2. Understanding Information

Understanding Information

Feel confident in your understanding about the vast range of information sources available to you, and where to start in your academic research.

The Information Timeline HANDOUT

A visual outline of the information cycle – key to understanding when information may be available, and who are likely to be the authors. Who publishes information, and when, can affect the authority and credibility of the information. Resource: U102 Download: Information Timeline HANDOUT

Popular and Scholarly Sources VIDEO

A clear video describing what popular and scholarly articles are, and when each of them is good to use. Students will be able to recognize the different types of information in these sources. Produced by the College of San Mateo, US. Video is 5:20 min. Resource U103.

Research it right! WEBSITE

This an interactive tutorial to help students understand and work through the academic research process. Includes broader and narrower topics, finding and evaluating resources, and citing your sources. Some screens relevant to Vaughan Library only, but good outline of the process. Produced by Vaughan Memorial Library, Canada. Tutorial is about 10 min. Resource U201. LINK TO: AUV Library Tutorial

Big6 Research Model VIDEO

A quick and easy introduction to the Big6 Research Model – breaking a research assignment down into blocks which are easier to tick off! See also U200 for a practical tutorial to get to know the Big6 – learning how to produce excellent research. Video is 2:07 min. Resource U202.

Big6 Research Model PPT

This is a short cartoon-based PPT easy to introduce the Big6 research model to students. Resource U203. DOWNLOAD: Big6 Research Model

General introduction to HCT Libraries VIDEO

This is a quick video introduction to all HCT libraries – welcome to the information hub of the colleges.  Video is 1:17 min.  Resource #U10. Download:  General Introduction to HCT Libraries  

The Information Cycle VIDEO

When students don’t understand the information cycle, they can waste time searching for information in the wrong places. This short video describes this issue clearly. Produced by George Mason University Libraries, US. Video is 4:53 min. Resource U100.  

Higher Order Thinking Skills

Take a Lynda.com course on Digital Citizenship .   Learn why Critical Thinking is an essential lifelong learning skill through Lynda.com course on Critical Thinking .    Understand Digital Literacy from Lynda.com course on Digital Literacy .   Learn why is Visual Literacy important by watching a video from Toledo Museum of Art   Learn how to have better Creative Thinking from Tony Buznan – the inventor of mind mapping.   Learn all about Information Literacy basics through Lynda.com course on Information Literacy . ...

Internet of Things (IOT)

Students from Year 3 and Year 4 are highly recommended to take the following courses on IOT.   IOT course 1 from Lynda.com  provides an overview of IOT.   IOT course 2 from Lynda.com   provides a basic understanding of IOT. IOT course 3 from Lynda.com provides the fundamentals of IOT. IOT course 4 from Lynda.com  provides the concept of security, privacy and IOT.        

Being Digital – Skills for life online

Skills for life online are short activities created by The Open University, U.K. These are 21st century skills important for all university students for lifelong learning. Click on the activities and learn about how to become an efficient researcher in a digital world.