Student Guide to Information Literacy – Core: Searching for and Evaluating Information
Searching for Information
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Video Tutorial: Searching as Exploration Part 1 introduces students to the mindset of searching as exploration. Students will be able to distinguish between targeted and exploratory search, plus the most effective approaches to each. Part 2 digs deeper into exploratory search strategies. Students will learn how to craft a search statement and the importance of neutral language.
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Video: Choosing a Database Students can use this video to receive guidance on how to select the best database(s) for their information need and assignment requirements.
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Quiz: Choosing a Database This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on choosing databases.
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Tutorial: Choosing & Using Keywords This tutorial will walk students through the process of selecting, refining, and expanding their collection of search keywords in order to locate the most relevant information to their research topic.
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Quiz: Choosing and Using Keywords This quiz corresponds with the multiemdia on keywords.
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Tutorial: Search Techniques, Part 1 Use this tutorial to familiarize students with strategic searching. Students will learn the purpose and uses of natural language and Boolean operators to broaden and narrow the scope of their search.
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Tutorial: Search Techniques, Part 2 Students will learn strategic search approaches to navigate scholarly databases. Use this tutorial to introduce advanced search techniques for broadening and narrowing the scope of a search.
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Video: Refining Search Results Use this video to help students navigate the search process. Students will learn techniques to conduct effective background research using multiple keywords in order to narrow in on a research focus.
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Quiz: Search Techniques This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on searching techniques.
Evaluating Information
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Video: What is Authority? Use this video to introduce students to the concept of authority, how it relates to research, source selection, evaluation, and attribution.
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Video: Introduction to Bias This video introduces the idea of bias and prejudice and the importance of awareness of one’s own bias and the bias of others when evaluating sources and situations, and responding to arguments.
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Video: Types of Bias This video builds on the introduction to bias video by discussing specific types of bias such as social bias, confirmation bias, and communal reinforcement.
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Quiz: Bias This quiz corresponds with the video on bias.
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Video: Evaluating Sources Use this video to encourage students to think critically about the information they encounter in print and online. Students will become familiar with strategies for evaluating sources based on these criteria: authority, accuracy, currency, relevance, and objectivity.
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Tutorial: Evaluating Information Students will learn how to evaluate a range of resources in order to select the most authoritative sources on their research topic.
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Quiz: Evaluating Information This quiz corresponds with the multimedia on evaluating information.
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Video Tutorial: Understanding Misinformation This video will help students identify the characteristics and purpose of misinformation as well as its effect on their personal and academic lives.
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Quiz: Misinformation This quiz tests students on concepts covered in "Video Tutorial: Understanding Misinformation"
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Tutorial: Evaluating Sources for Diverse Points of View Use this tutorial to introduce students to the practice of differentiating between dominant theories and perspectives that are underrepresented in scholarly and everyday sources. The goal of the lesson is to encourage students to seek out multiple relevant and credible perspectives in order to develop a nuanced understanding of the issues that are important to them.
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Tutorial: Evaluating Digital Sources Using Lateral Reading This tutorial will introduce students to the practice of lateral reading. Students will learn how to evaluate online materials by digging deeper into the origins and motives behind sites. Students will also have the opportunity to practice lateral reading on their own through a guided activity.
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Tutorial: News Reporting vs. Opinion Pieces in Journalism This tutorial will help students differentiate between news journalism and opinion journalism in order to analyze the purpose, standards, and expectations related to reporting and editorializing.
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Video Tutorial: Fact-Checking In this tutorial, students will get an overview of the purpose of fact-checking as well as professional strategies to apply to their own interactions with scholarly and everyday sources of information. Included video introduces students to the practice of fact-checking and the related concept of accuracy in reporting.
