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Effective Research-Based Assessments

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Looking for instructional support for addressing a troublesome task? Librarians can help. We provide customized instruction for the complex digital and information literacy skills required to find, evaluate, analyze, manage, and integrate information sources appropriately and ethically within a variety of contexts. If you have a research-based assessment with a particularly troublesome task, contact your Faculty Liaison Librarian to discuss how best to support students.

Librarians offer instructional support for a variety of digital and information literacy topics, including (but not limited to):

  • Introductory: Library orientation, topic selection and refinement, brainstorming keywords, essential search strategies, types of information sources, finding background information, citing sources (e.g., APA, MLA, etc.), and ethical use of artificial intelligence.
  • Intermediate: Introduction to databases, Google Scholar searching, scholarly publishing and peer-review process, finding statistics and data, finding authentic images and videos, and creating and evaluating artificial intelligence prompts.
  • Advanced: Advanced database searching (i.e., subject searching, controlled vocabularies), grey literature searching (i.e., government reports), scholarly communication, copyright/Intellectual property, visual discernment and criticality, strategies for locating full-text articles, and use of artificial intelligence for research synthesis.

Librarians refer to the conceptual understandings, knowledge practices, and dispositions outlined in the Framework for Information Literacy for all instructional support activities.

Workshops led by librarians are generally 30-90 minutes in length and may be offered online or in-class. Workshops typically include a lecture as well as a hands-on activity. It's recommended that students have access to a laptop or mobile device for hands-on practice during research sessions.

We ask that instructors request a workshop and complete the following at least one week before the workshop:

  • Identify a specific assignment that the workshop supports.
  • Ensure students are introduced to the assignment before the workshop takes place.
  • Provide clear content expectations to the librarian.
  • Inform the librarian of any technical or accessibility considerations in your classroom.

Your librarian can help design and align a variety of learning objects to information literacy standards:

Ask your Librarian about adding ready-made content to your SLATE course!

Personalized consultations and drop-in office hours provide targeted support for individual and group assignments. Sessions are generally 15-30 minutes in length. Consultations are best suited for:

  • Upper-level undergraduate students
  • Capstone projects
  • Post-graduate certificate research

Due to time constraints, consultations and office hours for specific courses are provided at the librarian's discretion. Ask your librarian if your course assignment qualifies.

Learn more about our Workshops and Curriculum Support.