Gerstle tells us that there's a difference between reading a transcript and listening to the actual speech. I've never used the College of Alameda's library databases or any other Peralta colleges, but I have used the public free library before. The two databases were quite similar to each other in my opinion because they both used the same or similar search engines. The one I'm quite familiar with is called Gale Group, which has a section about opposing viewpoints which was very helpful for searching up information for debates or research. Today has been pretty surprisingly useful between learning new stuff and discovering how to research for new assignments.
Colleen Low
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
8 February 2012
continued from previous post
Sorry, did not know it had to be 250 words.
Whenever, I wrote essay papers that needed resources, I usually used the Internet on the laptop and picked up a few books from the library. As I was reading the “Mighty Be Our Powers,” book, I had the need to look up Leymah’s name on the Internet to see what she was about. I clicked onto a video of her in New York and she was being interviewed, so I was aware of her Nobel Peace Prize. The database that Professor Steve presented to the group was well put together and it sure seemed like he was enjoying himself showing us the research also. It was nice of him to show concern by warning us that education was important and that having the knowledge to find resources was extremely important now and as we continue our education. I also like that a student using the database could email ourselves with the information. The only thing missing were doughnuts and coffee, other than that it was an excellent orientation.
Judy Keophanhem
English 1a
8 February 2012
In class today, we had a guest speaker that helped us figure out how to research. Also, the many different ways on the website where we can research different topics and authors we need. He also discussed how & where we can get the resources. I felt like this presentation was very informative and a good source to help with future papers. Also, not only it helps us research but succeed in the class. Very useful and can be used for many other things besides this course. The handouts that the presenter gave us provides info on how & where to look for these things we need, even when we are not on campus. I think I will be using this while being in this course.
Jamie McNair
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
09 February 2012
Library Orientation Response
The library databases online have not really been of use for me. I just go on the Internet to look up articles. The only time that I may have used a library database is when I had gone to the library for one of these presentations in the past. I suppose it will be useful for me in this class . We will be using them for that one assignment. I may have also tried using it for a research class a long time ago.
This semester I plan to use the library databases, but honestly other than this class , I probly won't need to use it because I can just use the computer at home or in the lab and check google for articles. For this class though, I plan to find as many things in the databases as I can. I have never used the library databases off campus but I believe I will this semester.
The presentation was somewhat informative, but I have been to one of those library orientations almost every semester I have been at college of alameda. We could have been a little better with time management, although I do understand that we only have fifty minutes. Overall it was a helpful orientation for the library databases and I will definately be using it for this class.
Keith R Salminen
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
9 February 2012
I really enjoyed the library orientation yesterday. It offered us a lot of tools that we can use to help us with projects and assigments in this class. Great to see they have links to not just articles but also audio of the articles and interviews. I have never used the online databases here or at any of the Perlata colleges before.
I plan to utilize the COA Library and Library Services as much as possible. I have already used the computer lab upstairs for projects here at COA as well as for my classes at Laney and preparing work and show outlines for A's Fan Radio.
Ana Vasquez
English 1A
Professor Wanda Sabir
2/8/2012
Today we met in the library, and had a small orientation about using the on campus library resources. It was very helpful to know the many ways and different resources we can use. It was a very informative and it kind of gave me the idea of how i can find a specific database that i might need to use.
The off campus database i think is a good and convenient way to find the information needed for our projects. I think that I will use these resources because they are easy to understand and use. I have use the database from COA before in my previous English class and it was very helpful because i found all the information needed for my essay. I did learn more this time at the orientation because i did not know we can hear stories from the actual people we are looking up. I found that quite interesting and very convenient!
Jaron Terrell
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
09 February 2012
Today we had presentation in the library and I think was really useful for the student that never taking the class before. I also think it was a complete waste of my time because I had already been in the class three previous times before this class, so I was really bored. The good thing that I got to hear Leymah voice in I found it very interesting, because she sounded like one of my grandmothers and she had a strong voice like a leader. Overall the class was okay and students should take advantage of the school website. I have did research using this sources for many classes and it have a verity of articles to choose form. I think it is very easy to do research on and a better source other Google is yahoo so I will continue to use and benefit form the website.
Reagan Lolo
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A. 9-950 AM
8 February 2012
Library Orientation Post
Today, Wednesday, February 8th, 2012, the class session has taken place at the COA Library. There, we had an orientation session with professor Steve Gerstle who took us to a tour around the library. During our time there professor Steve walked the class through the library database. There we were also introduced to different kind of useful resources that are available at the library and on the library’s website.
Although today’s library visit was not my first, I still found the orientation very useful. I have used the library’s database before for my academic work here at COA and I will keep on using it for sure.
I understand that COA is affected deeply by the many cuts that the California school system has experienced in recent years. For this reason I will still rely on my membership at other libraries, such as the OPL and the Alameda Public Library to document for my future academic papers. Over all it was worth the time at the library today.
Nezha Abdelrahman
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
08 February 2012
Today we had a library orientation where we learned how to use the library as a resource. We learned how to use the database for future papers. The library is a great resource for people to use in order to write a great paper. The database that Professor Steve Gerstle showed us was very useful and helpful. First, we would have to log in to the database from the College of Alameda website, then it would take us to the database, then you would have to enter in the title or the author of the book that you want to research. We were able to listen to an audio where Leymah Gbowee was interviewed about her book Mighty and she discussed the movie “Pray the devil back to hell”. It is good that along with the research of finding books, a person can be able to find an audio and be able to listen to the author’s voice. So I benefitted from this library orientation because it taught me about the different ways I can be able to use the library.
