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Getting Started with Research
Tutorial: Why Information Literacy Matters
Use this tutorial to show students how information literacy is relevant to their day-to-day lives. Students will become familiar with their own information seeking habits, privilege, and skills used in their personal, academic, and professional lives.
Video: Life in the Information Age
Technology is changing the way we locate, analyze, and share information. Use this video to introduce students to the evolving information landscape and their roles as responsible information consumers and creators.
Video Tutorial: Research Process
Use this video to demonstrate the value of pre-research. Students will learn how to align their initial exploration to their assignment requirements.
Tutorial: Developing a Research Focus
In this tutorial, students will be introduced to pre-research techniques to determine the scope and depth of their research focus.
Video: How to Narrow Your Topic
Do your students have trouble selecting a topic for a research assignment? This video will outline the process to help students hone in on a compelling research topic with appropriate scope using strategies like strategic searching. Students will also understand the importance of open mindedness and flexibility in the research process.
Tutorial: Background Research Tips
Determining a manageable research question can be challenging for students. Use this tutorial to introduce strategies for aligning a research focus with assignment guidelines and research tools such as concept maps.
Video Tutorial: Beginning Research with Wikipedia/Google
This video will help students understand the process of background research by introducing techniques for gathering background information using Google and Wikipedia.
Video: Thesis Statements
Use this video to help students identify the purpose of their research efforts and construct evidence-based statements. Students will learn how to narrow in on a topic, conduct background research, and synthesize the existing body of evidence in order to craft a compelling argument.
Quiz: Thesis Statements
This quiz corresponds with the Thesis Statements video.
Tutorial: Scholarship as Conversation
Use this tutorial to encourage students to develop a scholarly mindset. In this tutorial, students will learn how their projects help build the body of work in a given field. Additionally, students will become familiar with the process of attribution and critical evaluation.
Quiz: The Research Process
This quiz corresponds with the Research Process videos.
Tutorial: Research for Persuasive Writing
This tutorial will introduce students to the purpose and characteristics of persuasive writing in order to locate and select the most appropriate types of evidence to support their assignments. Students will also be able to evaluate both supporting and conflicting evidence in order to incorporate the appropriate types of evidence that will strengthen their position and present a nuanced view of their selected topic.
Video: Creating a Research Plan
Information overload can be a major roadblock in the research process. This video will help students conceptualize a research pathway and consider solutions to common research challenges.
Video: Framing a Problem
If your students are having trouble formulating a research question for assignments, start with this video to help students begin the framing a problem. Students will learn the importance of asking open-ended questions and how to approach research as a process.
Quiz: Research Strategies Quiz
This quiz corresponds with the "Creating a Research Plan" and "Framing a Problem" vidoes.
Searching for Information
Video Tutorial: Searching as Exploration
This video digs deeper into exploratory search strategies. Students will learn how to craft a search statement and the importance of neutral language.
Video: Choosing a Database
Students can use this video to receive guidance on how to select the best database(s) for their information need and assignment requirements.
Quiz: Choosing a Database
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on choosing databases.
Tutorial: Choosing and Using Keywords
This tutorial will walk students through the process of selecting, refining, and expanding their collection of search keywords in order to locate the most relevant information to their research topic.
Quiz: Choosing and Using Keywords
This quiz corresponds with the multiemdia on keywords.
Tutorial: Search Techniques, Part 1
Use this tutorial to familiarize students with strategic searching. Students will learn the purpose and uses of natural language and Boolean operators to broaden and narrow the scope of their search.
Tutorial: Search Techniques, Part 2
Students will learn strategic search approaches to navigate scholarly databases. Use this tutorial to introduce advanced search techniques for broadening and narrowing the scope of a search.
Video: Refining Search Results
Use this video to help students navigate the search process. Students will learn techniques to conduct effective background research using multiple keywords in order to narrow in on a research focus.
Quiz: Search Techniques
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on searching techniques.
