Research Skills Support Offer

Embedded research skills and referencing sessions:

Up to two hours can be delivered per course, per level of study, per year. This can comprise a combination of skills areas to cover:

• Induction: A basic introduction to the Information Librarian for their course, key information regarding the library and how to access support

• Searching for information: How to build an effective search strategy and create a search string that can be utilised with any academic search tool

• Using search tools: How to apply search strategies and search strings within the various search tools available.

• Evaluating information: How to ensure that the information you discover is accurate, reliable and appropriate for use in academic assignments

• Referencing: How to understand why referencing is important, how to apply it within your writing and how to correctly acknowledge your sources both in-text and in a reference list.

• RefWorks: How to use RefWorks to manage information sources used within assignments and generate your reference list.

• Drop in Q/A: Utilised as a returning session for students to catch up with their Information Librarian and ask for help relating to specific issues

For more information on the above sessions please contact the Information Librarians.

Please agree within your course teams where this support is best placed.

Options for delivering this support are outlined below.

Each of the sessions listed above can be adapted for subject specificity and level, focussing on ensuring students develop the skills and confidence to complete the research and referencing required for their assignments.

These sessions will ideally be delivered in-person in a classroom or lecture theatre but can be adapted for online delivery via Teams where necessary.

Timings of sessions

Each of the above sessions would ideally be delivered over 1 hour. This will enable us to cover everything that the students need to know, allowing time for some basic interactive moments and questions throughout the session and at the end.

As an example of what can be covered within timing restrictions, please refer to the below:

• 15mins: Only useful for induction sessions or demonstration of a specific issue
• 30mins: A basic introduction to the core concepts of the session but little time for demonstration or any depth of understanding
• 45mins: All information covered relating to the topic but won’t be interactive
• 60mins: All information covered as well as some interactive moments for students to engage with key concepts and skills
• 90mins: Fully interactive session with all information covered and students afforded time to have a go themselves and ask questions arising from this

You may ask us to combine sessions working within these timings. For example, you may ask for 60mins on Searching for Information plus 30mins on Referencing, or 45mins on Evaluating Information and 45mins on Using Search Tools, perhaps even 30mins each on Searching for Information, Using Search Tools and RefWorks to make up a 90mins session.

We are happy to deliver up to 2 hours, per course, per level, per year. Short induction sessions are not counted within this allowance. You may request a 15min induction with your Information Librarian at the start of the course/year and then full sessions at mutually agreed dates and times further into the year.

Please note: We are unable to offer multiple/repeat workshops or lectures.

In-person lecture or workshop:

Our live sessions are offered both in-person or via online Microsoft Teams delivery.

Please note: We are unable to offer multiple/repeat workshops or lectures.

Asynchronous Learning:

Asynchronous delivery enables learners to easily access support at times and places best suited to their needs and may be an ideal solution for students struggling to attend timetabled classes for whatever reason.

Asynchronous content can be accesssed via our Research Skills videos. These videos can be embedded as required within your modules to align with coursework requirements.