Peer Review

Information Cycle

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Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: Video on the information cycle: from the actual event explaining what primary sources are and how they are the first hand stories right after an event happens to the secondary and finally years after an event the tertiary sources when books are published about the event. Books combine primary and secondary sources.
Type of Material:: Tutorial
Recommended Uses:: This tutorial can be used in-class or as a homework assignment. It can be adapted for use by individuals or teams.
Technical Requirements:: This tutorial is presented as a video with sound. Captioning is included for those with hearing impairments.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: After viewing this tutorial the user should be able to understand the Information Cycle as it evolves over time, critically assess the information gathered for accuracy, balance of opinion, and relevancy, determine and assess possible information/publication sources for topics, and identify what type of information source is needed to meet the information need.
Target Student Population:: This material is designed College Lower Division, College Upper Division, High School, Graduate School, and College General Education students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: No prerequisite knowledge is needed.

Rating:
Strengths:: This tutorial provides a clear demonstration of the Information Cycle. Users are given a definition of the Information Cycle, how it is relevant, and how to identify what type source to consult based on the type of information needed. This tutorial is flexible in that it can be used as a stand-alone work or used as part of a larger lesson on the use of information. Solid information, grounded in library science concepts, is provided to users.
Concerns:: None

Rating:
Strengths:: The length of 12 min. 28 sec. is just right to keep the students attention and help them learn a very important concept: the difference between primary and secondary sources. It is very efficient and would easy to write an assignment for. It goes through the cycle once, and then reviews it again for reinforcement.
Concerns:: There is no built-in quiz at the end for the user to test what they have learned.

Rating:
Strengths:: This tutorial is easy to use and is visually engaging for users. The tutorial was created using Prezi, so that the information shared is not presented statically. The video is accurately close-captioned, taking users with hearing impairments into account.
Concerns:: The only concern related usability of this tutorial is its length. 12 minutes and 28 seconds may be a bit long to hold students' attention.

Other Issues and Comments:: Overall, this tutorial does a very good job of explaining the information cycle. It is informative and adaptable. It is accessible to the deaf since it is close captioned.
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