Citations and Academic Integrity
Tutorial: Why Citations Matter
This tutorial provides an overview of why it is important to cite sources, and an explanation for why different citation formats and citation styles exist.
Video: APA 6th Edition Citations
Use this video to provide students with an overview of the sixth edition of the APA citation style including information on how to cite common source types such as books, journals, and websites.
Tutorial: APA 6th Edition Citations
Use this tutorial to provide students with an introduction to the 6th edition of the APA citation style format and examples of how to cite popular source types such as books, journals, and websites. The tutorial includes several “check your understanding” questions with drag and drop exercises where students can format citations of different source types properly.
Quiz: APA 6th Edition Citations
This quiz corresponds with the APA 6th edition video and tutorial.
Tutorial: APA 7th Edition Citation Style
Students will be able to identify the required elements of APA 7th edition citation style in order to properly format in-text and reference list citations in their assignments. The tutorial includes several “check your understanding” questions with drag and drop exercises where students can format citations of different source types properly.
Quiz: APA 7th Edition
This quiz covers the material in the APA 7th edition tutorial.
Video: MLA 7th Edition Citation Style
Use this video to provide students with an overview of the MLA 8th edition citation style, including an explanation of the “container” concept and an overview of using the citation style for popular source types such as books, websites, and journal articles.
Video: MLA 8th Edition Citation Style
Use this video to provide students with an overview of the MLA 8th edition citation style, including an explanation of the “container” concept and an overview of using the citation style for popular source types such as books, websites, and journal articles.
Tutorial: MLA 8th Edition Citation Style
Use this tutorial to provide students with an overview of the MLA 8th Edition citation style, including both in-text citation format and works cited format. Tutorial provides an explanation and examples of different sources using the container concept introduced in MLA 8, and also includes several “check your understanding” questions with drag and drop exercises where students can format citations of different source types properly.
Quiz: MLA 8th Edition Citations
This quiz corresponds with the MLA video and tutorial.
Video: Harvard Citation Style
This video provides an overview of the Harvard referencing style, which is common at universities in the UK. It includes an introduction about the importance of citations and describes conventions for popular sources such as books, websites, and journals.
Video: Chicago Style 17th ed. Journals
This video is one of three videos on the Chicago Style of citations, focusing on journals (see the companion videos for information on book and website citations). It focuses on the note-bibliography style.
Video: Chicago Style 17th ed. Books and ebooks
This video is one of three videos on the Chicago Style of citations, focusing on book citations (see the companion videos for information on journal and website citations). It focuses on the note-bibliography style.
Video: Chicago Style 17th ed. Websites and Social Media
This video is one of three videos on the Chicago Style of citations, focusing on web resources (see the companion videos for information on book and journal citations). It focuses on the note-bibliography style.
Quiz: Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition
This quiz covers the material in the videos on Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition.
Video: Academic Integrity
Use this video to provide students with an introduction to the concept that information has value, and that acting with academic integrity and ethical behavior is essential to success as a student and as a participant in the scholarly conversation.
Video: Plagiarism
This video provides examples and explanations of specific types of plagiarism, such as cloning, aggregation, and self-plagiarism, as well as strategies to prevent plagiarizing and a reminder of the possible consequences of academic dishonesty.
Tutorial: Copyright
Use this video to aid in instruction on intellectual property and copyright, including exceptions to copyright restrictions such as fair use, and guidance on the ethical use of others’ intellectual property.
Quiz: Academic Integrity
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on academic integrity and plagiarism.
Faculty Module
Tutorial: Getting Started with Instruct
Why information literacy is important, how the material included in InfoLit – Core can be embedded in online classes, and other information for faculty on how to put this material to use.
Video: Why IL Matters to Faculty
How information-literate students make for a more productive classroom.
Designing Effective Research Assignments
Using the principles of backwards design, how to scaffold assignments, and other information on designing assignments that test students' knowledge, not just their short-term skill gains.
Sources of Information
Video: Data, Information, and Knowledge
This video defines and explains the differences and relationships between data, information, and knowledge, and how each might be used or encountered in research.
