Instruction Department  Tags: library_instruction information_literacy library_assignments visiting_schools  

5 Tips for a Better Research Experience

1. Give the correct name for a database when directing students to retrieve articles. ProQuest and Ebsco are companies; ABI/Inform and Academic Search Premier, are databases. Be sure your students have all the details they need to find the source, including the correct volume/issue or dates, and titles of journals.
2. Explain why certain types of sources are to be used. Peer-review is nothing more than a check-box on most databases; help students understand the intellectual and critical process underlying peer-review and scholarly research.
3. Incorporate research strategy/process when appropriate. Breaking down the assignment into steps of the research process will help them accomplish the stated objectives. For example, asking students to submit printouts of the search history from a database along with a rough draft, or an annotated bibliography prior to the final version will help the students think critically about what they are doing, and helps faculty in assessing students’ progress.
4. Link the learning of subject content to real investigation. Learning about a topic doesn't begin once resources have been collected. Each step of information gathering helps to inform the learner about the subject.  Decisions about content value and reflection should continually inform the research process.
5. Assume minimal library knowledge! 

What's wrong with the traditional library scavenger hunt?

• They quickly become out of date, making it difficult for students to accurately complete.
• Most do not teach research skills, they don't even do a good job of teaching fact finding skills.
  
• Students go to the reference desk and get the librarian to provide the answers. 
• They are perceived as "busy work" and not a serious contribution to the course goals.
• Poorly designed hunts can cause damage to library materials.
• When the reference desk is inundated by a scavenger hunt assignment, we cannot provide quality service to our library users. This happens every semester both in the library and in our IM Chat service.  
  

What's great about scavenger hunts?

• They get the students in the library (physically or online), navigating and discovering the wealth of resources we have available. 

What is key to a successful scavenger hunt?

• Collaborate with a librarian!  We will make sure the information is up to date and that there is enough information to actually complete the assignment without having to have a librarian do it for them.
  
• Warn us:  Send a copy of the assignment and the date it will be distributed and due to the Instruction Department.  If it looks like the assignment will strain our staffing levels, we will be prepared to find extra help.