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Getting Started with Research
Sources of Information
Video: Data, Information, and Knowledge
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
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: Peer Review
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.
Video: Types of Sources
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.
Video: Identifying Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources
This video will introduce students to the purpose and characteristics of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources in order to help them identify the most appropriate type of source for their research needs.
Video: Using Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources
This video will introduce students to the purpose and use of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources in order to help them identify the most appropriate type of source for their research needs.
Video: How to Read Scholarly Materials
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.
Searching for Information
Evaluating Information
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Video: Introduction to Fact-Checking
Everyday we look to sources like the news to help us make decisions. But how do we know if the information presented is accurate? Depending on the type of publication (books, magazines, newspapers, online articles, official reports, etc.), a fact-checker, or team of fact-checkers, may have spent time reviewing the information to verify its accuracy.
Not all publications have a dedicated fact-checker; in fact, more and more publications are spending less time and resources on fact-checking because of the fast pace of news and ease of finding information online. Nevertheless, fact-checking is an important process to ensure readers get information that is accurate and trustworthy.
The following video will give you a foundational understanding of fact-checking in information creation and how it is used to evaluate published claims. You’ll learn how to use professional fact-checking techniques to evaluate the reliability of sources—and the accuracy of their claims—that you come across in class and in your daily life.
Visual and Quantitative Literacy Section
Video: Searching for Images
To be an effective communicator using visual information, students first need to develop the skills necessary for locating images. Use this video to introduce students to strategies for locating images and get familiar with image databases or subject-specific collections accessible through the library.
Video: Interpreting Images
Interpreting visual information is a critical skill students will use beyond their academic careers. Use this video to encourage students to ask questions and consider context when interpreting visuals.
Video: Why Does Visual Literacy Matter?
This video will introduce students to the role visual materials play in their daily lives and the skills they will need to communicate quickly and universally using images and media.
Video: Using Quantitative Data
Use this video to help students incorporate quantitative data in their research and evaluate available sources for currency, accuracy, authority, relevance, and objectivity
Video: Evaluating Statistics
Statistics are widely used to support arguments and positions. Use this video to encourage students to think critically about how the statistics they encounter were created and used to convey information.
Academic Integrity
Video: Accessing Information - Examining Habits
Video provides examples of how you can proactively adjust the way you acquire information to support your ability to make informed decisions.
Video: Acknowledging Information's Value
The following video examines ways in which you can acknowledge that information has value: by accessing information legally, and by crediting creators of information appropriately. Both of these acts are essential aspects of academic integrity.
Video: Digital Privacy
Watch this video to learn how your privacy may be eroded in the digital environment.
Video: APA Citations
Citation basics for APA.
Video: Intellectual Property
In this video, you’ll learn about the purpose of copyright protections, the definition of public domain, and be introduced to the concept of fair use. Following the video, you will find slides that take a closer look at some concepts related to copyright and intellectual property
Video: Introduction to Digital Citizenship
This video demonstrates the value and characteristics of digital citizenship.
Video: MLA 9th Edition Citation Style
Use this video to provide students with an overview of the MLA 9th 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: Plagiarism
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: Using a Range of Sources
he following video will examine two key aspects of academic integrity.
Presenting Research and Data
Video: Academic Writing
This video will encourage students to think about their role as academic writers. Students will also learn about the importance of background research and considering mutliple perspectives when joining the scholarly conversation.
Video: Anatomy of a Research Paper
This vdeo provides students with an overview of the basic structure of a research paper.
Video: Presentation Skills: Scenario Part 1
In this video, you’ll learn about the elements of speech that can influence how your message is perceived. You’ll also learn strategies for adjusting these elements to help your message better reach your audience.
Video: Presentation Skills: Scenario Part 2
This is Part of Presentation Skills with a modified example
Video: Understanding the Communication Need
Use this video to help students analyze the purpose of communication methods. Students will be introduced to the advantages and disadvantages of each in order to choose the best type for a given situation.
Video: Writing Help
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.
Video: Study Tips
In this video, you’ll meet Gabriella, a junior studying psychology, who will introduce you to successful studying tips.
Using Critical Thinking and Logic Section
Video: Why Thinking Matters
Being aware of the critical thinking process will help students develop strong decision making skills. Use this video to encourage students to develop awareness of their own critical thinking habits.
Video: Inquiry
Use this video to introduce students to the value of using an inquiry-based mindset. Students will learn how to use inquiry to ask questions and solve problems thoughtfully and effectively.
Video: Evidence Based Reasoning
Use this video to introduce students to the importance of supporting research conclusions with evidence. Students will also learn how to assess their research question in order to locate the approptiate supporting evidence.
Culture and Citizenship Section
Video: Introduction to Cultural Issues
Understanding their own cultural identity is the first step for students to develop empathy for others from different backgrounds. Use this video to encourage students to consider how their identity is affected by culture and world events.
Video: Global Citizenship
This video will introduce students to their roles as global citizens by encouraging them to think critically about their daily actions in a global context.
Video: Introduction to Civic Engagement
Part of being a responsible, informed citizen is engaging with the goals and challenges of the community. Use this video to help students begin reflecting on ways they have been (or could be) involved with civic issues in their community
Video: Introduction to Civic Action
Effective communication is a key part of successful civic action. Use this video to introduce students to the fundamental role communication plays in the stages of planning, implementing, and discussing civic action.