Academic Information Seeking

About this course: This course will introduce you to the basic elements of academic information seeking - we will explore the search process from defining a strategy to evaluating and documenting your search results. Attending the course will make you a proficient information seeker. You will learn how to carry out comprehensive literature searches based on your own research assignment. You will be guided through the various information seeking steps from selecting relevant search strategies and techniques to evaluating your search results, documenting your search process and citing your sources. Attending the course will enable you to: • Identify your information need • Evaluate databases and other information resources • Set up search strategies and use various search techniques • Formulate search strings based on your own research assignment • Identify relevant material types • Undertake critical evaluation of your sources • Search more efficiently on the internet • Avoid plagiarism • Cite correctly • Work with reference management • Document your search process The course is intended for undergraduate students but the lessons will be useful to anyone who is interested in becoming better at finding scientific information. There are no formal requirements for the course. The series consists of 21 lectures that are organized into three modules. The lectures include small assignments and quizzes (to check comprehension). The lectures will each touch upon a topic that is essential to the information seeking process. To get the most out of the lecture series, we recommend that you access the lectures while you are working on an academic paper. We also recommend that you watch the lectures in the order in which we have structured them. We recommend that you create and fill out a log book while attending the lectures. We have created a log book template that you can use during the course. The lecture series has been developed in collaboration between information specialists at University of Copenhagen and Technical University of Denmark

Created by:  University of Copenhagen, Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

• Taught by:  Birgitte Munk, Information Specialist

  Copenhagen University Library

• Taught by:  Thomas Skov Jensen , Information Consultant

  Technical University of Denmark

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University of Copenhagen The University of Copenhagen is the oldest University in Denmark - founded in 1479, and with over 38,000 students and more than 9,000 employees. The purpose of the University is to conduct research and provide education to the highest academic level. Based in Denmark's capital city it is one of the top research institutions in Europe. Technical University of Denmark (DTU) DTU focuses on research in technical and natural sciences that contributes to the development of society. As an industrially orientated university, our goal is to supply high-level international research based on combining theory with constructing models and empirical methods.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Preparing your search process
In Module 1, we focus on preparation. We explain how to use a log book to document your searches, provide ideas for generating search terms, introduce you to various types of literature, material and information resources, and to reference management.


8 videos, 10 readings expand

1. Video: 1.1 Introduction to the Course - Maria Ravnkilde Christensen
2. Reading: Identify the learning targets in your curriculum
3. Reading: Recommended Reading Materials
4. Reading: Suggested Readings
5. Reading: Dictionary
6. Video: 1.2 Logging your Searches - Rune Kurdahl
7. Reading: Download Work document and Log book
8. Video: 1.3 Generating Search Terms - Peter Hald
9. Reading: Fill out the Work document
10. Video: 1.4 Identifying Different Types of Material and Literature - Torben Jørgensen
11. Video: 1.5 Identifying Information Sources - Torben Jørgensen
12. Reading: Identify databases
13. Video: 1.6 Taking Advantage of Reference Management Tools - Thomas Skov Jensen
14. Video: 1.7 Creating a Mendeley Account - Pernille Seier
15. Reading: Create a Mendeley account
16. Reading: Get full-text access to electronic resources via your academic library
17. Video: 1.8 Adding documents and References to Mendeley - Pernille Seier
18. Reading: Set up a folder

Graded: End of Module 1 Quiz

WEEK 2


Performing your searches
In module 2, you will learn to search for and find information. You will learn how to set up a search strategy and you will be introduced to various search methods and search techniques.


6 videos, 3 readings expand

1. Video: 2.1 Setting up a Search Strategy - Thomas Skov Jensen
2. Reading: Define literature types
3. Video: 2.2 Doing a Random Search - Maria Ravnkilde Christensen
4. Video: 2.3 Making a Cited Reference Search - Peter Hald
5. Reading: Performing a cited reference search
6. Video: 2.4 Using Search Techniques - Birgitte Munk Kjærgaard
7. Video: 2.5 Performing a Building Blocks Search - Rune Kurdahl
8. Reading: Perform a building blocks search
9. Video: 2.6 Accessing the Full Text - Thomas Skov Jensen

Graded: End of Module 2 Quiz

WEEK 3


Evaluating your search results



In module 3, you will learn how to evaluate, use and document your search results. You will get tips on how to critically assess information, you will be introduced to concepts like copyright and plagiarism, and you will learn how to insert citations and bibliographies into your papers.


7 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Video: 3.1 Critically Analyzing Information Sources - Birgitte Munk Kjærsgaard
2. Video: 3.2 Respecting Copyright - Peter Hald
3. Reading: Respecting the copyright of others
4. Video: 3.3 Organising and Sharing in Mendeley - Pernille Seier
5. Video: 3.4 Write and Cite in Mendeley - Pernille Seier
6. Reading: Mendeley - Write ’n’ cite
7. Video: 3.5 Avoiding Plagiarism - Thomas Skov Jensen
8. Reading: Stop Plagiarism quiz
9. Video: 3.6 Documenting your Search - Rune Kurdahl
10. Reading: Create an overview of your literature
11. Video: 3.7 Wrapping Up - Thomas Skov Jensen
12. Reading: Special thanks

Graded: End of Module 3 Quiz