Online Research Tools & Services Overview - 30-80 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Gain familiarity with various online sources and research tools at SU Library.
Identify unique features of the tools offered and information formats available using those tools (i.e., SUMMIT catalog, databases, E-journals list).
Select databases and E-journals pertinent to a discipline.
Understand options for retrieving non-local resources (e.g., via ILLiad interlibrary loan system).
Access online resources from off-campus.
Identify options for receiving additional research assistance.
As a result of this session, students will also:
Find information about the Library's services (e.g., hours, policies, etc.).
Access information on their library accounts and take desired actions (e.g., renew items checked out).
Access materials not currently available (e.g., recall a book from another borrower; initiate an interlibrary loan request).
SUMMIT Catalog Overview - 30-80 mins
Outcomes
As a result of this session, students will:
Understand what SUMMIT does and does not contain.
Brainstorm possible search terms.
Interpret catalog results (e.g., item location, item status, in process messages, etc.), including journal title locations.
Access print and online course reserve items using SUMMIT.
Identify options for receiving additional research assistance.
Longer sessions may also prepare students to:
Conduct effective SUMMIT searches using special features and techniques (e.g., advanced searching, Boolean operators, limits, truncation, etc.).
Understand the controlled vocabulary used to index SUMMIT holdings (i.e., Library of Congress Subject headings).
Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources:Understanding Differences - 30-80 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Differentiate between primary, secondary and tertiary sources.
Understand how to locate above source types at SU Library.
Identify options for receiving additional research assistance.
Periodical Types: Identifying Core Characteristics - 30-80 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Distinguish between different types of periodical sources (in print and online) based on a set of clues.
Assess periodicals and other information sources based on evaluation criteria.
Identify options for receiving additional research assistance.
Finding Audiovisual Media at SU Library: Tips and Techniques - 30-50 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Locate visual images, photographs, slides, etc. from SU Library and from recommended online sources.
Identify SU Library subscription databases specializing in audiovisual formats (e.g., online music, still photos, streaming video).
Identify options for receiving additional research assistance.
Geographic Information Systems (3rd Floor - E.S. Bird Library) - 30mins+
Outcomes:
Can be customized to fit curricular needs, but in general terms, as a result of such sessions, learning outcomes may include:
Greater understanding about SU Library's maps collections and GIS Resources.
Greater understanding about the resources offered within SU Library's Geographic and Statistical Information Center (G-SIC) such as using GIS and statistical software together.
Greater understanding of how GIS can be applied to almost any subject area.
Increased skill in the use of specific software technology relevant to GIS (e.g., ArcGIS, ArcInfo, Arcview, etc.).
Knowing the options for receiving additional research assistance pertinent to maps and GIS.
Numeric Data Services (3rd Floor - E.S. Bird Library) - 30mins+
Outcomes:
Can be customized to fit curricular needs, but in general terms, as a result of such sessions, learning outcomes may include:
Greater understanding about SU Library's Numeric Data Services.
Increased skill in the use of statistical software, such as SAS, STATA and/or SPSS.
Improved knowledge of research methods, study design, and/or questionnaire construction.
Greater understanding about the resources offered within SU Library's Geographic and Statistical Information Center (G-SIC) such as using GIS and statistical software together.
Knowing the options for receiving additional research assistance pertinent to use of numeric data as part of one's research process.
Database Searching Workshop I - Interdisciplinary Databases - 30-80 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Identify interdisciplinary databases helpful for numerous research papers and projects.
Brainstorm possible search terms/synonyms.
Interpret the citation information displayed on search results lists.
Become familiar with options for locating full-text articles and other items.
Identify options for receiving additional research assistance.
Longer sessions may also prepare students to:
Practice effective database search strategies using special features and techniques (e.g., advanced searching, Boolean operators, truncation and proximity searching, etc.).
Understand controlled vocabularies and incorporate subject descriptor terms into searches.
Database Searching Workshop II - Subject- Specific Databases - 30-80 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Identify databases helpful for research in a particular academic or professional discipline.
Brainstorm possible search terms/synonyms.
Interpret the citation information displayed on search results lists.
Become familiar with options for locating full-text articles and other items.
Understand specific database search fields relevant to their discipline (e.g., industry codes within business databases, time period fields within history databases, etc.).
Identify options for receiving additional research assistance.
Longer sessions may also prepare students to:
Practice effective database search strategies using special features and techniques (e.g., advanced searching, Boolean operators, truncation and proximity searching, etc.).
Understand controlled vocabularies and incorporate subject descriptor terms into searches.
