Effective Library Assignments

Auburn University Libraries is committed to developing the information literacy skills of our students. To do so effectively, library assignments must focus on the integration of information and research knowledge into course-related assignments.

Do’s

• Design your assignment so that students are asked to find, evaluate and use information in a meaningful, relevant way.
• Clearly define the task and identify the sources students can and cannot use.
• Work through the assignment yourself; make sure that the library has the resources you and your students require.
• Focus on information content, not container. Be aware that electronic sources may be more appropriate and readily available than print sources.
• Give your students a copy of the assignment, including a list of resources you would like for them to consult.
• Place materials on reserve if students will be using the same resource.
• Schedule a course-related library instruction session and/or discuss the assignment with your library subject specialist.
• Give students enough time to complete the assignment successfully. Remind students that, even under the best circumstances, research takes time.
• Encourage students to stop by the reference desk if they need assistance.
  

Don’ts

• Ask a class to retrieve the same exact print resource; students may have difficulty accessing it.
• Create a treasure or scavenger hunt. These types of assignments focus on discrete answers and do not develop research skills in a meaningful way.
• Use incomplete or inaccurate names when referring to a source. For example, EBSCO is a database vendor; Academic Search Premier is the name of a general database.
• Require a source that the library does not own.
• Assign a generic assignment out of a handbook or textbook unless you check to see if it works ahead of time.
• Expect that a walk-through tour of the library will teach your students everything they need to know about the library and research.

Alternatives to the Traditional Research Paper

• Annotated bibliography
• Compare/Contrast resources from scholarly journals and popular magazines.
• Compare how two different disciplines cover the same topic.
• Analyze a key publication in a specific discipline.

And now, a word about those Internet Sources…

At the reference desk, students often tell us that they are not allowed to use Internet or Web sources. Many of our databases and indexes are now accessed through the Web. In fact, more and more journal subscriptions are online only. Please help your students understand the difference between scholarly, credible library resources and the general, ‘free’ information they may find on the ‘Net.

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Questions or Comments? Contact
Nancy Noe / Library Instruction Coordinator
email: noenanc@auburn,edu
phone: (334) 844-1774, fax: (334) 844-4461

Or

Juliet Rumble / Reference & Instruction Librarian

email: rumbljt@auburn.edu

phone: (334) 844-0236, fax: (334) 844-4461