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How can a librarian help
my students improve their research?
- Learn how to learn
Librarians know how to organize and use information
resources, but more importantly, we are professionals at
educating users about effective research.
- Pursue research
further
The skills and knowledge students need to conduct research
are vital not only to the pursuit of academic questions, but
also to actively contributing to their culture and society. And
as such, librarians are a vital part of ensuring Cal State San
Marcos students can become global citizens, as well as
succeed in your courses.
- Use scholarly
information
In our information-saturated culture, students are often
overwhelmed when beginning a college-level research project.
Searching the web is ‘easy’ to students who are unsure how to
navigate the scholarly literature. Class time with a subject
specialist librarian and the course instructor can be a dynamic
learning opportunity for students to begin their research. In
such a setting, course instructors can know that students have
started on their projects using good strategies and quality
resources. Librarians also produce web-based, course-specific and
subject area research guides to complement in-class instruction
and facilitate student research.
- Take on plagiarism
Working with a librarian to develop a unique research assignment
is, in our view, the most proactive way to stymie student
efforts to plagiarize. Librarians see first-hand how students
struggle with navigating not only the realm of academic
information, but the information culture. Research has shown
that many instances of student plagiarism stem from students not
understanding what plagiarism is, why it is "bad," and how to
avoid it. Collaborating with a librarian to educate your
students about this issue ensures that students are armed with
the necessary information to make the right choices.
What expertise does a
librarian have?
Librarians at Cal State San Marcos have a
Master’s in Library and Information Science and are faculty. This
terminal degree ensures that librarians are experts in a breadth of
information organization and retrieval. We are experts in educating
users to identify, find, and use the best information resources for
your field.
Each instruction librarian is also a subject
specialist and brings unique knowledge to their instruction,
development of library collections, and assistance to students,
faculty, and staff. We know our subject areas from the information
creation and use perspective. For example, the Business Librarian’s
knowledge of the intricacies of navigating Mergent Online helps
Business 302 students successfully compare ratios. Similarly, our
Science Librarian’s knowledge of PubMed’s MeSH system is vital to
helping a biochemistry student track down needed articles.
Examples of librarian faculty collaborations
How does all of the above actually happen?
The examples below include a brief description of the library
instruction provided and the three main learning outcomes, as
articulated in the
Information Literacy Standards for Higher Education. These
examples represent only a small sampling of the wide range of
librarian faculty collaborations.
Biology
211: Introduction to Population and Organismal
Biology
This is the 2nd course in the first year of
coursework for Biology majors. It is taught entirely
with the Problem-based Learning pedagogy, a approach
that has been widely adopted in Nursing and Medical
education. Students are presented with real-world
scenarios and as teams, research explanations
and solutions. A significant challenge for students
is finding and understanding peer-reviewed journal
articles, which are required to be used as their
main information sources. In collaboration with
the instructor of record and laboratory instructor,
students are given in-depth instruction in strategically
searching CSUSM Library's resources. An assignment
in the first week of classes is given to students
that will prepare them for their semester of research.
Throughout the semester, students are expected
to seek out assistance as their scenarios get
more complex. Currently in development is an online
tutorial that will complement the in-class instruction
and first-week assignment; all of which will allow
students to begin developing the library research
skills essential for a career in the sciences.
Course
Research Guide
Main Learning Objectives
1.1e Identifies key concepts and terms that describe
the information need
2.2a Develops a research plan appropriate to
the investigative method
3.4f, g Integrates new information with previous
information or knowledge and Selects information
that provides evidence for the topic
COMM
390: Communication Research Designs, Methods and
Approaches
This course is required for all Communications
majors and explores both qualitative and quantitative research
and relies heavily on the library for the literature
reviews. In collaboration with the instructor
of record, the librarian teaches students
how to conduct library research focused mainly
on finding and accessing scholarly communications
journal articles while sharing tips on ways to
focus their topic. While various instructors of
record may vary the specifics of the assignment,
the learning outcome of the course and its focus
on library resources is clear.
Course
Research Guide
Main Learning Objectives
1.1a Confers with instructors and participates
in class discussions, peer workgroups, and electronic
discussions to identify a research topic, or other
information need
2.2b,c Identifies keywords, synonyms and related
terms for the information needed and Selects controlled
vocabulary specific to the discipline or information
retrieval source
2.3a Uses various search systems to retrieve
information in a variety of formats
3.4a. Determines whether information satisfies the research or
other information need
GEW 101: Principles
of Written Communication
An introductory course for first-year students in
critical thinking and writing skills that fulfills
General Education Requirement Area A.2 (Written
Communication.) The students utilize reading and
writing to demonstrate development in critical
thinking and analysis. The Major Paper #2 project
requires properly documented research in a variety
of scholarly sources and analysis of the sources
used to support their thesis and arguments. Student
awareness of the variety of sources,
their appropriateness to the assigned topic, and
ethical use of those sources are the goals
of the librarian instructor in the instructional
collaboration. Due to the variety of assigned
topics and individual classroom instructor's goals,
learning is supported through a customized presentation
of lecture/demonstration, hands-on work, and follow-up
appointments. A supporting online tutorial
is being developed to reinforce and expand the
library skills and concepts presented during the
classroom interactions.