Video: Primary and Secondary Research
This video illustrates the differences between primary (original) research (with a focus on methods used in sciences and social sciences) and secondary research, and the ethical considerations associated with each.
Quiz: Primary and Secondary Sources
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on primary, secondary, and tertiary resources.
Video: Peer Review
This video will provide students with an understanding of what peer review means, how the process works, why it is an indicator of quality, and how to locate peer-reviewed sources during their research process.
Quiz: Peer Review
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on peer review.
Video: Types of Sources
This video provides students with a helpful overview of the wide variety of source types they may encounter during research. In addition to defining and describing different source types, it also addresses how to select the appropriate source for their information need, analyzing the capabilities and constraints of different source types, and how to determine source quality.
Tutorial: Source Types
Students will be introduced to a variety of source types that they may encounter during their research. Use this tutorial to help students locate and evaluate relevant sources to meet their research needs.
Quiz: Types of Sources
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on source types.
Tutorial: How to Read Scholarly Materials
Do your students feel intimidated by scholarly materials? This tutorial will walk students through the types and components of scholarly materials as well as strategies for strategic reading.
Video: How to Read Scholarly Materials
Do your students feel intimidated by scholarly materials? Use this video to help students get familiar with these valuable resources and learn tips for approaching, analyzing, and integrating scholarly materials into their projects.
Tutorial: Selecting Appropriate Digital Sources
This tutorial will help students identify their information need in order to locate and assess relevant resources. Using the techniques in this tutorial, students will also be able to distinguish among types of online sources in order to select those most appropriate for their information need.
Evaluating Information
Video: What is Authority?
Use this video to introduce students to the concept of authority, how it relates to research, source selection, evaluation, and attribution.
Video: Introduction to Bias
This video introduces the idea of bias and prejudice and the importance of awareness of one’s own bias and the bias of others when evaluating sources and situations, and responding to arguments.
Video: Types of Bias
This video builds on the introduction to bias video by discussing specific types of bias such as social bias, confirmation bias, and communal reinforcement.
Quiz: Bias
This quiz corresponds with the video on bias.
Video: Evaluating Sources
Use this video to encourage students to think critically about the information they encounter in print and online. Students will become familiar with strategies for evaluating sources based on these criteria: authority, accuracy, currency, relevance, and objectivity.
Tutorial: Evaluating Information
Students will learn how to evaluate a range of resources in order to select the most authoritative sources on their research topic.
Video Tutorial: Understanding Misinformation
This video will help students identify the characteristics and purpose of misinformation as well as its effect on their personal and academic lives.
Quiz: Misinformation
This quiz tests students on concepts covered in "Video Tutorial: Understanding Misinformation"
Quiz: Evaluating Information
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on evaluating information.
Tutorial: News Reporting vs. Opinion Pieces in Journalism
This tutorial will help students differentiate between news journalism and opinion journalism in order to analyze the purpose, standards, and expectations related to reporting and editorializing.
Tutorial: Evaluating Digital Sources Using Lateral Reading
This tutorial will introduce students to the practice of lateral reading. Students will learn how to evaluate online materials by digging deeper into the origins and motives behind sites. Students will also have the opportunity to practice lateral reading on their own through a guided activity.
Presenting Research and Data
Video: Synthesis
This video focuses on strategies for writing a strong paper that brings together ideas from multiple sources, including identifying main ideas, and paraphrasing and summarizing techniques.
Tutorial: Synthesizing Information for Academic Writing
This tutorial defines and explores information synthesis, including strategies for bringing together ideas and facts from multiple different sources at various stages in the research process, including background research and note taking, annotated bibliographies, and outlines. It also reviews different examples of final products of synthesis, such as literature reviews, persuasive essays, and research papers.
Quiz: Synthesizing Information for Academic Writing
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on synthesizing information.
Tutorial: Annotated Bibliography
Students will become familiar with annotated bibliographies and the role annotations play in research and scholarship. Use this tutorial to help students identify the purpose, structure, and content of annotated bibliographies and create their own annotations.
