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Library Instruction

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Below you will find some examples with brief descriptions and examples of common topics we can cover in our instruction sessions. Each topic can be modified to meet your course’s needs, topic, and modality.

If you don't see what you are looking for or you aren't sure what will work best for your course, your library liaison will work with you to develop activities and content that will suit your courses' needs.

Instruction topics

Beginning the Research Process

These are the essential research building blocks that all students need, regardless of their current skill level. Students will learn how to:

  • develop a research question
  • narrow or broaden their research question and scope
  • develop keywords for searching

Searching & Finding

Provide your students with information on learning how to use library resources for research. Students will learn how to:

  • Use Search@UW & library databases to locate resources
  • Request physical and digital items from other libraries

Understanding Source Types

It’s important for students to understand the different characteristics of the types of sources required in college-level assignments. Students will learn how to:

  • Understand the type of source that will fit their information need or assignment requirements & where to locate it.
  • Identify the difference between a popular source (newspaper, magazine, etc.) & a scholarly source.
  • Understand & identify what a peer reviewed source is.

Evaluating Sources for Credibility

It’s important for students to how to learn how to effectively determine the credibility, intent, and biases of information sources, not only for academia but as a life skill. Students will learn how to:

  • Evaluate sources through the fact-checking technique of lateral reading
  • Understand how to recognize and listen to experts through research and source evaluation

Citing Sources

Students can always use a refresher on how to cite information and resources available to support citations, especially when they using a different citation style than they are used to. Students will learn how to:

  • Understand when and how to cite information
  • Use our citation management system, NoodleTools

Special Topics

We can provide instruction on special topics relevant to coursework as needed. Some more common special topics include information on:

  • Generative AI literacy
  • Copyright & fair use
  • Understanding & avoiding plagiarism
  • Primary sources
  • Finding government publications