Active learning workshop
Title of Lesson:
Understanding and applying boolean logic
Summary:
This session will define, explain, and demonstrate the use of boolean logic
in online searching. The MEDLINE database and clinical examples will be
used to illustrate appropriate application of AND, OR, and NOT for simple
and complex search strategy development.
Objectives
Students will be able to
- Define AND, OR, EXPLODE, NOT
- Describe appropriate use of AND, OR, EXPLODE, NOT
- Identify and correct inappropriate use of AND, OR, EXPLODE, NOT
- Be aware of other logical operators ADJ, XOR, NEAR, WITH
- Given a searchable question, create a search strategy which uses boolean operators appropriately
Outline of topics
Activities
- Ask a volunteer student, or pair up students, to use the words "and" "or" "explode" "not" in separate everyday English-language sentences
- Discuss and define each of the operators, building, if possible, on the sentences of the volunteer
- Using colored pens, draw venn diagrams onto the whiteboard for AND, OR Invite a student to draw the venn diagram for NOT
- Distribute the following objects around the room--a picture of George Boole, a red flag, a white flag, a blue flag, a red & white flag, a blue & white flag, a red & white & blue flag, several cans of Coke, several cans of Cherry soda, a can of Cherry Coke, a small photo, the same photo in poster size.
Evaluation
Monitor online strategies of the group, with their permission, for the next month, keeping track of inappropriate use of logical operators
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