The English 2010 Library Curriculum
What We Do
We partner every section of English 2010 with a librarian. This site highlights our approach to helping students with three major learning goals:
- Helping students learn how to evaluate information.
- Helping students learn how to investigate a topic.
- Helping students learn how to synthesize the information they find in order to contribute to the conversation themselves.
We are very flexible! We can adapt these lessons or work out something specific to your goals. We find that the three concepts highlighted here are areas students struggle with and we have had success in teaching them new strategies to help develop these research skills. We are excited to work with you! If you have questions, contact Katie Strand (katie.strand@usu.edu).
How These Lessons Work Together
We recommend using all four lessons together and in the following order: Identifying Primary Sources, Evaluating Sources; Investigating a Topic; and Understanding & Using Synthesis. These modules work best when integrated into the Canvas course and students are given credit for completing the work. We are happy to add things to Canvas for you - just let us know!
"Identifying Primary Sources" for Online Classes
- Identifying Primary Sources Canvas Module PreviewThe Identifying Primary Sources tutorial teaches students how they find, evaluate, and use primary sources in their own research. Along the way, they'll learn about some great places to start researching when looking for primary sources.
"Evaluating Sources" for Online Classes
- Evaluating Sources Canvas Module PreviewThe Evaluating Sources tutorial teaches students source evaluation skills so they can determine the relevance and credibility of a variety of sources for their own research. It includes a 5 question quiz and a short assignment asking students to apply their evaluation skills to their own source.
"Investigating a Topic" for Online Classes
- Investigating a Topic Canvas Module PreviewThe Investigating a Topic module teaches students to engage in an observation-question-conservation approach in order to develop a researchable topic. It includes 3 assignments: an automatically graded database demonstration, a worksheet to be completed throughout the tutorial, and a discussion where your librarian can interact with your students.
Student Preparation for Investigating a Topic Module
Students should read through and understand the expectations for their research assignment.
Concepts for Instructors to Introduce Prior to the Module
- The Importance of multiple perspectives in research
- Marginalized Groups
- Intersectionality
"Understanding & Using Synthesis" for Online Classes
- Synthesis Canvas Module PreviewThe Synthesis module helps students understand and practice synthesis in order to focus on ideas and put sources in conversation with each other and their own thoughts. It includes 2 assignments: a completed synthesis matrix and a discussion where your librarian can interact with your students.
Student Preparation for Understanding & Using Synthesis Module
Students should have read some research on their topic and are ready to begin filling out a research matrix.
Concepts for Instructors to Introduce Prior to the Module:
(All concepts below are covered in the Investigating a Topic module)
- Navigating library databases (such as ProQuestCentral)
- Search strategies
- Representation of marginalized groups in research
How to import the tutorials into your Canvas course
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Click the Canvas import file for the tutorial you want to use and save the file onto your computer.
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Within your Canvas course, click "Settings" in the left-hand menu.
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On the right side of the resulting "Course Details" page, click the "Import Content into this Course" button.
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Within the "Content Type" drop-down, choose "Canvas Course Export Package."
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Click the "Choose File" button and select the downloaded Canvas export file on your computer. Click "Open."
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Next to Content, choose the "Select specific content" option.
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Click "Import."
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Next, click the “Select Content” button that will appear on the “Current Jobs” section of the Import Content Page.
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Select Modules, Assignments, Discussion Topics, Pages, and Files that you want, and everything associated with the module(s) will be imported. It will take a few minutes to upload.
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When the import process is finished, you will see a Completed button. At this point, you can go into your course modules and place the tutorial modules at the desired location(s) in your course.
Need help? Contact your partnered librarian or Katie Strand (katie.strand@usu.edu). We are also happy to import the tutorials for you.
