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Albert S. Cook Library

TSEM 102: Current Issues in Education: Living and Learning in a Digital Society (Johnson)

Resources to help TSEM 102 students with their research

Science, Technology, and Math Librarian

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Elisabeth B. White
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Contact:
Email: ebwhite@towson.edu
Phone: (410) 704-5326

Benefits of Background Reading

When you begin the research process, it is often useful to do some background reading to help yourself get acquainted with your topics. Background resources include dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other resources that provide a basic overview of the key concepts associated with your topic. Background research will help you...

  • Better understand your topic and the terminology associated with it
  • Identify important concepts and areas of research related to your topic
  • Pick out key words that you can use to search for your topic in a database
  • Refine your topic

Encyclopedias and E-Reference Collections

Websites

Web resources can be a great source of background information. However, the information you find on the open web is not always accurate, reliable, or current. For best results, stick to reputable websites within your field and / or take some time to evaluate the information you find by considering the author, purpose, currency, relevance, and potential sources of bias for each resource you find.

Using Google in a Scholarly Way: Google Advanced Search

Learn how to use Google advanced search to find sources online. This video was last updated in 2021.