After learning about research and databases, I have thought about how I will evaluate information moving forward. I will first use a database to find scholarly articles, then move on to other sources like google and word-of-mouth. I will evaluate the credibility of the article’s source by looking at the source’s description. If the source is an industry journal or magazine, than it is more likely to be reliable information. To judge an author’s credibility, I will look at the article for an abstract containing a short description of the author’s background. If none is present, but the article sounds legitimate, I will google the author to determine their background and experiences.

The library presentation helped me to know the signs of a credible article and learn how to narrow down results to get the best information. The presentation also helped me think of different texts I could use. Graphs, statistics and call reports could all be relevant to my research, adding a different element to my overall presentation.

My current methods of constructing images and text stem from social media posts. When I write posts for Facebook, I try to make the post relevant to everyone. I make a point of avoiding conflicts and avoid sharing or posting anything that could be offensive. When I construct my own posts, I attempt to send an educational and uplifting message. I build the post by using positive words and sticking to the point of the message, while still letting my quirky humor shine through. I usually add humor by summing up the point of the text in one sentence that gives a positive and humorous take on the main idea. For instance, I wrote about a mouse that was in a classroom and closed the post by stating, “I don’t blame the mouse, who wouldn’t want to learn about fire alarm systems?”

My research question has not changed all that much. I may consider broadening my research to include information on the national volunteer firefighter shortage instead of sticking to just the shortage in Pennsylvania. If I do broaden my research, it will be due to lack of reliable sources for just the Pennsylvania shortage. I feel i can compensate by including information on how to become a volunteer if there is a lack of sources. Statistics on call volumes and such in Pennsylvania will also compensate and add a different take on the research.

I am curious at how departments can recruit and retain members. I am also interested in statistics on volunteer fire departments. I want to present my ideas on my research in an interactive and engaging way. My hope is that I can get community members involved and spurred to take action in ways to help departments. I may do this through video, interviewing volunteers and contacts I have in Pennsylvania. I am not positive on that though, so try not to get too excited.

I am feeling pretty good about the bibliography assignment. I am unsure about the annotation part, but I think it will help me remember what was in each source and add relevance. It will be a good way to have classmates check each other and make sure we all are staying focused. I am excited about being able to show progress in my research and seeing fellow classmate’s progress. Seeing other bibliographies can give me an idea of other sources to use for my own research. Overall, it will be a good experience and a learning curve.