Instructor's Manual for QuickStudy
And more:
Designing
Assignments That Can Be Effectively Supported by the
Libraries: including a list of do's and dont's
More
Information on Orientation and Instruction at the University
Libraries
What is QuickStudy: A Library Research
Guide?
Research for many students is confusing at best
even in a small college. As the 15th largest library
system in the United States, the University of Minnesota offers a
huge challenge for students attempting to learn the ropes. For many
of them this is not an easy or intuitive process - they need help -
often lots of it! QuickStudy: A Library Research Guide was created
to offer them this help. QuickStudy is a web-based tutorial written
by University of Minnesota librarians to teach students new to the
research process how to become effective researchers at the
University.
QuickStudy comprises eight modules, each of which
contains several short lessons (usually several pages in length)
that outline and explain the process of choosing a topic, designing
a research strategy, finding and evaluating several different kinds
of sources, and collecting those sources into a bibliography. These
modules familiarize students with strategies for approaching
research as well as introduce them to some of the computer resources
they might use as they research their topic.
In addition to the modules, students will find
supplementary resources such as "Useful Links" connecting them to
helpful online sources. They will also find short quizzes and guided
exercises to check their knowledge or to practice what they've
learned.
QuickStudy is designed to be used individually or
in conjunction with the U's online research tool, Research QuickStart.
Who should use QuickStudy?
QuickStudy is geared to beginning researchers and
students new to the University library system.
What will my students learn from
QuickStudy?
QuickStudy is one way to help ensure that your
students are on their way to becoming information literate
graduates. Information literacy, a concept librarians and educators
developed over the last decade, refers to a set of competencies
students need to be effective information consumers and creators in
the information society. These information literacy competencies
include understanding the structure of information and knowledge,
creating and executing strategies for finding the needed
information, analyzing and evaluating the information, and
synthesizing and integrating information so it can be used to
complete an assignment or solve a problem. These competencies are
essential to becoming a master student as well as to working and
living successfully in an information society. They are the very
skills needed for life-long learning.
How can I use QuickStudy most
effectively?
- Create assignments which ask students to
demonstrate competency in the skills and concepts covered by
QuickStudy.
- Use specific QuickStudy lessons in your class
presentations.
- Collaborate with a librarian to incorporate
QuickStudy into your course.
- Contact Ask Us! for help
identifying a librarian in your discipline.
What handouts might help students use the U
Libraries?
The University Libraries produces a wide variety of handouts that
you may distribute to your students. If you can't find what you need
on this page of general, library-wide
handouts, please contact us at (612) 624-0303.
Library-wide
handouts to download include:
- How to Use the New MNCAT
- Remote Access to the University Libraries
- Research Quick Start
- A User's Guide to Article Indexes in LUMINA
How can I get my class started using
QuickStudy?
To begin using QuickStudy, students must
be able to navigate the web using Netscape, Internet Explorer, or
another browser. If you have students who do not know how to do
this, you may want to encourage them to first attend a free workshop
offered by ADCS.
What are some ways instructors might
incorporate QuickStudy into lesson plans and assignments?
Module 1: Starting Your Research
Module 2: Designing a Research Strategy
Module 3: Finding Books
Module 4: Finding Articles
Module 5: Finding Web Sites
Module 6: Finding Facts, Reviews, and More
Module 7: Evaluating Sources
Module 8: Citing Sources
To whom can I give feedback on
QuickStudy?
The creators of QuickStudy welcome your feedback
and suggestions for improving this tutorial and making it more
relevant for your teaching needs.
Please contact: Kate Peterson, katep@umn.edu, 612-626-3746 or infopoint@umn.edu
Thanks
to former Project Coordinator: Melissa Kalpin
Prescott
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