1. Consult
with a Reference Librarian. Librarians will work with you to design an appropriate
assignment that will achieve your course goals/objectives.
2. Notify the
Librarians. Sending a copy of the assignment to your subject librarian or
use the upcoming online Assignment Alert form before giving it to your students
will ensure the library staff is ready to help your students when needed.
3. Assume minimal
library knowledge. Although many students may be familiar with - or mistakenly
feel they are familiar with - using some library tools, few really understand
the intricacies of controlled vocabulary or keyword searching, locating
items in our library, and many have never used research journals. Frequently
students need to be reminded that experts write journal articles, their
audience is other experts, and they expect a level of knowledge about the
topic. Initially reading reference books, textbooks, and subject-specific
encyclopedias creates a foundation of knowledge on this topic and prepares
them to search for articles more effectively.
4. Explain
the assignment clearly, preferably in writing. Give students a clear idea
of what the assignment involves by creating learning objectives and making
them clear to students. This helps students focus on the research-related
skills they should learn as a result of the assignment. Suggest types and
quantities of sources to be used. Provide complete, accurate (current) citations
for specific works.
5. Ensure the
library still holds the needed information. Students get extremely frustrated
looking for non-existent or checked out resources. Pre-research topics and
sources to ensure adequate information is available on a topic or in the
format you require before assigning it. Also check that the book is in the
same location in the library; material regularly is moved from reference
areas to the stacks. Print and electronic course reserves are available
for materials needed by many students. Please send an advance copy of the
assignment and its due date to your subject librarian or the Library Instruction
Coordinator or use the upcoming online Assignment Alert form.
6. Avoid the
mob scene. Dozens of students using a single book or article, or looking
for the same information frequently leads to misplacement, loss, or mutilation
of materials. Provide a variety of topics and sources. Use the print and
electronic course reserves as needed.
7. Avoid scavenger
hunts or timed exercises. Searching for obscure facts frustrates students,
can cause chaos in the library stacks, and teaches students little about
research. If planning a library exercise, please talk to a librarian subject
specialist about designing one appropriate to the class.
8. Consider
alternative designs for the assignments. Samples of alternatives to the
research paper can be found at http://libweb.sdsu.edu/faculty/altassign.html.
9. Teach research
strategy/process when appropriate. Research strategies may seem obvious
to experienced researchers but are frequently unknown to students. Breaking
down the assignment into steps of the research process will help them accomplish
your stated objectives. Students benefit from opportunities to reflect on
their research strategies and think critically about what they are doing.
Invite a librarian to review strategies for the assignment with the class
and discuss appropriate tools or types of materials. Help students develop
specific, well-defined research topics.
10. Encourage
students to talk to a librarian at the reference desk when they have questions.
Students frequently need to be encouraged to approach a librarian. They
sometimes feel they should know the information already or that they are
disturbing the library staff. Students need to realize library research
is part of the new knowledge and skill set they learn and continue to foster
at university.
11. Visit the
library often. Familiarize yourself with the changes, improvements and new
materials that appear regularly. A librarian is very willing to speak with
you about services, resources, database searching, etc.
12. Electronic
journals and periodical indexes are not 'The Internet.' Students are frequently
not willing to use online periodical databases or electronic journals since
they were told not to use the Internet. Please clarify that a database or
electronic journal to which the Library subscribes is not the same as searching
the World Wide Web. We simply use the Internet as an interface to access
this information. With sufficient lead time, librarians can provide presentations
and written materials geared specifically to your course and assignment,
as well as general orientations for more inexperienced students. PLEASE
ASK!
