critical thinking

Submitted by Lauren deLaubell on January 17th, 2025
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Short Description: 

The most powerful wizards have gathered to battle one another.  Only one will win.  Wizards must use reliable sources to research incantations for the battle, or their spells will fizzle.  Truly wise wizards must learn to tell the difference. 

Research Wizards is an information literacy card game designed to teach students ages 12+ about source evaluation.  Research Wizards corresponds to the Frame Authority Is Constructed and Contextual, from the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education.  Players will discuss and challenge the relative value of various sources, each representing a different suit in the game.  The game includes four major actions/phases:  Parley, when players discuss and decide for themselves the relative value of each suit; Battle, which includes competition, player actions, and Challenges; Vengeance, for eliminated players to impact and speed up the remainder of the game; and Victory.

The Research Wizards website contains free game files, player directions, and printing tips for librarians and teachers who wish to use the game in their classrooms.  The website includes an editable, Microsoft Publisher version of the game.  Noncommercial use of the game is free for educational purposes with attribution to the author.  Librarians and teachers are encouraged to adapt the game as needed for their subject areas, student needs, and as the sources in the game evolve over time.  Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.

Players:  3-5 per deck

Play Time:  20-30 minutes, plus discussion

Research Wizards by Lauren deLaubell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0  To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Player directionsdisplayed 1595 times1.02 MB
Printing tipsdisplayed 1512 times26.71 KB
Card deckdisplayed 1558 times2.51 MB
Learning Outcomes: 
    • Wizards will define a variety of traditional and emerging information formats.
    • Wizards will compare a variety of information formats and discuss their relative reliability.
    • Wizards will explore the variation in quality found within specific categories of information (e.g., the wildcard of using resources located by or generated with artificial intelligence).

Individual or Group:

Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 

It is recommended to review directions out loud with students, with pauses for students to sort their decks and conduct the Parley phase of play.  To contextualize and reinforce learning, it is recommended to conclude the game with discussion questions; sample questions are provided at the bottom of the player directions file but may be adjusted as needed.

Suggested Citation: 
deLaubell, Lauren. "Research Wizards." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2025. https://projectcora.org/assignment/research-wizards.
Submitted by Sarah Hartman-Caverly on December 20th, 2023
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Short Description: 

The Hidden Layer Workshop introduces key generative AI (genAI) concepts through a privacy lens. Participants probe the possibilities and limitations of genAI while considering implications for intellectual privacy, intellectual property, data sovereignty, and human agency. In the centerpiece activity, participants engage in a hidden layer simulation to develop a conceptual understanding of the algorithms in the neural networks underlying LLMs and their implications for machine bias and AI hallucination. Drawing on Richards’s theory of intellectual privacy (2015) and the movement for data sovereignty, and introducing an original framework for the ethical evaluation of AI, Hidden Layer prepares participants to be critical users of genAI and synthetic media.

The workshop is designed for a 60-minute session, but can be extended to fill the time available.
Includes workshop guide, presentation slides, learning activities, and assessment instrument.

Attachments: 
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HiddenLayer_LessonPlan_CCBYSA_HartmanCaverly_2023.pdfdisplayed 1411 times117.63 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

Facilitator learning objectives

During this workshop, participants will

  • Apply prompt engineering techniques to elicit information from text-to-text generative AI (genAI) platforms

  • Appreciate a range of intellectual privacy implications posed by genAI, including: 

    • personal data;

    • intellectual property (copyright, patent, proprietary and sensitive data); 

    • AI alignment (social bias, content moderation, AI guardrails, censorship, prompt injection); 

    • synthetic media;

    • AI hallucination and mis/dis/malinformation; and

    • data sovereignty and data colonialism.

  • Engage in a simulation to develop a conceptual understanding of how the hidden layer in the neural networks underpinning large language models works

  • Synthesize their knowledge of genAI intellectual privacy considerations to analyze an ethical case study using the Agent-Impact Matrix for Artificial Intelligence (AIM4AI).

Participant learning outcomes

During this workshop, participants will

  • Interact with genAI to explore its possibilities and limitations

  • Discuss the intellectual privacy implications of genAI, including intellectual property considerations

  • Evaluate the ethics of genAI for its impact on human agency

Individual or Group:

Suggested Citation: 
Hartman-Caverly, Sarah. "Hidden Layer: Intellectual Privacy and Generative AI." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2023. https://projectcora.org/assignment/hidden-layer-intellectual-privacy-and-generative-ai.
Submitted by Sarah Hartman-Caverly on August 4th, 2023
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Short Description: 

This workshop engages participants in exploring corporate data collection, personal profiling, deceptive design, and data brokerage practices. Workshop content is contextualized with the theoretical frameworks of panoptic sort (Gandy), surveillance capitalism (Zuboff), and the four regulators (Lessig) and presented through a privacy and business ethics lens. Participants will learn how companies make money from data collection practices; explore how interface design can influence our choices and behaviors; and discuss business ethics regarding privacy and big data.
The workshop is designed for 75-minute class sessions, but can be compressed into 60-minute sessions.
Includes workshop guide, presentation slides, learning activities, and assessment instrument.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
DarkPatternsWorkshopLessonPlan_HartmanCaverly_CCBYNCSA.pdfdisplayed 1018 times84.44 KB
Learning Outcomes: 
  1. Learn how companies make money from data collection practices
  2. Explore how interface design can influence our choices and behaviors
  3. Discuss business ethics regarding privacy and big data.