Course
Research Guide
Main Learning Objectives
2.1a,b Investigates the scope, content, and organization
of information retrieval systems and selects efficient
and effective approaches for accessing the information
needed from the investigative method or information
retrieval system
2.2b,c Identifies keywords, synonyms and related
terms for the information needed and Selects controlled
vocabulary specific to the discipline or information
retrieval source
3.2a Examines and compares information from various
sources in order to evaluate reliability, validity,
accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of
view or bias
HIST 301: Historical
Methods and Writing
The gateway course for the History major
student, this course provides guided exploration
of the range of historical research while
focusing on a specific topic. The librarian
instructor, in collaboration with the classroom
instructor, advances the student's existing
knowledge of research techniques and resources.
This includes awareness of subject-specific
resources and more advanced research techniques
and introduction to the less-used resources. Guidance
is provided through lecture/demonstration
to prepare the students to parse their broad topic into
researchable pieces. A follow-up hands-on research
meeting is to begin exploration and reinforce
through active learning. The librarian's
goal is to elaborate on the basics of information
literacy and in help the students understand and
determine the place of their findings
in the scholarly conversation.
Course
Research Guide
Main Learning Objectives
1.1d Defines or modifies the information need
to achieve a manageable focus
2.1c, d Investigates the scope, content, and
organization of information retrieval systems
and selects efficient and effective approaches
for accessing the information needed from the
investigative method or information retrieval
system
3.5a,b Investigates differing viewpoints encountered
in the literature and determines whether to incorporate
or reject viewpoints encountered
ID 340:
American Ethnic and Multicultural Studies
This interdisciplinary course studies the challenges
and opportunities that exist for various ethnic
subpopulations in America including:
African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos,
Asian Americans, and White Ethnics (e.g., Italian
Americans, Irish Americans, and Jewish Americans).
In a semester-long, intensive research project--
designed in collaboration with the instructor
of record and the ethnic studies librarian-- students analyze a particular ethnic subpopulation,
focusing on the myths and realities of access
to valued resources (like income, education or
healthcare) and the past and present discrimination
of that group.
Course
Research Guide
Main Learning Objectives
1.1c Explores general information sources to
increase familiarity with the topic
3.2a Examines and compares information from various
sources in order to evaluate reliability, validity,
accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of
view or bias
5.3a Selects an appropriate documentation style
and uses it consistently to cite sources
Kinesiology 202: Introduction to
Kinesiology
This gateway course for kinesiology majors provides a holistic
overview of the field of study and builds the core skills and
knowledge needed for students to succeed in the major. A significant
part of a kinesiology major’s learning experience requires the
searching, use and application of the professional literature that
ranges highly technical discussions of biomechanics, psychological
determinants of exercise motivation, and sociological perspectives
on professional athletes. Therefore, two sessions of this class are
dedicated to having students become familiar with navigating PubMed
(the primary research literature database for kinesiology.) Emphasis
is placed on articulating the information needed in the right
terminology and nomenclature, efficiently assessing the relevancy of
search results, and, most importantly, developing an understanding
of how the disparate literature of this field is organized.
Course Research Guide
Main Learning Objectives
1.1c Explores general information sources to increase familiarity
with the topic.
2.2b Identifies keywords, synonyms and related terms for the
information needed.
2.2c Selects controlled vocabulary specific to the discipline or
information retrieval source.
2.3a Uses various search systems to retrieve information in a
variety of formats.
3.4a. Determines whether information satisfies the research or
other information need.
Sociology
480: Seminar in Comparative Sociology
This is a capstone course designed for sociology majors who are
about to graduate. The course requires students to draw upon their
background in Social Theory and in Sociological Research Methods to
engage in comparative sociological research on a topic of their
choice. Students need to compare and study a social issue in at
least two societies. .
Course
Research Guide
Main Learning Objectives
1.1d,e Defines or modifies the information
need to achieve a manageable focus and identifies
key concepts and terms that describe the information
need
3.2a Examines and compares information from various
sources in order to evaluate reliability, validity,
accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of
view or bias
3.4b,c Uses consciously selected criteria
to determine whether the information contradicts
or verifies information used from other sources
and draws conclusions based upon information gathered
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California State University San Marcos Library