GhostKeywords

You hurry back into the relatively calm of the Begley Library, welcoming the increasing quiet after the noisy entryway. The faint scent of old paper, printer ink, and something cold and sweet hangs in the air. Before you stretches the Learning Commons, hushed and cavernous. Dust motes dance in the weak light filtering through tall, shining windows. You had been working with a librarian on your research when you had to step away for an emergency telephone call. As you return, the worksheet you had left behind is still on the desk, with a frosty iced mocha and an open green pen on it, but the librarian is nowhere in sight. At the top of the worksheet, you see the following: (align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[Starting Your Research] When you are starting your research, you want to begin by selecting a topic. Choose something you are interested in learning more about. Remember that you will be spending a lot of time researching and writing about the topic you choose. For ideas, consider looking through your course materials, books, and notes to see what sparks your interest. Once you have your topic, you can start your research. What is your topic or question? //In the education world, how is artificial intelligence being used by teachers for graduates of high school?// Begin by identifying the keywords or phrases of your topic. This must be your first clue! [[Identify the keywords]] [[Head to the Tutoring Center]]

You pass the circulation area, and turning left you cautiously approach the reference desk. A sweating iced mocha and uncapped green pen sit atop what looks like a partially completed worksheet. It's clear the librarian stepped away abruptly. At the top of the worksheet, you see the following: --- (align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[Starting Your Research] * When you are starting your research, you want to begin by selecting a topic. Choose something you are interested in learning more about. Remember that you will be spending a lot of time researching and writing about the topic you choose. * For ideas, consider looking through your course materials, books, and notes to see what sparks your interest. * Once you have your topic, you can start your research. 0. What is your topic or question? //In the education world, how is artificial intelligence being used by teachers for graduates of high school?// Begin by identifying the keywords or phrases of your topic. --- This must be your first clue! [[Identify the keywords]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

You stare at the worksheet, recalling your introductory research methods class. Keywords are the essential terms that capture the core concepts of your topic. They're what you'd type into a search engine or library database to find relevant information. For the topic: "In the education world, how is artificial intelligence being used by teachers for graduates of high school?" The worksheet clearly shows "education" and "high school graduates" as two key terms. However, the third essential keyword is smudged beyond recognition where the coffee cup leaked. Based on the topic, what do you think this missing keyword is? [[Artificial Intelligence]] [[Artificial Looking]] [[Alphabetic Intelligence]] [[Return to the Reference Desk|Approach the Reference Desk]]

You decide to step back and re-orient yourself. You turn away from the current task and walk back towards the main entrance, where the combined circulation and reference desk gleams faintly to your left, and the IT help desk hums to your right. The quiet calm of the Begley Library welcomes you as you consider your next move. What do you do? [[Approach the Reference Desk]] [[Head to the Tutoring Center]]

"Artificial Intelligence" it is! That's definitely the crucial third keyword you'll need for this research topic. Good job identifying it, even with the smudged notes! Looking more carefully at the paper, you see there might be more writing behind it. You carefully lift the paper, and see there are two sheets stuck together. Gently, you pull the pages apart, and on the second page you can see a bit more writing. Now, librarians often advise that finding the *best* search terms sometimes means looking beyond the exact phrase. You need to consider abbreviations, broader categories, synonyms, or even very specific applications if they're relevant. You see the following: * **Education** (or Teachers, Graduates of High School) * **High School Graduates** (or secondary education, post-secondary readiness) * **Artificial Intelligence** "and then you can't read it" For the keyword "Artificial Intelligence," which of the following would be the *most effective* term to actually type into a library database to find relevant scholarly articles? [[AI]] [[ChatGPT]] [[Computers]] [[Technology]] [[Return to Identify the keywords|Identify the keywords]]

You consider "Artificial Looking." While it sounds like it might be related to "artificial intelligence," it's not the most accurate or effective keyword for this research topic. When identifying keywords, you want to pick terms that directly represent the core concepts of your topic, even if they aren't common everyday phrases. "Artificial Looking" is too vague and doesn't directly describe the technology itself or its specific application in education. Databases and search engines rely on precise terms to find relevant scholarly articles. You also notice that the smudged letter on the worksheet looks more like an 'L' than an 'I', further suggesting this isn't the intended keyword. Let's go back and re-evaluate the topic: "In the education world, how is artificial intelligence being used by teachers for graduates of high school?" Think about the main concepts being discussed here. What's the central technology? [[Return to Identify the Keywords]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

