Authority is Constructed and Contextual

Evaluating the quality and credibility of your sources

Learning outcomes: Student should be able to:

 

• define different types of authority, such as subject expertise.
• understand that many disciplines have acknowledged authorities in the sense of well-known scholars and publications that are widely considered "standard" and  yet, even in those situations, some scholars would challenge the authority of those sources.
• recognize that authoritative content may be packaged formally or informally and may include audio, visual, and other nonprint sources

Design three activities:

Define key authority figures and principles in Library Science. Choose one type of authority. Focus on the authority you have chosen and  subject expertise. Look at the criteria that make sources authoritive.

Students can make an appointment with subject lecturer and arrange an interview. Find out what makes these sources credible, and ask how you can know if sources a credible or not.

Go on google scholar and find 2 authoritive sources either an online article, book or even video well known in the specific dicipline. Cite what makes it credible. Discuss your findings in groups of 5 and present it to class in the form of a presentation.

Material:

Computer with internent access.

A list contact numbers of key figures in library.

 




Disposition

Learners who develop their information literate abilities will most likely:

•  Develop awareness of the importance of assessing content with a skeptical stance and with a self-awareness of their own biases and worldview
•  Motivate themselves to find authoritative sources, recognizing that authority may be conferred or manifested in unexpected ways
• Are conscious that maintaining these attitudes and actions requires frequent self-evaluation