Library Research and Information Retrieval Strategies

Course Number:
LIB 101
Transcript Title:
Library Research and Information Retrieval Strategies
Created:
Aug 11, 2022
Updated:
Jul 12, 2023
Total Credits:
1
Lecture Hours:
10
Lecture / Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0
Satisfies Cultural Literacy requirement:
No
Satisfies General Education requirement:
No
Grading Options
A-F, P/NP, Audit
Default Grading Options
A-F
Repeats available for credit:
0

Course Description

Introduces the research process and essential research skills. Develops critical thinking strategies. Teaches identification of research topics, planning and carrying out the research process, and to identify and cite preferred sources of credible information. Audit available.

Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Formulate a problem statement;
  2. Determine the nature and extent of the information needed to address the problem;
  3. Access relevant information effectively and efficiently;
  4. Evaluate information and its source critically; and
  5. Understand many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information.

Suggested Outcome Assessment Strategies

The determination of assessment strategies is generally left to the discretion of the instructor. Here are some strategies that you might consider when designing your course: writings (journals, self-reflections, pre writing exercises, essays), quizzes, tests, midterm and final exams, group projects, presentations (in person, videos, etc), self-assessments, experimentations, lab reports, peer critiques, responses (to texts, podcasts, videos, films, etc), student generated questions, Escape Room, interviews, and/or portfolios.

Course Activities and Design

The determination of teaching strategies used in the delivery of outcomes is generally left to the discretion of the instructor. Here are some strategies that you might consider when designing your course: lecture, small group/forum discussion, flipped classroom, dyads, oral presentation, role play, simulation scenarios, group projects, service learning projects, hands-on lab, peer review/workshops, cooperative learning (jigsaw, fishbowl), inquiry based instruction, differentiated instruction (learning centers), graphic organizers, etc.

Course Content

THEMES

  • Information
  • Persistence

CONCEPTS

  • Data structure
  • Economics of information
  • Authority and attribution
  • Academic conversation 

SKILLS

After this class, students will be able to (demonstrate the ability to):

  • Articulate a research topic, and identify what information they need.
  • Critically evaluate information and recognize the value of various types of information.
  • Save and manage information electronically or by printing it, and to describe the purpose and parts of a citation.
  • Identify a variety of sources of information, and the characteristics of the information found in them.
  • Develop a search strategy based on their research topic, and search a variety of information resources effectively.
  • Describe what resources (human, physical and electronic) they can expect to find in a library, and how to access those resources.

Department Notes

In this course, students will engage with the following concepts:

  • Research is motivated by a need to know more on a topic.
  • Not all information is good information; some good information is not pertinent information.
  • Successful research is a recursive process that requires persistence, and a balance of focus and open-mindedness.
  • Students engaged in research are scholars, entering into an ongoing conversation in which others' ideas are given credit and original ideas are valued.