information searching behavior

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

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:

Attachment	Size
Finding a Book Instructions.docxdisplayed 733 times	13.61 KB
Finding-a-Book-example.pdfdisplayed 892 times	340.67 KB
Finding-a-Book-template.pdf.docxdisplayed 745 times	93.98 KB

Relevant links:

Website detailing LoC call numbers

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

Information Literacy concepts:

Individual or Group:

Individual

Ability Level:

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.

Copyright icon to go along with copyright rules.

All assignments contributed to this site are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike United States License

Submitted by Jeffrey Dowdy on November 5th, 2019

Short Description:

Through the course of researching a topic, students will learn about differences in types of information and how to use research to gather relevant terms to narrow a topic.

Attachments:

Attachment	Size
Worksheet with research activities, featuring the BEAM method. displayed 878 times	20.61 KB

Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to sort information by type.

Students will possess the necessary skills to direct their search towards certain types of information.

Students will understand how to alter and select terms to broaden or narrow their search.

Discipline:

English Liberal Studies

Information Literacy concepts:

Individual or Group:

Group

Ability Level:

Undergraduate / Bachelors

Tags:

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:

Strike a balance of giving enough information for the students to complete the activities while allowing students to "learn as they do." Discussion should be included after each activity.

Suggested Citation:

Dowdy, Jeffrey. "Topic Types Terms." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2019. https://projectcora.org/assignment/topic-types-terms.

All assignments contributed to this site are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike United States License

Submitted by Duke University Libraries RIS Team on October 23rd, 2019

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:

Attachment	Size
Directions for Instructordisplayed 919 times	13.8 KB
Blank Template for Use by Students or Instructordisplayed 1078 times	324.05 KB
Completed Exampledisplayed 1063 times	494.5 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

Information Literacy concepts:

Individual or Group:

Ability Level:

Tags:

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.

All assignments contributed to this site are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike United States License