We offer a range of workshops and lectures that can be delivered online or in person. We recommend a minimum of two information literacy sessions for undergraduate students and one session for postgraduate students.
Take a look at our workshop menus below for an overview of the topics we offer. Further guidance for embedding our training is available on our 'Get started' page. We also provide supporting online resources that can be embedded within Moodle, or shared directly with your students.
To arrange a session, submit the form on our Request a Teaching Session page. Please be aware, these are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Although we try to accommodate all requests, we recommend booking October sessions 6 weeks in advance to avoid disappointment.
If you have any questions about our teaching offer, please do get in touch with your Academic Liaison Librarian.
The 'Intro to the Library' session is aimed at new starters to help them become familiar with online and physical Library resources. This instruction can be offered as a live taught session, or as asynchronous learning content.
To arrange an induction, see our Request a Teaching Session page.
This session provides an interactive introduction to the Library and the resources we offer. It is recommended for all new starters at Essex, and is regularly offered as part of our open workshops programme. This session can be adapted to the below options to fit within your module:
Key areas covered:
Duration
10-20 minutes
Context
This session is recommended for all students in their first year of study at Essex. It is designed to help familiarise them with the Library, and the services available to help them throughout their studies.
This workshop covers how to organise information for coursework and research. In this session, students learn how to create a search strategy to keep you organised throughout your research, maximise time, avoid errors, and reduce stress. Examples of how to use AI tools to improve a search strategy are also provided.
Duration
45-60 minutes
Context
This session is ideal preparation for a literature review or research project.
This workshop covers different methods for combining the keywords identified in your search strategy and gives a practical introduction to advanced techniques that can be used when researching for an assignment or finding sources.
Duration
60 minutes
Context
This session provides an introduction to advanced search techniques. It is aimed at those who may need to undertake more advanced searches for assignments or research.
This session provides an introduction to the key digital reading platforms available through the Library. It covers tips and digital skills to help screen-read efficiently, and highlight additional tools and resources that can improve the online reading experience.
Duration
45-60 minutes
Context
This session is recommended for undergraduate students, as well as postgraduate taught and postgraduate research students who would like to build confidence using digital reading platforms. It is aimed at those who will use digital readings for coursework (ie ‘essential’ readings on reading lists) or research.
This workshop covers fact checking and evaluating skills that help with avoiding unreliable sources and building views and arguments on solid evidence. Being able to critically evaluate information is an important life skill and essential for academic and professional success. This session is relevant to all information consumers.
Key areas covered:
Duration
45-60 minutes
Context
Understanding how to locate and choose appropriate information sources for academic work is essential for academic success. This session is recommended anyone interested in developing critical thinking and evaluating skills.
This session introduces what academic integrity means in a UK Higher Education context and how to use information ethically to avoid plagiarism and other academic offences. It covers why referencing is important, what needs to be referenced, and where to go for help and support. The session provides practical tips and strategies for avoiding academic misconduct, constructing references, and how the University detects plagiarism.
Key areas covered:
Duration
45-60 minutes
Context
This session is recommended for first or second year undergraduate students.
News & media sources can be incredibly useful across many areas of the social sciences & humanities, whether for current or historical research topics. This session will share with some of the key resources available and how they might be relevant to your students.
50 minutes
This session is aimed at students on modules involving study of news and media, or undertaking research requiring knowledge of news and media sources. It can be adapted for undergraduate or postgraduate level.
This session provides an introduction to special collections and archives, and how they may be useful in an academic context. We can provide tailored sessions, so please do contact us with your requirements and we will do our best to accommodate them!
2 hours
This session is recommended for any level of study.
We can deliver sessions in your timetabled classroom or in the Albert Sloman Library.
Albert Sloman Library
In Loughton we can accommodate groups of up to 25 and inductions will be held in the Library.
At Southend we can accommodate most group sizes but a suitable room will need to be booked with your department’s timetabling officer. Rooms should preferably be booked in the Forum to allow us to incorporate a tour of the Learning Hub and Library spaces into the induction.
Available options for in-person activities at Southend and Loughton include:
Online Teaching & Activities
Live online teaching sessions are scheduled on a first come, first served basis, and we recommend 3 weeks notice for arranging online sessions and activities.
Our online sessions are delivered via Zoom, and can be paired with a self-guided online activity. For Introduction to the Library sessions, we recommend the below self-guided tours of our online resources and/or the libraries at Colchester and Southend Campuses depending on where your students are based. We also have a variety of other online tutorials and activities available, designed to help students develop their information and digital literacy skills. You can find more details on the Online Resources page.
Available options for online induction activities include:
*For online sessions, we generally recommend students complete the a self-guided tour of our online resources within the session, and are then encouraged to complete the campus-based part of the self-guided tour in their own time
To collaborate with us or to find out more about how we can support you and your students, please contact your Liaison Librarian or complete our teaching request form.
