Browse the videos, tutorials, and quizzes below. Mouse over, right click, copy and paste any link into your Blackboard course, or email it to share with students.
Getting Started with Research
Tutorial: Why Information Literacy MattersUse this tutorial to show students how information literacy is relevant to their day-to-day lives. Students will become familiar with their own information seeking habits, privilege, and skills used in their personal, academic, and professional lives.
Video: Life in the Information Age (3:17)Technology is changing the way we locate, analyze, and share information. Use this video to introduce students to the evolving information landscape and their roles as responsible information consumers and creators.
Video: The Research Process. Pre-Research (2:26)Use this video to demonstrate the value of pre-research. Students will learn how to align their initial exploration to their assignment requirements.
Tutorial: Developing a Research FocusIn this tutorial, students will be introduced to pre-research techniques to determine the scope and depth of their research focus.
Video: How to Narrow Your Topic (3:34)Do your students have trouble selecting a topic for a research assignment? This video will outline the process to help students hone in on a compelling research topic with appropriate scope using strategies like strategic searching. Students will also understand the importance of open mindedness and flexibility in the research process.
Tutorial: Background Research TipsDetermining a manageable research question can be challenging for students. Use this tutorial to introduce strategies for aligning a research focus with assignment guidelines and research tools such as concept maps.
Video: Thesis Statements (4:19)Use this video to help students identify the purpose of their research efforts and construct evidence-based statements. Students will learn how to narrow in on a topic, conduct background research, and synthesize the existing body of evidence in order to craft a compelling argument.
Tutorial: Scholarship as ConversationUse this tutorial to encourage students to develop a scholarly mindset. In this tutorial, students will learn how their projects help build the body of work in a given field. Additionally, students will become familiar with the process of attribution and critical evaluation.
Tutorial: Research for Persuasive WritingThis tutorial will introduce students to the purpose and characteristics of persuasive writing in order to locate and select the most appropriate types of evidence to support their assignments. Students will also be able to evaluate both supporting and conflicting evidence in order to incorporate the appropriate types of evidence that will strengthen their position and present a nuanced view of their selected topic.
Video: What is Authority? (3:55)Use this video to introduce students to the concept of authority, how it relates to research, source selection, evaluation, and attribution.
Video: Introduction to Bias (2:14)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.
Video: Types of Bias (2:18)This video builds on the introduction to bias video by discussing specific types of bias such as social bias, confirmation bias, and communal reinforcement.
Quiz: BiasThis quiz corresponds with the video on bias.
Video: Evaluating Sources (3:47)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.
Tutorial: Evaluating InformationStudents will learn how to evaluate a range of resources in order to select the most authoritative sources on their research topic.
Video: How to Identify and Debunk Fake News (4:48)This video will walk students through the purpose and characteristics of unreliable information. Students will learn techniques for identifying and evaluating questionable sources in order to locate objective and verifiable information.
Video: Understanding Misinformation (2:22)This video will help students identify the characteristics and purpose of misinformation as well as its effect on their personal and academic lives.
Quiz: Fake NewsThis quiz corresponds with the multimedia on fake news and misinformation.
Tutorial: Evaluating Digital Sources using Lateral ReadingThis 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.
Tutorial: News reporting vs. Opinion Pieces in JournalismThis 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.
Sources of Information
Tutorial: Information has valueUse this tutorial to introduce students to the ACRL Frame Information Has Value. Students will become aware of their roles as information creators and consumers and learn how issues like copyright and the digital divide affect their academic and personal lives.
Video: Data, Information, and Knowledge (4:03)This video defines and explains the differences and relationships between data, information, and knowledge, and how each might be used or encountered in research.
Video: Primary and Secondary Research (3:22)This video illustrates the differences between primary (original) research (with a focus on methods used in sciences and social sciences) and secondary research, and the ethical considerations associated with each.
Video: Primary Sources (3:43)This video will introduce students to the purpose and characteristics of primary sources in order to help them identify the most appropriate type of source for their research needs.
Video: Secondary Sources (2:32)This video will introduce students to the purpose and characteristics of secondary sources in order to help them identify the most appropriate type of source for their research needs.
Video: Tertiary Sources (1:50)This video will introduce students to the purpose and characteristics of tertiary sources in order to help them identify the most appropriate type of source for their research needs.
Video: Peer Review (2:41)This video will provide students with an understanding of what peer review means, how the process works, why it is an indicator of quality, and how to locate peer-reviewed sources during their research process.
Quiz: Peer ReviewThis quiz corresponds with the multimedia on peer review.
Video: Types of Sources (3:54)This video provides students with a helpful overview of the wide variety of source types they may encounter during research. In addition to defining and describing different source types, it also addresses how to select the appropriate source for their information need, analyzing the capabilities and constraints of different source types, and how to determine source quality.
Tutorial: Source TypesStudents will be introduced to a variety of source types that they may encounter during their research. Use this tutorial to help students locate and evaluate relevant sources to meet their research needs.
Video: How to Read Scholarly Materials (3:49)Do your students feel intimidated by scholarly materials? Use this video to help students get familiar with these valuable resources and learn tips for approaching, analyzing, and integrating scholarly materials into their projects.
