
Designing Library Assignments
Some guidelines for making library research a learning experience for students.
Purpose of Library Assignments
- Makes the students aware of the different resources available for research (print, article databases, web, videos, microfilm, newspapers, etc)
- Helps students learn to evaluate appropriate topical resources
- Relates to course material or subject matter
- Introduces students to the process of finding information
- Instructs students in the method of principled research and proper citation
Prepping Students for Research
- Make sure your students know why they are doing this assignment. What is its purpose?
- If you want students to become familiar with certain resources, make a list of these sources, including any call numbers and other location information
- Library instruction may be helpful for first-time researchers, or for research that may become complex
Characteristics of Effective Research Assignments
- Give library assignments in writing rather than orally
- Make it simple and unambiguous
- Before setting students loose, make sure they understand the assignment in its entirety
- Use precise terminology
- If you want students to use both magazines and journals, make sure they know the difference and know your requirements
- Be certain everyone understands the difference between an online/web resource and a subscription article database (note: there is no difference in content between a print journal article and an article accessed via InfoTrac, Academic Search Premier, etc.)
- Clarify expectations of peer reviewed , scholarly , academic , juried , judged , refereed , professional journals for your discipline if you require students to use a specific journal (or list of journals), give them the list
- Check assignments periodically to make sure they are still current and require information that is accessible to the student
- Do the assignment yourself to see how easy information is to find/access and how long it takes to complete keep in mind your students inexperience
Hazards to Avoid
- Assuming that your students have any prior research experience
- Requiring resources that aren t available (or are hard to find)
- Sending the entire class to do the same assignment at the same time (resources will need to be used by everyone, and will be scattered throughout the library and/or mis-shelved after each use)
- Giving a scavenger hunt. It is difficult to construct an assignment in this format that does not frustrate the students and lead to negative perceptions about research in general
- Not making sure there are adequate resources in the library to fill the necessary number of book/article resources required for all students
Role of the Librarian
- Helping you develop assignments
- Teaching library skills we will be happy to come into your classroom and provide students with a Library Instruction session
Alternatives to Traditional Research Papers
- Produce an annotated bibliography
- Compare and contrast the discussion of the same topic in a magazine article and a scholarly research article
- Identify key issues or people in a discipline
- Compare and contrast two journal articles with opposite points of view on a topic
- Compare two journal articles with the same topic from two different time periods
- Remember: It is very useful for research assistance if librarians have an advance copy of the assignment!
University Libraries References:
- Bowling Green State University (new window)
- University of Maryland University Libraries: Teaching and Instruction (new window)
- University of Washington: Research Guides (new window)
- University of Miami: Online Teaching: Library Resources (new window)