Overview

This session introduces students to the principles of referencing for academic work through Lego and other "hands on" activities.

Key areas covered

• What referencing is
• Why referencing is important

• How to construct references in the departmental style

Duration

50 minutes

Context

This session is recommended for first or second year undergraduate students.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand what referencing is and why it is needed in academic work
• Reference resources using the appropriate referencing style for the department
• Know where to find support from the Library on referencing

Supporting Online Resources

• Our referencing pages  provides students with general guidance on referencing, and highlight resources for more information on their departmental style.
• Our online referencing tutorial  is a great, interactive introduction to referencing which gives the opportunity for students to practice creating referencing.
• For law students, we have a series of short videos introducing the general principles of OSCOLA.

 Overview

This session provides students with a "hands-on" introduction to evaluating resources for use in academic work.

Key areas covered

• Why we need to evaluate resources 
• Different types of sources and how they can be used
• How to critically evaluate resources using the CRAAP test

Duration

50 minutes

Context

This session is recommended for first or second year undergraduate students.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand how to locate and choose appropriate information sources for academic work
• Be able to evaluate these sources
• Think critically about the origins and purpose of information found

Supporting Online Resources

• Our Search Skills guide  covers evaluating information, as well as other important topics that will help students develop their search skills.
• Our Evaluating Resources  tutorial is a great interactive introduction to this topic, where students can learn about the CRAAP test, avoiding predatory journals, and spotting fake news.

 Overview

This session introduces students to some of the e-resources available in their subject area, which they can use to find information and sources for their assignments.

Key areas covered

• Functionality you might expect to find within e-resources
• Key e-resources for your specific subject/discipline
• Where to find help from the Library

Duration

50 minutes

Context

This session is recommended for second year undergraduate students. It works best with students from the same department or discipline.

Learning Outcomes

• Know how to access e-resources via the Library website and subject guides
• Understand some of the main differences between different e-resources in terms of content and functionality
• Recognise tools for limiting/narrowing search results

Supporting Online Resources

• Our Subject Guides  provide subject specific guidance, highlighting key resources for each discipline.
• Our Search Skills guide  covers finding resources, with information on how to find different resource types. This guide also covers other important topics that will help students develop their search skills.
• We have a short video which provides an introduction to finding and using e-resources through the Library.

 Overview

This session is a practical introduction to advanced techniques that can be used when searching e-resources, as well as how to find material the Library doesn't have.

Key areas covered

• Developing a search strategy
• Making searches more efficient using advanced search techniques
• Where to search

Duration

50 minutes

Context

This session is recommended for second or third year undergraduate students, as well as postgraduate taught and postgraduate research students. It is aimed at those who may need to undertake more advanced searches for assignments or research.

Learning Outcomes

• Recognise the benefits of developing a clear search strategy
• Understand how to apply advanced techniques to make searches more efficient
• Know where to get support from the Library on undertaking searches

Supporting Online Resources

• Our Search Skills guide  covers how to develop an effective search strategy, and the search techniques that can be used to improve searches and get better results. This guide also covers other important topics that will help students develop their search skills.
• Our advanced search skills webinar introduces students to developing a search strategy and provides tips to help make searches more efficient. There is an alternative version for postgraduates which also talks about open access materials.

 Overview

This session is a "hands-on" introduction to reference management software. We can deliver this session looking at either Zotero or Mendeley.

Key areas covered

• What referencing management software is
• What options there are and how to choose the best option for you
• Core functions of the chosen reference management software

Duration

50 minutes

Context

This session is recommended for final year undergraduate students and all postgraduate students.

Learning Outcomes

• Know what referencing management software is and why it is useful
• Understand the core functions of the chosen reference management software
• Be aware of the support available for referencing and reference management software

Supporting Online Resources

• Our referencing pages include information about reference management software and the support available.
• We have a short video introducing what reference management software is and the different software available. 
• Our online Mendeley tutorial provides students with an introduction to this reference management software, taking them through how to set up an account and some of the basic features available.

 Overview

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!

Key areas covered

• What are special collections
• Special collections at the Albert Sloman Library
• Finding special collections and archives elsewhere

Duration

2 hours

Context

This session is recommended for any level of study.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand what special collections are and why they are useful sources of information
• Know where special collections can be found
• Be aware of the special collections held at the Albert Sloman Library, and how to access these

Supporting Online Resources

•  Our Art and Special Collections pages provide an overview of the collections that we have here at the Albert Sloman Library.
• We have a short video which introduces using primary source materials and special collections in research.

 Overview

This session provides an introduction to how to use Google in a more advanced way, including specific tips and shortcuts.

Key areas covered

• What Google actually searches
• Advanced search techniques in Google and Google Scholar
• Alternatives to Google

Duration

1 hour

Context

This session is recommended for final year undergraduate students and postgraduate taught/research students.

Learning Outcomes

• Know how to remove personalisation from your searches
• Understand the different techniques that can be used to enhance your Google search
• Recognise that there are other search engines and the benefits of using these

Supporting Online Resources

• Our Google Search Skills  tutorial gives students tips on conducting advanced searches using Google and Google Scholar, as well as highlighting some alternative search engines.
• Our Search Skills guide  covers ways that students can get the most out of Google as a search engine. This guide also covers other important topics that will help students develop their search skills.

 Overview

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.

Key areas covered

• Importance of news and media
• Contemporary and historical sources
• Social media
• Data

Duration

50 minutes

Context

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.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn about the range of news and media resources offered by the library (and open access)
• Understand which could be useful to your research
• Practice searching selected resource

Supporting Online Resources

• Our Subject Guides provide subject specific guidance, highlighting key resources for each discipline. Where news and media resources are relevant to the discipline, these are highlighted in the subject guide. Examples can be seen in the Sociology, Politics and History subject guides.