Library Resource Presentation
Susan Kelly
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
12 February 2012
Professor Steve Grestle's orientation was very informative but not overwhelming. The different database's that can be found in the library's website seemed easy enough to get to but I would most likely continue doing what I've always done and that is to surf the web. The internet is an endless 'web'(literally) for me, I can start from one end and span out in several different directions, reaching many forms of content,on the other hand I will consider adding the COA Library and Library Services in the mix.
I left feeling reassured as well, after hearing Professor Gerstle's presentation. I appreciate that he reminded us just how important succeeding in English 1A is to our future success in our college career period. To my surprise, I wasn't ready to take on this anthropology class last semester, I thought because the subject was so interesting to me I could pass easily. That wasn't the case, I knew that I needed the comp class before I could move forward, I had so much trouble writing a paper, I withdrew from the class prematurely. Nice to know that someone cares enough to make that point, doing well in english1A is vital for our college careers.
Whitney Maxwell
Professor Wanda Sabir
Eng 1A
12 February 2012
Today's library orientation proved to be extremely resourceful. I learned how to use and access the COA online library and many of its databases. I was introduced to several research tools that I forsee using not only in this class, but also for my other courses.
I predict that I will use the “People Search" feature, provided by the Articles Database, for my Entrepreneurs project. Not only can you search by name, you can also search by location and occupation. And even better there’s a citing tool, which will be a blessing when writing bibliographies. I was also introduced to Gale: another library database. Gale allows you to access multiple sources of media such as; book reviews, journals, speeches, biographies and even audio interviews with transcripts. All of which comes from accredited sources.
In all I feel that I have been living in the dark ages prior to this orientation. I’ve gone about Searching multiples sites, goggling different reviews and names, only to receive partial results. I have seen the light! The online library will not only be a favorite, but an essential tool in doing all of my future writing assignments.
Suelekha Yussuf
Professor Sabir Wanda
English 1A
February 12, 2012
With the support from the library I can excel these essay papers. Being at College of Alameda for sometime, I used the library resource several times but I didn’t know that you could access the library resource at home. That was one great lesson I had after the orientation, I guess don’t ever under estimate any resource; they will surprise you with its hidden secrets. Access recourses at home with blanket beside you might not be a good idea but always works for me. So I will take chances with my resources being access whether at home or school. It also seems that there are few resources about the author (I guess the book stand itself) but in the end that did not bother me because I’m planning to write my essay (Might) using the book in the way that attach my perspectives. Every single time I read this book I feel it speak with me. I get very overwarm. I don’t want to be imbues but I feel in this way my essay will be more value to me and to my class.
After library orientation from the Professor Steve Grestle's, I was aching from writing at the end of the day. I end up thinking of my second essay and then I decided to do this. I am going to write my social entrepreneur essay about two most interesting people in the Bay Area and around the globe. Jessica Jackley and Matt Flannery the co -founders of Kiva, a non profit organization for microfinance that allow people to lend money through internet to different microfinance institution in developing countries from Africa, Europe, Asia, Latin American and even to Northern America. Most of the lenders are small business owners and students. Famous Grameen Bank’s owner and Nobel price winner Muhammad Yunus inspired these two co-founders. I choose them because of the interest I have in social economic and capacity building. I also believe that Kiva established something that every one that consider the well being of society would agree. The organization helped many people around the world to establish business that help their families like educating their children or even putting food on the table. Which can be an obstacle for them especial most of the people in developing countries lives below one dollar per day. I am very excited with these two papers and I am looking forward to handle my knowledge that I have after working with several organizations in East Africa too.
Kennedy Alston
Professor Wanda Sabir
Library Orientation Review
February 15 2012
A few days ago in our class we were introduced, or in some cases reintroduced with our school's library database and system.Professor Gerstle using informative details, showed us how to use the library to our academic advantage.I was already familiar with how to find a specific book using the library datbase.However, I wasn't aware you could use the same system to find videos, articles ,reviews and so on.Professor Gerstle asked Professor Sabir what we were studying at the time, she responded by naming "Mighty Be Our Powers."Shortly after being informed,Professor Gerstle effortlessly pulled up numerous article,videos,and reviews all pertaining to "Mighty."With tools like these not only can I research better, I can watch videos of the author conversing about the text, leaving less confusion about how the author wants you to interpret her story.Also you can look up articles about the topic of choice , by doing this I believe you add to your knowledge of the subject your researching.The reviews you'll find using the library system will help you to understand different opinions about whatever topic it is.The reviews are typically from professional critics who make a living scrutinizing authors, therefore they should be pretty helpful.One of the main library resources I utilize, is the computer lab which I'm in right now.The computer lab allows me to get work done before I get home were I'm probably by then exhausted.The math lab is also a favorite of mine being that math teachers office hours are fairly short and tend to always be utilized by someone else who got there before you.I'm glad I got to know the library a little better hopefully it will benefit me.
Adriana Ultreras
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
8 February 2012
Today our class period was spent in the library getting help from a librarian. It felt good to be out of our little classroom and into one with way more space. Even though I have used the library before, getting help from a Liberian was very useful. I always go to the library for reading, homework or lab. I find the homework labs very helpful with problems that seem hard to comprehend. I also like to walk around and look for books to rent, since buying them can get quite expensive. I never actually have used the computer research they have available. I will put to good work the research database the library has to find a person to do our English project on. Even though I have not used the COA database off campus, I will use I use it very soon. It seemed very easy to use when the librarian was doing it on the overhead projector, but I hope that when I try it at home it’s as easy as it was in the library. I doubt it though. Things always seem easier when someone is showing you how to do it. But I’m glad that every time that I go to the library I see him there. So I’m sure he can help me when I need it.
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