Database Searching Workshop III - Intensive Strategies and Evaluation - 30-80 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Improve their database strategies based on feedback from librarian (and course instructor, if desired).
Identify options for receiving additional research assistance.
Research - The Human Element - 30-80 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Access library tools for identifying associations and other core groups with relevance, and sometimes with institutional repositories, pertinent to a discipline.
Identify the SU Library subject specialist for their discipline.
Identify options for receiving additional research assistance.
Evaluating Your Sources - 30-80 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Recognize the main ideas expressed in a source.
Identify criteria used to evaluate print and online sources, such as bias, authority of authorship, accuracy of content, timeliness/currency of information, effective presentation design, etc.
Compare and contrast information within various sources (i.e., looking for examples of agreement, contradiction and/or synthesis).
Compare new information located in sources to their own personal values system and knowledge base.
Identify options for receiving additional research assistance.
Longer sessions may also prepare students to:
Understand options for expanded understanding and critical evaluation of retrieved sources such as: discussion with colleagues, faculty or librarians; seeking additional expert opinion (e.g., via interviews, email, blogs, listservs); and embarking upon further research.
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Identify the citation style(s) appropriate to their discipline or intended publication outlet.
Locate the print and online citation style guides available at SU Library.
Demonstrate an ability to accurately cite sources using these style guidelines.
Become familiar with options for receiving additional research assistance.
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Understand how to access the RefWorks online bibliographic management system.
Learn how to use important features in RefWorks allowing academic citation formatting according to specific style guidelines (e.g., MLA, APA, etc.), organization of citations into folders, generation of properly formatted bibliographies, etc.
Explore how to import citations into RefWorks from the Library's SUMMIT Catalog and from selected subscription databases.
Become familiar with Refwork's "Write-N-Cite" feature, which facilitates entry of citations and bibliography creation while composing a research paper (e.g., in Microsoft Word).
Avoiding Plagiarism - 30-80 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Understand some of the differences (and disputes) over legal and illegal retrieval and dissemination of text, images, data and sounds.
Know how and when to properly credit the sources of the direct quotations and paraphrasing appearing within their research papers/projects.
Understand when citation to outside sources is and is not required.
Understand how to obtain additional information about copyright law, education "fair use" exceptions, and Syracuse University "academic integrity" policies.
Identify options for receiving additional research assistance.
Google & Beyond: The World Wide Web as a Research Tool - 30-80 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Understand a brief historical timeline of the development of the World Wide Web.
Recognize the different types of resources available on the web (e.g., "free vs. fee," primary and secondary).
Apply criteria for evaluating online sources, such as evaluation of bias, authorship, accuracy of content, timeliness and currency of information, effective/accessible graphic design, etc.
Become familiar with options for receiving additional research assistance.
Longer sessions may also prepare students to:
Conduct focused Web searches [i.e., uncovering the "hidden web" by identifying key individuals, associations, organizations and publications relevant to their topic(s)].
Compare the search functions, strengths and weaknesses of several online search engines and directories (e.g., Google, Yahoo, Dogpile, etc.) and understand limitations of web searching.
Selecting and Narrowing a Research Topic - 30-80 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Select a topic that is appropriate for conducting research.
Use library tools and reference sources to conduct preliminary "testing" of a topic (i.e., determine if sufficient resources exist on the topic).
Understand how to broaden or narrow a research topic in order to yield the best results.
Identify options for receiving additional research assistance.
Ask the Librarian Information Sessions -30-80 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Identify areas of potential improvement to the research aspects of their projects or papers.
Expand their understanding of the research process based on questions of interest to them.
Library Orientation and Walkaround Tour - 30-50 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Identify the seven buildings/branches of the Library, and closely affiliated locations.
Know the various methods for obtaining research help.
Name some of the special departments within the Library.
Be familiar with services available to support academic needs, such as course reserves, laptop loan, interlibrary loan, and digital services.
Recognize and locate the three main online research tools available through the Library's web site: SUMMIT catalog, databases and electronic journals.
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Gain an understanding of the physical layout of the library.
Recognize locations housing specific services and resources.
Identify the various methods for obtaining research help.
Syracuse University Library "Show & Tell" - 20 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will:
Become familiar with a variety of print and online information sources available to them (e.g., DVD/videos, books, music, maps, government publications, original manuscripts, online databases, etc.).
Identify options for learning more about the Library's specialized departments and branches.
Identify options for receiving additional research assistance.
Visual History Archive (Shoah Foundation) - 30 - 50 mins
Outcomes:
As a result of this session, students will: