1. Creating Research Assignments for Your Class By Carol Womack Professional Development Day, Spring 2005

2. Effective Assignments Mean: Less frustration for students Better research Critical thinking skills Lifelong learning skills

3. Effective Assignment--Definition Has a specific, understood purpose Relates to course Increased understanding of subject Variety of sources Timeline

4. Better assignments Learning outcomes Assessment tools Share your assignment with us Use available sources

5. Use the Library Put books on RESERVE Check Library’s holdings http://xe9hz9pm5b.search.serialssolution s.com/ Find articles in databases and link to them http://library.smc.edu/faculty/elink.html

6. Use the Library Share assignment Share syllabus Carol Womack x4635

7. The Topic Direction Limits Objectives Selecting a topic is difficult http://library.smc.e du/research/topics/ Narrow/expand topic

8. Design the research Find a book Find an article Find a GOOD website Evaluate sources Identify sources to be used Assume minimal library knowledge Library has materials Schedule library orientation/share assignment w/librarian Talk to a librarian http://library.smc.edu/about/staff.h tml

9. Help for students Encourage them to visit Reference Desk Put materials on Reserve Sample research papers Sample bibliographies http://library.smc.edu/research/citation.html http://library.smc.edu/research/citation.html

10. Pitfalls Same assignment Inaccurate source names Trivial pursuit Inefficient Use of Internet Plagiarism

11. Alternatives to the term paper Annotated bibliography of ranked items Compare two articles Review articles/key issues Article review Evaluate website

12. Better assignments Learning outcomes Assessment tools http://www.csulb.edu/~ttravis/GESI/re vised.htm Share your assignment with us

13. Creating Assignments Creating Effective Library Assignments http://sac.edu/students/library/nealley/pathfinders/effective_assignme nts.htm http://sac.edu/students/library/nealley/pathfinders/effective_assignme nts.htm Promoting Information Literacy through Class Assignments http://www.csuchico.edu/lins/assignments/promoting_infolit.html http://www.csuchico.edu/lins/assignments/promoting_infolit.html Guidelines for Creating Effective Library Assignments. http://library.csusm.edu/departments/ilp/effective_assignments.asp http://library.csusm.edu/departments/ilp/effective_assignments.asp Guidelines for Designing and Implementing Effective Library Research Assignments http://library.csun.edu/assign.html#eff http://library.csun.edu/assign.html#eff Common Pitfalls to Library Research http://dometest.sdsu.edu/about/depts/instruction/pitfalls.shtml http://dometest.sdsu.edu/about/depts/instruction/pitfalls.shtml Tips for Effective Library Assignments http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Tips.html http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Tips.html Effective Library Assignments http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/infosrv/lue/effectiveassignments. html http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/infosrv/lue/effectiveassignments. html Library Assignments: Some Tips and Reminders http://www2.canisius.edu/canhp/canpub/ciq/CIQ_May96/library.html http://www2.canisius.edu/canhp/canpub/ciq/CIQ_May96/library.html Term Paper Alternatives: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/PaperAlternatives.html http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/PaperAlternatives.html

14. Learning Outcomes Writing Learning Outcomes http://www.aallnet.org/prodev/outcomes.asp http://www.aallnet.org/prodev/outcomes.asp How to Write Learning Outcomes http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/education/curricula/ giscc/units/format/outcomes.html http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/education/curricula/ giscc/units/format/outcomes.html

15. Assessment Tools http://www.santarosa.edu/library/assignments. shtml http://www.csupomona.edu/~library/InfoComp/i nstrument.htm http://www.topsy.org/InfoLitAssess.html http://www2.library.unr.edu/ragains/assess.html Improving Assignments: http://www.csulb.edu/~ttravis/GESI/revised.htm

16. Questions? Suggestions? Thank you for coming!