You consider "Alphabetic Intelligence." While 'intelligence' is part of the concept, 'alphabetic' doesn't quite fit the context of advanced technology in education. This term isn't commonly used in academic research to describe the kind of technology you're looking for. When selecting keywords, it's important to think about the specific subject area and the precise concepts involved. "Alphabetic Intelligence" might sound clever, but it won't yield relevant results about the advanced computational systems being used by teachers. Librarians often refer to the exact, widely accepted terms within a field as "controlled vocabulary" or "subject headings." Let's go back and re-evaluate the topic: "In the education world, how is artificial intelligence being used by teachers for graduates of high school?" What is the core technology being discussed here? [[Return to Identify the keywords|Identify the keywords]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

"AI" it is! That's an excellent choice. While "Artificial Intelligence" is the full term, "AI" is its widely recognized and commonly used abbreviation, making it highly effective for searching in academic databases. Librarians often call these "controlled vocabulary" or "preferred terms" because they're efficient for finding what you need. Now that you have your primary keywords – "Education," "High School Graduates," and "AI" – it's time to put them to use. The best place to start searching for scholarly articles and resources would be at a computer accessing the library's online portal. [[Go to the Library Homepage]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

You selected "ChatGPT." This is an interesting choice, as ChatGPT is indeed a very well-known example of AI! However, for your search, it might be too specific. Think of it this way: ChatGPT is one particular type of artificial intelligence, but there are many others. If you search only for "ChatGPT," you'll miss out on articles discussing other AI tools, broader applications of AI in education, or even research about AI before ChatGPT existed. When searching for scholarly articles, it's often more effective to start with the broader concept first ("AI" or "Artificial Intelligence") and then narrow it down later if you find too many results. Using a specific product name like "ChatGPT" would be like searching for "Ford F-150" when you really want to find information about "trucks" in general. Let's go back and consider the broader, more comprehensive term for artificial intelligence. [[Return to Artificial Intelligence keyword selection|Artificial Intelligence]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

You selected "Computers." While it's true that artificial intelligence runs on computers, this term is far too broad for your research topic. Consider how many articles would mention "computers" in a library database! You'd get millions of results covering everything from the history of computing to basic computer science, none of which would be directly focused on how AI is used by teachers for high school graduates. Effective searching requires specificity. You need terms that pinpoint the exact concept you're interested in. "Computers" is a general category, whereas "Artificial Intelligence" (or "AI") is the specific technology you're researching. Using a term that is too broad will overwhelm you with irrelevant information. Let's go back and reconsider the more precise term for the technology you're researching. [[Return to Artificial Intelligence keyword selection|Artificial Intelligence]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

You've got a great point! "Think about" can sometimes come across as a bit condescending, even if not intended that way. "Consider" is a perfect, more neutral, and inviting alternative. Let's make that change in the Technology passage: Technology You selected "Technology." This term is even broader than "Computers" and won't help you find relevant articles for your specific research topic. Consider how many articles would fall under "Technology" in a library database! You'd get an overwhelming number of results that have nothing to do with artificial intelligence in education, covering everything from ancient tools to modern smartphones, from medical devices to construction equipment. To find effective research, you need to use precise keywords that narrow down your search to the specific subject you're investigating. While AI is a form of technology, using the general term won't lead you to the focused articles you need. Let's go back and consider the specific technology you're interested in for your research. [[Return to Artificial Intelligence keyword selection|Artificial Intelligence]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

You decide to take the worksheets with you in case you have any more questions. You gingerly carry the pages to an available computer and sit down. The screen glows with the familiar log-in screen. Placing the pages on the desk next to the keyboard, you log into the computer and navigate to the library's homepage. You quickly locate the main search bar, ready to input your keywords. You happen to glance down at the pages, and see something about quotation marks and see groups of words in quotation marks. What do you want to do next? [[I am familiar with quotation marks, let's try searching!]] [[Tell me more about quotation marks for searching]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

