handout

Submitted by Duke University Libraries RIS Team on November 6th, 2019
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Short Description: 

In post-session feedback, first-year students frequently express anxiety over how to physically navigate the library to find a book on the shelf. This is a simple, pre-session activity to help students try this out before class, so that they can discuss with their librarian any challenges they faced in attempting to complete the task. With the help of the course instructor, students are asked to find a book on their research topic (or course topic) and bring it to class.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Finding a Book Instructions.docxdisplayed 721 times13.61 KB
Finding-a-Book-example.pdfdisplayed 855 times340.67 KB
Finding-a-Book-template.pdf.docxdisplayed 732 times93.98 KB
Learning Outcomes: 
  • Utilize the libraries online catalog to find a book suitable to chosen topic
  • Locate the specific book identified in the search in the stacks
Discipline: 
Multidisciplinary

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 
Additional Instructor Resources (e.g. in-class activities, worksheets, scaffolding applications, supplemental modules, further readings, etc.): 
Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 
  • Librarian will need to coordinate with instructor to ensure that the assignment is clearly communicated to students before class;
  • Participation, or assignment, credit helps as an incentive.
Suggested Citation: 
RIS Team, Duke University Libraries. "Finding a Book." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2019. https://projectcora.org/assignment/finding-book.
Submitted by Duke University Libraries RIS Team on October 23rd, 2019
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Short Description: 

This is an activity that helps students develop an interdisciplinary search strategy in stages. Students define their topic, brainstorm questions related to their topic area, and connect these questions to the disciplines and experts where they might find more research and information. Students learn how to identify search tools & information sources based on their questions using the library’s website.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Directions for Instructordisplayed 899 times13.8 KB
Blank Template for Use by Students or Instructordisplayed 1057 times324.05 KB
Completed Exampledisplayed 1040 times494.5 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

Breakdown topic by brainstorming relevant ideas and questions

Analyze these ideas to identify subject areas, this will help inform later searches on topic (ie what databases to consult)

Identifies key concepts and terms that describe the information need

Recognizes that knowledge can be organized into disciplines that influence the way information is accessed

Discipline: 
Multidisciplinary

Individual or Group:

Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 

·         Students don’t necessarily know a lot about different academic ‘disciplines’ and may need some help making meaningful connections between their topics and particular disciplines.

·         Students may need help and/or to do some background research to think about interesting questions/issues related to their topics.

Suggested Citation: 
RIS Team, Duke University Libraries. "Developing an Interdisciplinary Search Strategy." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2019. https://projectcora.org/assignment/developing-interdisciplinary-search-strategy.

Teaching Resource

Resources in science and engineering education from Richard Felder, Hoechst Celanese Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering at North Carolina State University. Topics include student handouts, learning styles, and papers.

Submitted by Dennis Isbell on April 1st, 2016
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Short Description: 

A brief two page handout on how to read abstracts for scholarly journals for lower division undergraduates in particular. Examples include one from social sciences and one from humanities.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Scholarly Journal Abs Handout1-16Rev.docxdisplayed 1468 times56.9 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

Evaluating Sources

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

First-year composition classes. Introduced when students were searching then selecting scholarly journal articles for their research paper assignments.

Suggested Citation: 
Isbell, Dennis. "Making Sense of Scholarly Journal Abstracts." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2016. https://projectcora.org/assignment/making-sense-scholarly-journal-abstracts.