Weekly Update #6

This week has been spent doing truncation and proximity searching in Scirus. The most difficult thing has been narrowing the searches when using two similar terms,"lifelong learning" & "transformative learning" in the same search. I've also made final decisions on certain content to add to the annotated bibliography and written some of the annotations.

Weekly Update #5

I have finally come to a decision about the main categories to research and include in the relationships between distance learning technologies, lifelong transformative learning and 21st century sustainability study. The three main subjects have been subdivided into lesser topics.
Distance learning -> open learning (Commonwealth of Learning), computer-based instruction (CBI), knowledge economy
Transformative Learning -> theories , cognitive aspects, & effects of formal, informal learning (Freirian approach), and literacy
Sustainability-> basic needs (Maslowian theory), food production, alternative energy sources, & non-renewable resource conservation.

The past week has been spent doing advanced searches in Eric using terminology related to distance learning, informal learning, and literacy and recording the results in a list. I've also used the advanced search function in SCIRUS with open learning and sustainability terms and recorded the results.

Weekly Update #4

This week I started by looking in the help menu for the Scirus database and going through all the information about search procedures in it. I also reviewed information from EIS 500 presentations about advanced searching in Western's Online Library databases. I started with a basic search in Eric and a general search in Scirus, using distance learning, lifelong transformative learning, and sustainable living practices as subject and keyword terms. I'm also writing down questions to add to the IDT 516 discussion area this week. So far I've found a total of 8 sources to include in the annotated bibliography and read 6 of them.