When you put words in "quotation marks" in a search such as on Google or a library database, you're telling the computer to search for those exact words, in that exact order, as a complete phrase rather than the words individually or separately. Think about your keyword "high school graduates." If you just type `high school graduates` without quotes, the database might find articles that talk about "high school sports" and "college graduates," which isn't what you want. But if you type `"high school graduates"`, it will only show you results where those three words appear together, precisely as a phrase. This is incredibly useful for specific concepts, names, or titles, helping you get much more accurate and relevant results. It's like asking the library to find a specific book title, not just any book that has those words scattered throughout. Now that you know the power of quotation marks, you're ready to put your keywords into action! [[I am ready to create my search statement!]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

Confident in your understanding of quotation marks, you're eager to put your keywords into action. You've identified your primary terms: "Education", "High School Graduates" (with its synonyms), and "AI" (with its synonyms). Now it's time to build a comprehensive search statement. What's your next step? [[I am familiar with Boolean operators, let's build this search!]] [[I need a refresher on Boolean operators and parentheses.]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

You've got your keywords: "Education", "High School Graduates" (or "secondary education" or "post-secondary readiness"), and "AI" (or "Artificial Intelligence"). You also understand the power of quotation marks for exact phrases. Now, let's combine them effectively to create a powerful search statement using Boolean operators and parentheses. Combining with AND You want results that include all your main concepts: "Education," the high school graduate terms, and the AI terms. To achieve this, you'll use the AND operator. AND narrows your search by telling the database to find articles where every connected term is present. For example, if you typed Education AND AI, you'd get articles discussing both. Expanding with OR But what about those synonyms or related terms? For "High School Graduates," you considered "secondary education" or "post-secondary readiness." And for "AI," you also want to catch articles that use the full term "Artificial Intelligence." If you want to find articles that mention any of these related terms, you'll use the OR operator. OR expands your search by telling the database to find articles that contain at least one of the connected terms. For example: ("High School Graduates" OR "secondary education" OR "post-secondary readiness") would find articles with any of those specific phrases. ("AI" OR "Artificial Intelligence") would do the same for the AI terms. Grouping with Parentheses Finally, to combine AND and OR effectively, you'll use parentheses. Just like in math, parentheses group your search terms, ensuring the database processes the terms within the parentheses first. This is crucial when you're mixing AND and OR to control the logic of your search. Building Your Full Search Statement Now, let's put it all together to create your powerful search statement. We want articles about "Education" AND (any of the high school graduate terms) AND (any of the AI terms). Here's how you'd construct your full search: "Education" AND ("High School Graduates" OR "secondary education" OR "post-secondary readiness") AND ("AI" OR "Artificial Intelligence") This statement tells the database: "Find articles that contain the exact phrase 'Education' AND (either the exact phrase 'High School Graduates' OR the exact phrase 'secondary education' OR the exact phrase 'post-secondary readiness') AND (either the term 'AI' OR the exact phrase 'Artificial Intelligence')." [Image Placeholder: A screencap here showing this search string entered into a library database search bar. Consider highlighting the Boolean operators and parentheses for visual emphasis.] You feel a sense of accomplishment. This comprehensive search statement is ready to be entered! [[Run the Search]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

You confidently type your meticulously crafted search statement into the database's search bar: "Education" AND ("High School Graduates" OR "secondary education" OR "post-secondary readiness") AND ("AI" OR "Artificial Intelligence") You hit the 'Enter' key with a flourish. The screen flickers for a moment, and then a wave of results populates the page. Instead of a chaotic jumble of unrelated articles, you see a list of highly relevant titles and snippets. [Image Placeholder: A screencap here showing a mock library database results page. The results should clearly reflect the search terms, perhaps with the keywords highlighted within the snippet text. Aim for 3-5 plausible-sounding article titles/descriptions that directly relate to AI use by teachers for high school graduates.] You scroll down, noting titles like: "Artificial Intelligence Tools in the High School Classroom: A Teacher's Perspective" "Preparing Secondary Education Graduates for an AI-Driven World: New Pedagogies" "The Impact of AI on Post-Secondary Readiness Programs" "Educators Embrace AI: Case Studies in High School Curriculum Development" This is exactly what you were looking for! The combination of quotation marks, AND, OR, and parentheses has delivered a focused, effective set of results. You've successfully navigated the keyword conundrum and built a powerful search statement, just as the librarian's worksheet hinted you could. As you lean back, a voice behind you says, "I'm so glad you were able to go forward with your research!" You turn to see the librarian, iced mocha in hand, smiling warmly. "Do you have any questions, or are you good to keep going?" What do you want to do next? [[I'm good, I'm going to keep going here]] [[I have some questions and need more help]]

