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Creating Effective Library Research Assignments Getting to Know the Library It's not uncommon for students to feel overwhelmed when using a college library. Here are two different ways to introduce Butler Library to your students.
Through this virtual tour, students can explore the many services and resources that Butler Library provides. Self-Guided Tour As a general orientation to Butler Library, students can visit the building and follow this handout. Information Literacy Tutorials Looking to reinforce a specific information literacy topic? There are some great online tutorials that can be assigned to students, some with built-in quizzes. Here are just a few that we like:
Don't Get Busted - UCLA Citing Sources Information Literacy Tutorial: Citing Sources - St. John's University Citing and Documenting Sources: "Oops, I Plagiarized" - UCLA Evaluating Information Information Literacy Tutorial: Evaluating Information - St. John's University Internet Research Information Literacy Tutorial: Internet Research - St. John's University Popular Magazines vs. Scholarly Journals What's a Journal? - Penn State University Libraries Research Strategies Information Literacy Tutorial: Research Strategies - St. John's University Additional Suggestions for Successful Research Assignments Here are some practical tips to help make the library research assignment a better learning experience for your students: Consult with a reference librarian before making the assignment The librarian can advise you of the availability of library resources, suggest appropriate library services, point out potential problems with the assignment, and in some cases order appropriate materials, etc. Check to see whether the library has the resources your students will need It is frustrating for the students to discover that they have to arrange to go to another library to get the source that you want them to use--and even more frustrating to learn that they went to another library to use a source that is readily available at Butler Library! Do not assume that students "know the library" A surprising number of students have never used the library for anything except studying or reading Reserve materials. Most will need your guidance and/or the librarian's guidance to complete library research assignments. Explain the assignment clearly--preferably in writing Specify what students are to do, define terms, give complete citations with call numbers for specific works, etc. This will also help the librarians understand what you want if the students come with questions about the assignment. Teach research techniques Provide a written outline of steps involved in the research assignment and a list of suggested sources. You may wish to schedule library instruction for your students during your regular class time to discuss research techniques and resources. Avoid the "mob scene" Dozens of students trying to use one book or article or trying to locate the same piece of information usually leads to misplacement, loss, or mutilation of materials. Use the Reserve service where appropriate or warn reference librarians ahead of time about an assignment in a specific reference source. Avoid scavenger hunts Searching for obscure facts without any guidance is frustrating for students and teaches them nothing about doing research. It becomes an exercise for reference librarians to perform. Avoid telling students NOT to ask for help Libraries are complex institutions, each one a bit different from the next. It is expected that students will need help, and library staff are trained to provide that help. Librarians cannot be expected to determine whether a given professor permits students to get help. Avoid arbitrary restrictions on sources students can use For example, telling students to consult newspapers--but not to use the Internet--might discourage a student from using the full-text online newspapers to which the library subscribes; or telling students to find periodical articles--but not to use computers--would prohibit use of many of the most important periodical indexes which are only available online. Have Questions? Call a reference librarian at 878-6300, visit with a librarian at the Information Commons desk, or send us an e-mail at library@buffalostate.edu |