Tutorial: How to Read Scholarly MaterialsDo your students feel intimidated by scholarly materials? This tutorial will walk students through the types and components of scholarly materials as well as strategies for strategic reading.
Tutorial: Selecting Appropriate Digital SourcesThis tutorial will help students identify their information need in order to locate and assess relevant resources. Using the techniques in this tutorial, students will also be able to distinguish among types of online sources in order to select those most appropriate for their information need.
Presenting Research and Data
Video: Synthesizing Information (4:46)This video focuses on strategies for writing a strong paper that brings together ideas from multiple sources, including identifying main ideas, and paraphrasing and summarizing techniques.
Tutorial: Synthesizing InformationThis tutorial defines and explores information synthesis, including strategies for bringing together ideas and facts from multiple different sources at various stages in the research process, including background research and note taking, annotated bibliographies, and outlines. It also reviews different examples of final products of synthesis, such as literature reviews, persuasive essays, and research papers.
Tutorial: Annotated BibliographyStudents will become familiar with annotated bibliographies and the role annotations play in research and scholarship. Use this tutorial to help students identify the purpose, structure, and content of annotated bibliographies and create their own annotations.
Video: Writing Help (3:54)Use this video to help students craft clear and effective written assignments. Students will review the value of sentence variety and the importance of proofreading their work.
Tutorial: Digital PrivacyThis tutorial will introduce students to the idea of digital privacy and their responsibilities as information users. Students will analyze how they engage with online tools and services and consider ways to protect their personal information, plus the limits of what individuals can do to protect their privacy.
Tutorial: Paraphrasing, Quoting, and SummarizingThis tutorial provides students with an overview of paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing depending on the goal of their writing, plus how to accurately represent their sources.
Video: Exploration Strategies (2:29)This video digs deeper into exploratory search strategies. Students will learn how to craft a search statement and the importance of neutral language.
Video: Choosing a Database (3:41)Students can use this video to receive guidance on how to select the best database(s) for their information need and assignment requirements.
Tutorial: Choosing and Using KeywordsThis 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.
Tutorial: Search Techniques, Part 1Use 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.
Tutorial: Search Techniques, Part 2Students 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.
Video: Refining Search Results (4:10)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.
Tutorial: Why citing sources is importantThis tutorial provides an overview of why it is important to cite sources, and an explanation for why different citation formats and citation styles exist.
Video: APA Citation Style (4:08)Use this video to provide students with an overview of the APA citation style including common source types such as books, journals, and websites.
Tutorial: APA CitationsUse this tutorial to provide students with an introduction to the APA citation style format and examples of popular source types such as books, journals, and websites. The tutorial includes several “check your understanding” questions with drag and drop exercises where students can format citations of different source types properly.
Video: MLA 7th Edition Citation Style (3:30)Use this video to provide students with an overview of the MLA 8th edition citation style, including an explanation of the “container” concept and an overview of using the citation style for popular source types such as books, websites, and journal articles.
Video: MLA 8th Edition Citation Style (4:25)Use this video to provide students with an overview of the MLA 8th edition citation style, including an explanation of the “container” concept and an overview of using the citation style for popular source types such as books, websites, and journal articles.
Tutorial: MLA 8th Edition Citation StyleUse this tutorial to provide students with an overview of the MLA 8th Edition citation style, including both in-text citation format and works cited format. Tutorial provides an explanation and examples of different sources using the container concept introduced in MLA 8, and also includes several “check your understanding” questions with drag and drop exercises where students can format citations of different source types properly.
Video: Turabian Citation Style (4:50)Use this video to provide students with an overview of Turabian citation style, including common source types such as books, journals, and websites.
Video: Harvard Citation Style (4:10)This video provides an overview of the Harvard referencing style, which is common at universities in the UK. It includes an introduction about the importance of citations and describes conventions for popular sources such as books, websites, and journals.
Video: Chicago Style 17th ed. Books and ebooks (4:04)This video is one of three videos on the Chicago Style of citations, focusing on book citations (see the companion videos for information on journal and website citations). It focuses on the note-bibliography style.
Video: Chicago Style 17th ed. Journals (2:20)This video is one of three videos on the Chicago Style of citations, focusing on journals (see the companion videos for information on book and website citations). It focuses on the note-bibliography style.
Video: Chicago Style 17th ed. Websites and Social Media (2:33)This video is one of three videos on the Chicago Style of citations, focusing on web resources (see the companion videos for information on book and journal citations). It focuses on the note-bibliography style.
Video: Academic Integrity (3:56)Use this video to provide students with an introduction to the concept that information has value, and that acting with academic integrity and ethical behavior is essential to success as a student and as a participant in the scholarly conversation.
Video: Plagiarism (3:32)This video provides examples and explanations of specific types of plagiarism, such as cloning, aggregation, and self-plagiarism, as well as strategies to prevent plagiarizing and a reminder of the possible consequences of academic dishonesty.
Video: Copyright (3:21)Use this video to aid in instruction on intellectual property and copyright, including exceptions to copyright restrictions such as fair use, and guidance on the ethical use of others’ intellectual property.
Quiz: Academic IntegrityThis quiz corresponds with the multimedia on academic integrity and plagiarism.
