The librarians have created a self-enroll Canvas course to teach students about each step of the research process. Faculty are encouraged to assign module completion as appropriate for course needs, or to supplement in-class library instruction. Students can complete the whole course or just individual modules.
Students can enroll in the course using this link: https://canvas.doane.edu/enroll/MMLJAT
Each module has a certificate of completion which only unlocks after students have completed the whole module. Students can make a copy of the Google Doc, enter their name and date of completion, and share the doc with you as you prefer. The following instructions are included in each module:
If your professor asked you to complete this module for course credit, follow these instructions:
See the list of modules and descriptions of each below.
Description: This module would be best assigned immediately after a course research project is introduced, as it is intended to be completed with a real research assignment in mind. Students will learn how to create a focused research question from a broad topic. They will learn tips for conducting background research and a strategy for using a mind map to draft a research question. They will also learn about the cyclical nature of research and the importance of keeping an open mind when starting their research.
Assign when: You have given a broad suggested topic for a research assignment and students need to develop a focused question before diving into in-depth searching.
Description: Some students may be unfamiliar with the terms "scholarly source," "academic source," or "peer-reviewed source" as they relate to research in college. This module explains what those terms mean, and outlines the difference between scholarly sources and popular sources. It also includes a tutorial on how to efficiently read scholarly articles.
Assign when: You require students to use a minimum number of peer-reviewed articles or other scholarly sources for their assignment, and they may not have used these types of sources before.
Description: This module will cover strategies for searching in databases, including developing keywords and using Boolean operators.
Assign when: You are unable to schedule an in-class session on this topic with a librarian for your class. This module can also be used to either review or preview what is taught in an in-class session.
Description: This module will cover the lateral reading source evaluation strategy, most useful for online popular sources. Lateral reading involves moving away from a source in question to investigate what others say about it. Students will learn to identify what gives a source credibility and usefulness, like author credentials and timeliness. The concept of bias in sources will be introduced as well.
Assign when: You are unable to schedule an in-class session on this topic with a librarian for your class. This module can also be used to either review or preview what is taught in an in-class session.
Description: This module will cover synthesizing information from sources when writing and avoiding plagiarism. It will not go in depth about individual citation styles, but resources will be provided.
Assign when: You want students to understand how to use sources effectively and appropriately in their writing, and how to cite those sources.