AAH 370: The Arts of Ancient Mesoamerica

-Break difficult or complex topics into simple ones, thus limiting the scope of your investigation.
-Become comfortable with ambiguity in scholarly communication.
-Seek multiple perspectives during the information gathering process.

-Understand disciplinary authority and the challenges to that authority.
-Understand that authorities actively connect with one another and sources develop over time.
-Recognize that scholarly conversations are ongoing and rarely finished.
-Recognize that scholarly conversations take place in various venues.

-Determine the initial scope of the task required to meet your information need(s).
-Match information needs and search strategies to appropriate search tools.
-Design and refine needs and search strategies as necessary, based on search results.
-Use different types of searching language (e.g., keywords) appropriately.
-Manage searching processes and results effectively.
-Understand that first attempts at searching do not always produce adequate results.
-Realize that information sources vary greatly in content and format and have varying relevance and value, depending on the researcher’s needs.
-Persist in the face of search challenges and know when you have enough information to complete the information task at hand.

-Understand how information systems are organized.
-Use different types of searching language (e.g., controlled vocabularies) appropriately.
-Exhibit mental flexibility and creativity.

-Define different types of authority including subject expertise, social position, or personal experience.
-Acknowledge our own developing authority, recognizing the responsibilities this entails.
-Develop/maintain an open mind when encountering conflicting perspectives.
-Motivate ourselves to find authoritative sources, recognizing that authority may be conferred or manifested in unexpected ways.
-Question traditional notions of granting authority and recognize the value of diverse ideas and perspectives.
-Develop self-awareness of our own biases and worldviews.