a Librarian
a Librarian
Designing Research Assignments
Avoid these common problems which usually result in negative research experiences
The Mob Scene - A large class looking for one piece of information or researching one topic
Resources can and will disappear quickly; either they will be taken off
the shelf or checked out which will prevent other students from
completing the assignment.
The Shot in the Dark - Students working from incomplete or incorrect resource lists; students assigned to use materials are not owned by the Libraries; vague topics are assigned or approved. Thus, students will get frustrated and again assume incorrectly the USF Libraries do not have the information they need.
The Needle in a Haystack - Students are sent to the Library to find obscure facts
A library scavenger hunt is usually an exercise in futility unless the assignment is focused on the
research process.
Consider why you wish your students to do the assignment - State the objectives and purpose of the
assignment
This will help your students understand what they will learn and how it will help them in the long run. Focus the assignment on the process of finding information which
explains a phenomena, clarifies a viewpoint, or defines an issue. Do you want your students to become acquainted with key resources in
a subject area? Do you want them to do the groundwork for a term
project or research paper? What do you want them to do with
the information once they have found it?
Consider how your students will do the assignement - A research strategy is an appropriate step-by-step method for
organizing a research project Take into account the kinds of
information sought, the corresponding resources which should be
consulted, and the continuous need for evaluating the results. Include analysis of the information as part of the research process.
For Example:
State your topic as a question or statement and develop a list of relevant keywords and synonyms.
Use the USF online catalog to find books on your topic. Which keywords worked best?
Select and search appropriate periodical indexes (you may wish to list
particular resources) to find more recent information in magazines and
journals. Which indexes and searches worked best?
Research strategies often seem obvious to the experienced researcher but are generally unknown to undergraduate students.
Help your students - Feel free to collaborate with subject librarians to assure your
students are successful.
They can develop a subject guide or course guide that focuses on library resources pertinent to the class and the assignment.
Help Your Students Be Successful Researchers
Faculty may request customized library instruction sessions for
individual classes. Through instruction, USF Librarians assist undergraduate and graduate students complete thoughtful,
interesting research projects. Instruction is most
effective when it is integrated into the curriculum and related to a
specific assignment. When the classroom instructor participates, students recognize the value of the
instruction.
Library instruction is customized to the specific research needs of a
class. Students learn to select, use, and evaluate sources pertinent to
their topics in a variety of print and non-print formats. Library instruction sessions may include:
- design of a search strategy
- use of the USF Library catalog
- use of subject specific databases
- analysis of citations
- analysis of sources
Use the link below to request library instruction.
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