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: 
Suggested Citation: 
Hartman-Caverly, Sarah. "Dark Patterns: Surveillance Capitalism and Business Ethics." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2023. https://projectcora.org/assignment/dark-patterns-surveillance-capitalism-and-business-ethics.
Submitted by Sarah Hartman-Caverly on August 4th, 2023
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Short Description: 

This sex-positive privacy literacy workshop engages participants in exploring how sex tech impacts intimate privacy and intimate relationships. Workshop content is contextualized with the theoretical frameworks of artificial intimacies (Brooks) and consentful tech (The Consentful Tech Project) and the concept of intimate privacy (Citron) and presented through a privacy literacy lens. Participants will identify artificial intimacies in order to assess real-world examples and their impact upon intimate privacy; evaluate the privacy of digital bodies under conditions of data promiscuity using a consentful tech framework; and understand intimate privacy and the impact of technology on intimate relationships and wellbeing.

The workshop is designed for a 60-minute session, but can be extended to fill the time available.
Includes workshop guide, presentation slides, learning activities, inclusive pedagogy tool, and assessment instrument.

Learning Outcomes: 
  1. Identify artificial intimacies in order to assess real-world examples and their impact upon intimate privacy
  2. Evaluate the privacy of digital bodies under conditions of data promiscuity using a consentful tech framework
  3. Understand intimate privacy and the impact of technology on intimate relationships and wellbeing.

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: 
Collaborators: 
Suggested Citation: 
Hartman-Caverly, Sarah. "Private Bits: Privacy, Intimacy, and Consent." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2023. https://projectcora.org/assignment/private-bits-privacy-intimacy-and-consent.
Submitted by Ellen Carey on April 14th, 2023
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Short Description: 

The SIFT* & PICK approach to evaluating sources adapts and builds on Mike Caulfield's SIFT method to help students select quality sources by practicing:

  • Lateral Reading (SIFT): fact-checking by examining other sources and internet fact-checking tools; and
  • Vertical Reading (PICK): examining the source itself to decide whether it is the best choice for their needs.

*The SIFT method was created by Mike Caulfield under a CC BY 4.0 International License.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
SIFT & PICK Fact Checking & Source Evaluation.pdfdisplayed 3127 times566.56 KB
SIFT & PICK Fact Checking & Source Evaluation without Luria Library branding.pdfdisplayed 2040 times375.72 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

After learning the SIFT & PICK Fact Checking & Source Evaluation process, students will be better able to:

  • Distinguish between lateral and vertical reading strategies for source evaluation
  • Use lateral reading strategies to fact-check information
  • Use vertical reading strategies to select the most appropriate sources for their particular needs
  • Consider how a particular source relates to a body of knowledge on a topic
Discipline: 
Multidisciplinary

Individual or Group:

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

At Santa Barbara City College, we use SIFT & PICK in many instructional materials (e.g. research guides and Canvas modules) and guide students through this fact checking and source evaluation process in instruction interactions (research workshops, at the reference desk, in our Library 101 course, etc.).

Additional Instructor Resources (e.g. in-class activities, worksheets, scaffolding applications, supplemental modules, further readings, etc.): 

The SIFT & PICK pdf and LibGuide include links to other fact fact checking and source evaluation resources.

Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 

When teaching the SIFT & PICK Fact Checking & Source Evaluation process, we emphasize the need for both fact checking (SIFT) and critical thinking in regard to selecting which source(s) to use (PICK). When we use SIFT & PICK in research workshops, we choose which concepts and/or ACRL Frames to emphasize based on the course assignment and/or goals of the workshop.

Suggested Citation: 
Carey, Ellen. "SIFT & PICK Fact Checking & Source Evaluation." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2023. https://projectcora.org/assignment/sift-pick-fact-checking-source-evaluation.
Submitted by Kelleen Maluski on February 28th, 2022
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Short Description: 

This lesson was created to help further discuss issues surrounding plagiarism after a quick introduction at orientation. It was created for pharmacy PhD students but I do believe it could be useful for many learner types. A large focus on this lesson was why it is important not to plagiarize with emphasis on oppression through traditional citation and review practices. Inspiration and/or content obtained from: Conner-Gaten, Aisha. "Politics of Citation Discussion Activity." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2020. https://www.projectcora.org/assignment/politics-citation-discussion-activity.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Lesson and activity outlinesdisplayed 800 times66.89 KB
Presentationdisplayed 859 times1 MB
Parts of the article that we readdisplayed 774 times75.46 KB
Activity where learners answered questions about the articledisplayed 721 times59.19 KB
2nd Activity where learners had to track down original researchdisplayed 703 times43.76 KB
Learning Outcomes: 
  1. Students will understand the impact of plagiarism and why citing is important

