Recently, I have been intrigued by the concept of digital content curation. What is it? How is curation different and better than simply collecting? Is curation the new search? What tools are best for various applications? If you are curious about any of these ideas, check out Curation Station, my first topic on Scoop.it.
I’ve been asking myself these questions in order to better understand the integration of curation tools in my work with students. My explorations have led to a radical idea. Could we use a curated page in place of a works cited list? In certain current event situations where all research is done on the free web, why not? If the purpose of a works cited list is to demonstrate the author’s scholarship, give credit to others for their ideas and allow the reader quick access to sources, absolutely! A Scoop.it topic is more visually appealing and takes infinitely less time to compile than a MLA works cited page. Students hate worrying about the formatting just as much as I detest pretending that I care about periods, commas, protocols and spacing. Less time spent on creating a works cited list means more time for synthesizing research and formulating new understandings. In the end, this could be a win-win for all parties involved. Who wants to be the first to collaborate with me on this experiment?