Connecting with your librarians
Crafting Curiosity
Exploring the Library Site
Finding Information Sources
Writing and Citing
Welcome to this Canvas Course! The course was designed for all of you enrolled in the School of Education's certificate programs and master's program in Teacher Leadership.
We live in complex information landscapes, that abound with information sources and technologies, but also challenge us to cultivate ever-changing literacies and strategies. The University of Colorado Libraries is a community of information professionals and learners who are constantly exploring these landscapes and the meaning we might draw from them. In this course, we will point you to a few resources, tips, tools, and strategies that will support your learning, inquiry, and research.
Connecting with your librarians
Crafting Curiosity
Exploring the Library Site
Finding Information Sources
Writing and Citing
Learning Outcomes
Big Questions
Who makes up the community at the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries? How might you connect with the library community in beneficial ways?
Reflections
Can you recall a time when you sought help from a librarian? Can you recall a previous research experience or project that you pursued? Were there times you encountered moments of frustration or moments of celebration?
Essential Concepts
With more than 7.5 million volumes, the University Libraries system on the CU-Boulder campus is the largest library collection in the Rocky Mountain region. The University of Colorado Boulder Libraries are a dynamic partner in creating, disseminating, and advancing scholarship. We inspire learning, research, and discovery by connecting knowledge, information, and people.
Learning Outcomes
Big Questions
What do authentic experiences of research entail? What are the invisible experiences we have while researching?
Reflections
What makes you most curious? What questions do you find yourself asking about educational practices? Remembering a time when you were researching, can you recall moments of frustration or moments of celebration?
Essential Concepts
Typical research experiences culminate in some tangible product such as a paper, article, or multi-media. It is easy to look at the polished project and imagine a nice neat and linear process that precipitated its creation. Instead, the research process is an iterative and often messy process. Another misconception about research is that our objects of study must be abstract and detached from us as individual humans. Instead, the most impactful research often begins from intrinsic curiosity and first-hand experiences.
Your Library and Resources
Learning Outcomes
Big Questions
How do I find the best pathways to library resources and research tools?
Reflections
Where do you usually search? How might library resources supplement and deepen your search experiences?
Essential Concepts
Many of us are adept at searching publicly available search tools and have established our own information habits. Through the libraries, your access to materials and resources has increased exponentially. The materials we have available are often subscription-based and high-cost materials not broadly available. For that reason, to access this content you must connect with your CU Identikey and details.
Finding Sources
Learning Outcomes
Big Questions
Where and how will searching be most fruitful for me?
Reflections
Where do you usually search? How might library resources supplement and deepen your search experiences?
Essential Concepts
Depending on your research needs, you may find the best information in a book, a journal, or news source. The library databases and search tools can help you filter and locate specific types of information.
Search Strategies
Learning Outcomes
Big Questions
What search terms will yield the results you need?
Reflections
Can you recall a time when your search returned far too many or far too few results? Do you remember a time when your search brought back irrelevant content?
Essential Concepts
The language we search is directly related to the type of content we receive. Sometimes, advanced searching requires apply search strategies and testing language variations to be successful.
Writing and Citing
Learning Outcomes
Big Questions
How might I appropriately adopt the citation conventions of my field?
Reflections
Can you recall a time that you consulted someone or used a citation style guide?
Essential Concepts
When writing in academic contexts, we gain credibility by adhering to the writing and researching conventions of our field. APA is the standard citation style used in Education. In addition to handbooks, the libraries also offer information about citation managers. Let us know if you'd like to learn more.