You decide to head to the Tutoring Center, figuring you might need help once you actually start writing. You walk past the bright blue screens of the IT help desk and several computers, encountering a long table with tutors sitting behind it. The Tutoring Center is bustling with activity, students huddled over textbooks and whiteboards. However, you recall your research methods instructor emphasizing that starting with a clear research question and identifying keywords is the first crucial step before diving into writing or even gathering sources. Without those, it's hard to know what kind of tutoring help you might even need! Perhaps it's best to solidify your research topic first. The reference desk, even with the librarian temporarily absent, might hold some clues. [[Return to the Library Entrance]] [[Approach the Reference Desk]]

"Oh, thank goodness! I'm so sorry I had to step away so suddenly," the librarian says, a relieved smile spreading across her face. "And I truly apologize about the coffee spill on the worksheet! It looks like you managed to navigate the 'keyword conundrum' and build a fantastic search statement despite my mishap." She beams, clearly pleased with your progress. "That's a foundational skill for all your research moving forward." Feeling empowered by your newly honed information literacy skills, you turn your attention back to the results on the screen. Now that you've got this focused list of articles, you know the next steps involve evaluating these sources for their credibility and relevance, reading through the abstracts, and starting to gather the information you need for your project. You are now well-equipped to dive deeper into your research topic! [[Start a new search topic]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

The librarian nods understandingly. "Absolutely! Research can be tricky, and we're here to help anytime you get stuck or want to refine your search even further." She hands you a small card with the library's contact information: Email Us: library.services@sunysccc.edu Call Us: 518-381-1235 Ask Us 24/7: Visit us at library.sunysccc.edu/begleylibrary and click on "Ask Us 24/7" for immediate assistance! "Don't hesitate to reach out," she adds. "That's what we're here for!"

Great! Since you're familiar with Boolean operators and parentheses, let's go straight to constructing your powerful search statement. We want articles about "Education" AND (any of the high school graduate terms) AND (any of the AI terms). Here's how you'd construct your full search: "Education" AND ("High School Graduates" OR "secondary education" OR "post-secondary readiness") AND ("AI" OR "Artificial Intelligence") As a refresher, this statement tells the database: "Find articles that contain the exact phrase 'Education' AND (either the exact phrase 'High School Graduates' OR the exact phrase 'secondary education' OR the exact phrase 'post-secondary readiness') AND (either the term 'AI' OR the exact phrase 'Artificial Intelligence')." [Image Placeholder: A screencap here showing this search string entered into a library database search bar. You could highlight the Boolean operators and parentheses for visual emphasis.] You feel a sense of accomplishment. This comprehensive search statement is ready to be entered! [[Run the search]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

No problem at all! Let's review how Boolean operators (AND, OR) and parentheses help you build precise and effective search statements. We want articles about "Education" AND (any of the high school graduate terms) AND (any of the AI terms). Here's how you'd construct your full search: "Education" AND ("High School Graduates" OR "secondary education" OR "post-secondary readiness") AND ("AI" OR "Artificial Intelligence") As a refresher, this statement tells the database: "Find articles that contain the exact phrase 'Education' AND (either the exact phrase 'High School Graduates' OR the exact phrase 'secondary education' OR the exact phrase 'post-secondary readiness') AND (either the term 'AI' OR the exact phrase 'Artificial Intelligence')." [Image Placeholder: A screencap here showing this search string entered into a library database search bar. You could highlight the Boolean operators and parentheses for visual emphasis.] You feel a sense of accomplishment. This comprehensive search statement is ready to be entered! [[Run the search]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

Feeling confident in your ability to tackle any research question, you decide to embark on a new quest for knowledge. The library's vast resources now seem much less daunting. You're ready to put your keyword identification, Boolean operator, and precise searching skills to the test on a fresh topic! What would you like to do now? [[Begin a new research journey]] [[I want to review quotation marks]] [[I want to review Boolean operators and parentheses]] [[I want to review identifying keywords]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