Video: Anatomy of a Research Paper
This vdeo provides students with an overview of the basic structure of a research paper.
Quiz: Anatomy of a Research Paper
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on writing research papers.
Video: Writing Help
Use this video to help students craft clear and effective written assignments. Students will review the value of sentence variety and the importance of proofreading their work.
Tutorial: Paraphrasing, Quoting, and Summarizing
This tutorial provides students with an overview of paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing depending on the goal of their writing, plus how to accurately represent their sources.
Video: Academic Writing
This video will encourage students to think about their role as academic writers. Students will also learn about the importance of background research and considering mutliple perspectives when joining the scholarly conversation.
Video: Understanding the Communication Need
Use this video to help students analyze the purpose of communication methods. Students will be introduced to the advantages and disadvantages of each in order to choose the best type for a given situation.
Tutorial: Presentation Skills
Students will learn how to identify presentation skills in everyday experiences, examine questions to ask before preparing presentation content, and review strategies for structuring an effective presentation.
Quiz: Writing and Communication
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on writing and communication.
Visual and Quantitative Literacy Section
Video: Searching for Images
To be an effective communicator using visual information, students first need to develop the skills necessary for locating images. Use this video to introduce students to strategies for locating images and get familiar with image databases or subject-specific collections accessible through the library.
Video: Interpreting Images
Interpreting visual information is a critical skill students will use beyond their academic careers. Use this video to encourage students to ask questions and consider context when interpreting visuals.
Tutorial: Why Does Visual Literacy Matter?
Introduces students to the role visual materials play in their daily lives and the skills they will need to communicate quickly and universally using images and media.
Quiz: Visual Literacy
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on visual literacy.
Video: Using Quantitative Data
Use this video to help students incorporate quantitative data in their research and evaluate available sources for currency, accuracy, authority, relevance, and objectivity
Video: Evaluating Statistics
Statistics are widely used to support arguments and positions. Use this video to encourage students to think critically about how the statistics they encounter were created and used to convey information.
Quiz: Quantitative Reasoning
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on quantitative reasoning.
Culture and Citizenship Section
Video: Introduction to Cultural Issues
Understanding their own cultural identity is the first step for students to develop empathy for others from different backgrounds. Use this video to encourage students to consider how their identity is affected by culture and world events.
Video: Global Citizenship
This video will introduce students to their roles as global citizens by encouraging them to think critically about their daily actions in a global context.
Video: Introduction to Civic Engagement
Part of being a responsible, informed citizen is engaging with the goals and challenges of the community. Use this video to help students begin reflecting on ways they have been (or could be) involved with civic issues in their community
Video: Introduction to Civic Action
Effective communication is a key part of successful civic action. Use this video to introduce students to the fundamental role communication plays in the stages of planning, implementing, and discussing civic action.
Quiz: Culture and Citizenship
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on culture and citizenship.
Quiz: Civic Engagement and Civic Action
This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on civic issues.
Using Critical Thinking and Logic Section
Video: Why Thinking Matters
Being aware of the critical thinking process will help students develop strong decision making skills. Use this video to encourage students to develop awareness of their own critical thinking habits.
Video: Inquiry
Use this video to introduce students to the value of using an inquiry-based mindset. Students will learn how to use inquiry to ask questions and solve problems thoughtfully and effectively.
Tutorial: Logical Reasoning
Students will be able to identify the required elements of APA 7th edition citation style in order to properly format in-text and reference list citations in their assignments. The tutorial includes several “check your understanding” questions with drag and drop exercises where students can format citations of different source types properly.
Video: Evidence Based Reasoning
Use this video to introduce students to the importance of supporting research conclusions with evidence. Students will also learn how to assess their research question in order to locate the approptiate supporting evidence.
Tutorial: Analyzing Information
This tutorial will introduce students the analysis process by encouraging open-mindedness, critical thinking, and curiosity.
