LIBI 100: Library Research Fundamentals Syllabus

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Syllabus Summary  

Course Description: 

Learning how to research is a skill critical to your success in college and beyond. As you are working in all your courses, instructors expect you to be able to find relevant, current, academically respected information on subjects within the discipline you are studying. They also expect you to evaluate information and integrate it effectively into your research projects and presentations. These research skills can also be applied to other areas of your professional and personal life where you find yourself doing research.

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding for different types of information resources available through libraries and the Internet, their use, and how they are organized
• Identify an effective research topic and research question
• Identify the type of resources which help to answer your research question or topic
• Effectively search, locate, and evaluate information resources to answer the research question/topic
• Cite and annotate the sources you use in your work using APA or MLA

Textbook Information: 

There is no textbook required for this course. Assigned readings will be provided in electronic formats on our course site in Canvas at no additional charge.

Meet Your Instructor:  

 
Annie Knight, MLIS
Contact info

In addition to teaching this course, I work as a librarian for Santa Ana College’s Nealley Library (perhaps we've met before at the reference desk!). Teaching and librarianship are two of my biggest passions, and I’m excited to share my enthusiasm for research with you this term. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, traveling, creating wire sculptures and zines, cooking, taking road trips, and hanging out with friends, family, and my cat, Mr. Mitts. 

Teaching Philosophy:
What is important to me is that you develop effective research processes relevant to your academic, professional, and personal goals. Developing research skills, much like reading and writing, is a lifelong pursuit. People’s needs for different types of information is ever evolving, and one’s research skills can always be improved upon and expanded, regardless of their academic background and experience. This course is cumulative and designed to introduce you to the intricacies of research in a step-by-step or scaffolded manner leading up to the final project. Therefore, in order to be successful in this class and develop your research abilities holistically and in a conscientious manner, you will need to complete all of the readings, assignments, and activities by the deadlines indicated in our course site on Canvas.  I see us as a learning community where we work together, share ideas, and learn from each other as supportive colleagues. We each bring a unique set of valuable knowledge and experience to this class.