Good idea! Identifying the right keywords is the first crucial step in any research process. Let's go back and practice that skill. Keywords are the essential terms that capture the core concepts of your topic. They're what you'd type into a search engine or library database to find relevant information. For the topic: "In the education world, how is artificial intelligence being used by teachers for graduates of high school?" The core concepts here are: "Education" (or related terms like "teachers") "High School Graduates" (or related terms like "secondary education," "post-secondary readiness") "Artificial Intelligence" (or the abbreviation "AI") When you identify keywords, you want to strip away unnecessary words and focus on the main nouns and phrases that describe your topic. Also, remember to consider synonyms, broader terms, or more specific applications (like "AI" for "Artificial Intelligence") to make your search more comprehensive. You've got this! Would you like to review another skill, or are you ready to continue your research journey? [[Begin a new research journey]] [[I want to review identifying keywords]] [[I want to review Boolean operators and parentheses]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

That's an excellent strategic decision! You're absolutely right that sometimes linking back to a previous complex passage can feel repetitive or confusing, especially for a review. Embedding the content directly in the review passage makes it a self-contained learning unit, which is much more effective for a refresher. It also gives the user more control over their review process. So, instead of linking to I am ready to create my search statement!, we will integrate its core teaching points (Boolean operators and parentheses) directly into the new I want to review Boolean operators and parentheses passage. Here's the revised I want to review Boolean operators and parentheses passage incorporating this idea: I want to review Boolean operators and parentheses Excellent! Let's refresh your memory on how Boolean operators (AND, OR) and parentheses help you combine and organize your search terms for precise results. Combining with AND Remember, AND narrows your search. When you use AND between terms (e.g., education AND AI), you're telling the database you want articles where every connected term is present. This is how you combine different core concepts in your research question. Expanding with OR OR expands your search. When you use OR between terms (e.g., "High School Graduates" OR "secondary education"), you're telling the database to find articles that contain at least one of the connected terms. This is useful for including synonyms, related terms, or variations of a concept. Grouping with Parentheses Parentheses are like the mathematical grouping symbols for your search. They ensure the database processes the terms inside the parentheses first. This is crucial when you're mixing AND and OR to control the logic of your search and ensure you get the results you expect. For example, in "Education" AND ("High School Graduates" OR "secondary education"), the "OR" statement is evaluated first. Putting it all together Now, let's look at your full search statement as an example: "Education" AND ("High School Graduates" OR "secondary education" OR "post-secondary readiness") AND ("AI" OR "Artificial Intelligence") This statement effectively combines and refines your keywords to get highly relevant results. You've got this! Would you like to review another skill, or are you ready to continue your research journey? [[Begin a new research journey]] [[I want to review quotation marks]] [[I want to review identifying keywords]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

Great! Let's refresh your memory on how quotation marks help you find exact phrases in your searches. When you put words in "quotation marks" in a search such as on Google or a library database, you're telling the computer to search for those exact words, in that exact order, as a complete phrase rather than the words individually or separately. Consider your keyword "high school graduates." If you just type high school graduates without quotes, the database might find articles that talk about "high school sports" and "college graduates," which isn't what you want. But if you type "high school graduates", it will only show you results where those three words appear together, precisely as a phrase. This is incredibly useful for specific concepts, names, or titles, helping you get much more accurate and relevant results. It's like asking the library to find a specific book title, not just any book that has those words scattered throughout. You've got this! Would you like to review another skill, or are you ready to continue your research journey? [[Begin a new research journey]] [[I want to review Boolean operators and parentheses]] [[I want to review quotation marks]] [[Return to the Library Entrance]]

Welcome to the Begley Library at SUNY Schenectady! Today, you're embarking on a crucial mission: to find relevant, scholarly articles for your research project. Information is everywhere, but finding the right information, efficiently and effectively, is a skill that will empower you throughout your academic journey and beyond. You've got your research topic in mind: "In the education world, how is artificial intelligence being used by teachers for graduates of high school?" Your goal is to gather reliable sources to support your assignment. You walk through the [[Library Entrance]] to begin.