  2. Students will reflect on oppression as perpetrated through traditional, textual citation and review practice

  3. Students will identify definitions of erasure and punitive and opportunistic plagiarism 

  4. Students will develop a strategy for citing

Discipline: 
Health

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: 
Suggested Citation: 
Maluski, Kelleen. "Advanced Avoiding Plagiarism." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2022. https://projectcora.org/assignment/advanced-avoiding-plagiarism.
Submitted by Kelleen Maluski on November 3rd, 2021
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Short Description: 

This lesson was given to a health career academy that consists of high school and undergraduate students. The students have a strong interest in careers in the health sciences but have yet to start their education through health sciences programs. The point of the session was to understand how disparities and health literacy intersect and will be important factors in the work they do as learners and providers and to empower the students to use their cultural wealth and voices to make change. I am attaching the slides with notes (which acted as my lesson plan for this session). The slides were originally animated.  I am including a PDF with the notes. Unfortunately I am not able to load a Power Point due to size, but feel free to reach out if you need an editable file. 

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
PDF of the slides and notesdisplayed 919 times1.94 MB
Learning Outcomes: 

Learners will be able to explain what health disparities are and how they are a part of a system of discrimination, colonization, and white supremacy. Learners will be able to explain what health literacy is and how understanding it will make them better providers. Learners will begin to think about their role and the health sciences profession's role in restructuring the systems of oppression.

Discipline: 
Health

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: 
Suggested Citation: 
Maluski, Kelleen. "Health Disparities and Literacy for Future Health Care Providers." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2021. https://projectcora.org/assignment/health-disparities-and-literacy-future-health-care-providers.
Submitted by Alexandria Chisholm on October 14th, 2021
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Short Description: 

This algorithmic literacy workshop puts a new spin on media literacy by moving beyond fake news to examine the algorithms that shape our online experiences and how we encounter information in our everyday lives.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
#ForYouWorkshopLessonPlan_Chisholm.pdfdisplayed 1763 times163.64 KB
AttentionAutonomyPlan_#ForYouWorkshop.pdfdisplayed 1152 times83.03 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

By the end of the #ForYou: Algorithms & the Attention Economy workshop, students will be able to:

  1. describe recommender system algorithms in order to examine how they shape individuals' online experiences through personalization
  2. analyze their online behaviors and subsequent ad profiles in order to reflect on how they influence how individuals encounter, perceive, & evaluate information, leading to echo chambers & political polarization
  3. assess how their data is used to personalize their online experience in order to build algorithmic awareness & make informed, intentional choices about their information consumption
Discipline: 
Multidisciplinary

Information Literacy concepts:

Individual or Group:

Suggested Citation: 
Chisholm, Alexandria. "#ForYou: Algorithms & the Attention Economy." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2021. https://projectcora.org/assignment/foryou-algorithms-attention-economy.
Submitted by Carolyn Schubert on June 14th, 2021
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Short Description: 

This scaffolded assignment was developed for senior Dietetic students enrolled in a research methods course. The lessons were collaboratively created via a librarian-faculty partnership.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Lesson plan for Lesson 1displayed 849 times30.96 KB
Lesson plan for Lesson 2displayed 658 times32.54 KB
Lesson plan for Lesson 3displayed 693 times31.32 KB
Slides for Lesson 3displayed 876 times307.11 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

In general, question development using PICO format, database searching, and evidence evaluation. More specific learning goals described in individual lesson plans materials.

Discipline: 
Health

Individual or Group:

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

Lessons have been implemented in-person and online, both synchronously.

Additional Instructor Resources (e.g. in-class activities, worksheets, scaffolding applications, supplemental modules, further readings, etc.): 
Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 
Suggested Citation: 
Schubert, Carolyn. "Critical Reading Strategies for Dietetics Students." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2021. https://projectcora.org/assignment/critical-reading-strategies-dietetics-students.
Submitted by Kelleen Maluski on February 8th, 2021
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Short Description: 

This is session 1 of 3 sessions that I do for Introduction to Evidence Based Medicine in Pharmacy. For this session I had about an hour so the majority of the session is group work. Included are the materials to build the activity, an overview of the lesson (since so much was group work, I wouldn't call it a lesson plan), and the rubric for assessing /grading the activity. This was designed for Zoom/online synchronous teaching. A guide was created to assist with the work in the class (with links to all class activities) and be a place for students to refer back to later. Some content in this guide was hidden until they completed their work for each session (since to help with metacognition the examples on the guide are the same as what they worked through in the sessions).

Learning Outcomes: 
  1. Accurately describe the PICO framework and how it can be used to answer a clinical question.

  2. Identify elements in a PICO question and formulate a concise clinical question.

Discipline: 
Health

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: 
Suggested Citation: 
Maluski, Kelleen. "Pharmacy: Introduction to Evidence Based Medicine: Building PICO." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2021. https://projectcora.org/assignment/pharmacy-introduction-evidence-based-medicine-building-pico.

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