This week my Learning Team was performing the task of searching for appropriate sources. The main task was to check credible sources on the topic each one was proposed and to collaborate in that work. It should be mentioned that collective work, even if the tasks are initially different, is more effective than individual work. Moreover, it is proved by the scientists that the collaboration in literature search is really helpful in scientific fields (Creamer, 2001, p. 133). On the one hand, we had different tasks, like information security, human resource information system, decision support systems, learning management systems and learning content management systems, and medical information system. On the other hand, the research was provided in the same online database and the same field of knowledge and if one came across the information useful for another scholar, he/she shared it. We sat in the same room while information was searched and it helped us. Moreover, each student has different searching techniques and we managed to learn other methods with the help of scholarly collaboration.
My field differs greatly from the fields of other team members in the way that my topic is more specified. Therefore, I often came across sources that did not relate to the medical field but were extremely useful for other team members. The same happened when other team members came across a source that was devoted to information systems in the medical field. They kindly provided me with those sources. Thus, it happened that we managed to look through much more sources while working in a group. It was really important for us to communicate while searching for the information. This is the core element for scholarly collaboration in the literature search.
But, when the identification of the resources was completed, and after the analysis of the collaborative work was done, it could be stated that the work could have been provided more effectively. There are a lot of different methods which may increase work productivity is scholarly collaboration while sources search. Firstly, different libraries and databases can be used. This may increase the area of the research. Secondly, we could use World Wide Web as many academic sources may be considered there. It is just necessary to use an appropriate search engine and choose the information which is credible and may be trusted (Chang, 2001). Thirdly, e-mail and even Skype are the tools that are created to make communication on the distance easier. This may be helpful for us as it allows sharing information fast and without much attempt being in different parts of the city. Moreover, the information considered online may be easily delivered to the person who needs it. Finally, it can be useful to divide the information we need on the sections in the future. Searching for literature in one field, we may create a discussion list and identify the information which is common for everybody. This information should be also divided among the members of the team according to some specific characteristics. This technique may help reduce time on information search and increase the number of considered sources. The specific information should be checked separately, still, the scholarly collaboration should remain as there is always a possibility that one may come across the source helpful for others.
Reference List
Chang, G. (2001). Mining the World Wide Web: an information search approach. New York: Springer.
Creamer, E. G. (2001). Working equal: academic couples as collaborators. London: Routledge.