Research Skills: A Blog Series from your ELI Library staff

Evaluating Websites

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about using Google for your research. Of course, NOVA Libraries has access to thousands of newspaper, magazine, and journal articles through the library databases. But that doesn’t mean that there’s not good and useful information out on the web as well.  You just need to be critical.

So how can you decide if a website has good information that would be appropriate to use in your assignments? You’ve heard of the 5 W’s, right? Well, they can also be applied to evaluating information, on the web and elsewhere. 

WHO – Who wrote or published the information? Is it someone you have heard of? Is it an

organization that you are familiar with?

WHAT – What are the author’s credentials? Are they clear about their experience in the subject

and how they relates to the topic they are writing on?

WHEN – When was the information published? Is it the type of information that changes over

time (Think: Medical Information)? Or is it the type of information that stays the same (Think:

History)?

WHERE – Where did the author get their information? Are they properly citing their sources?

Are they clear on where their facts, statistics, graphs, etc. are coming from?

WHY – Why are they publishing this information? What is the author’s motivation? Are they

showing a bias?

Take a look at the NOVA Libraries’ 5 W’s to Determine Good Information for more tips! And as always, if you’re not sure about a website, ask us! ELI-Library@nvcc.edu

It's Not Too Late!

Last 8 Week Session Starts March 17

Important Dates: 

Start date: March 17

Last day to withdraw with refund: March 25

Last withdrawal date: April 19

End date: May 10

Spring 2014 Academic Calendar

Critical Course Deadlines

56th Annual Highland Maple Festival

March 8-9 & 15-16, 2014

The Highland County Chamber of Commerce presents the 56th Annual Highland Maple Festival. 

Take a look at the website here.

"Take a step back in time to Highland County, "Virginia's Switzerland." Travel back roads and mountain byways to the annual Highland Maple Festival. Held on the 2nd and 3rd weekends of March, the Maple Festival has been an annual event in Highland County, Virginia, since 1958.

Each year, thousands of visitors are drawn to this unspoiled, rural region of Virginia to celebrate the 'opening' of the trees and observe the process of maple syrup-making. Sugar camp tours provide a unique and educational experience that portrays a rapidly vanishing way of American life."

CommonHealth: Technology Tips to Make Your Life a Little Easier

1. Sign up for online banking/automatic bill payment. 

Not only will signing up for automatic bill payments decrease the clutter level at home by eliminating paper billing statements, you will also save on postage, and eliminate late charges that come about by missing the due date. Be good to the environment, your pocketbook, and free your brain up for more enjoyable memories!


2. Delete old emails. 

Deleting old emails will reduce your inbox “clutter", making it easier to find information when you need it. If replying to or disposing of an email takes less than two minutes, you should do so right away.


3. Unsubscribe from unwanted email lists.

Our interests change over time, so an email list you joined several years ago may no longer be of interest to you. It only takes a few seconds to click the link to remove your email address from a subscription list, and it will greatly reduce unwanted and unneeded emails.


4. Get on the national Do Not Call Registry. 

The federal government’s Do Not Call (DNC) Registry allows you to permanently restrict telemarketing calls by registering your phone number at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. If you receive telemarketing calls after your number has been in the national registry for three months, you can file a complaint using the same web page and toll-free number. Placing your number on this national registry will stop most telemarketing calls, but not all of them. Calls that are still permitted include those from: political organizations, charities, telephone surveyors, some insurance situations, and organizations with which you have a relationship.


Sources: http://www.forbes.com “Time Management Secrets Anyone Can Use”; http://www.donotcall.gov

www.commonhealth.virginia.gov

The contents of the CommonHealth weekly emails may be reprinted from an outside resource in the area of health, safety, and wellness and is intended to provide one or more views on a topic. These views do not necessarily represent the views of the Commonwealth of Virginia, CommonHealth, or any particular agency and are offered for educational purposes. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please email us at wellness@dhrm.virginia.gov

Research Skills: A Blog Series from your ELI Library Staff

Finding Articles in Library Databases

Did you know that NOVA Libraries gives you access to thousands of journal, newspaper, and magazine articles that are housed in over 100 databases? The good news is it's pretty likely that we have information on the subject you are researching. The bad news? I could be a little overwhelming.

This short 5 minute video will introduce you to library databases and give you some search tips.

http://youtu.be/9aScFPAN7FE

And, as always, if you need help finding information or using any library resources, we're here to help. E-mail your ELI Library staff at ELI-Library@nvcc.edu.

SmarterMeasure: Life Factors

Many students strongly desire to continue their education. However, often other situations in life prevent them from being able to do so.

The Life Factors section of SmarterMeasure asks questions about other elements in your life that may impact your ability to continue your education. The section measures five items: Time, Place, Reason, Resources, and Skills.

You may be able to modify circumstances which impact some of these life skills. If so, you are encouraged to take appropriate action to help yourself succeed. But some of the circumstances in life may be beyond your control. If this is the case, being aware of these realities and planning accordingly may be beneficial for you.

The ELI staff offer several webinars throughout the semester to help you succeed in your ELI Courses. You might be interested in participating in the GOALS: Guiding Online Adult Learners to Success series. To find the live and recorded sessions, click here.

To obtain log-in information for the SmarterMeasure assessment, email Elicounselors@nvcc.edu from your VCCS email account. Once you complete the SmarterMeasure assessment, you can find more information in the ‘Assessment Summary’ section. 

The next SmarterMeasure Webinar:

Webinar: SmarterMeasure Assessment

WhenTue, March 4, 12:15pm – 12:45pm

DescriptionThe SmarterMeasure Learning Readiness Indicator is a web-based tool to help students gauge their readiness for online learning. Are you thinking about enrolling in an online course? Is your first assignment to complete this assessment? Not sure where to start? Join us for a 30 minute webinar to learn more about completing the online assessment and what the results mean to you. Register online here. View all ELI webinars at eli.nvcc.edu/webinars.htm.

Call for Nominations: 2013-2014 Faculty of the Year

The NVCC Alumni Federation will honor one full-time teaching faculty member from each of the six
campuses and one adjunct (part-time) faculty member from the College with a Faculty of the Year Award
for 2013–2014. Only alumni and students of Northern Virginia Community College may nominate full-time
teaching faculty for the award. The following criteria will be used by the Alumni Federation Awards
Committee to select the finalists:

• Outstanding mastery of academic discipline

• Demonstrated commitment to the intellectual growth and development of students

All award winners will be honored at the 20th Faculty of the Year Reception on Friday, April 11, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. in the Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center Forum.

Deadline for nominations is Friday, March 14, 2014.

Click here to access the nomination form.

Send nominations to:
Alumni Federation
7630 Little River Turnpike, Suite 817
Annandale, Virginia 22003
703–323–3749 | Fax 703–323–3751
www.nvcc.edu