PWR Instructors: Working with the UW Libraries

These research guides and tutorials can be woven into your course planning and assignment sequences as/if you so choose. PWR instructors—particularly those teaching 100-level courses—can utilize these walkthroughs to scaffold important research, database, and information literacy skill developments ahead of students’ major assignments. 

• The Undergraduate Researcher Tutorial contains six importable Canvas modules that break down critical aspects of finding, evaluating, and using sources for newer students. Instructors can import any of these modules for activity and/or assignment scaffolding.  Questions? Unfamiliar with Canvas importing? Visit this scheduling link or directly email one of the librarians listed.
  • Read Strategically
  • Better Evaluate Information
  • Enhance Database & Searching Skills
  • Enhance Citation Practices
  • Publish & Share Your Research
  • Find Your Balance

• The UW Library Research 101 Notebook is a self-paced, Google Forms-based interactive activity orienting students to the Libraries’ research tools and helping them begin research. Although designed for asynchronous completion, it can also be used as a class outline if students have the means to complete its prompts and searches in a classroom. For this, you can (a.) have students complete the public version of the Notebook and forward you their results or you can (b.) create a copy for your own class, either using it as-is or adjusting it to suit specific assignments, and receive all results via email directly.

  • Public Version: https://tinyurl.com/LR101Public
  • Create-Your-Own: https://tinyurl.com/LR101Copy

* The Notebook was inspired by a similar project at UC Berkeley.

• Our UW Libraries YouTube channel’s “Intro to Research” series breaks down research, search query, and citational basics in a similar vein to our Class Workshops, but in short, digestible, five-to-fifteen-minute videos

• The English Composition Research Guide is a student-facing guide offering a starting point for basic multidisciplinary research resources appropriate for 100-level PWR courses and helps students get into the habit of using the Libraries’ discipline-focused Research Guides as their starting point for source-based research.

• The Evaluating Information and Citing Sources Research Guides, two of our most-consulted guides, introduce students to basic source evaluation and citation tools.

If appropriate use of any resource seems unclear or you'd like more information, please book a consultation to speak with a librarian about best ways to make these options work for you!

The following bookable workshops led by peer research consultants can take place in physical or virtual classrooms. Consultants will lead students through one of seven different workshops or presentations, each designed to support a specific aspect of text-based research.  These workshops must be booked at least two weeks in advance and can be tailored to your course's specific assignments and/or content upon receipt of your booking request(s). ENGL 131 in the High School instructors, please note that we are unable to hold in-person workshops for your students, but you can request a Zoom workshop.

Book an in-class workshop: https://cal.lib.uw.edu/appointments/pwr
(Note: Workshop capacity is limited. Please request only one in-class workshop per class.)

• Introduction to UW Library Search (~45 mins): This hands-on workshop breaks down key instructions and tips for effective search navigation, advanced searches, editing results’ scope, using filters, and the like. 

• “Search & Destroy” [Game] (~45-50 mins): Consultants will introduce database search skills, then set up a multimodal card game [computers also needed] that pts students in casual competition to hone those skills.

• Developing Research Questions (~45 mins): Consultants walk students through the process of developing clear, specific, relevant, open-ended, and researchable research questions in this presentation.

• Keywords & Search Statements (~45 mins): Working with research topics that students should identify beforehand, this workshop guides students through crafting lists of varied search terms and queries for their topics.

• Scholarly Articles (~45-50 mins): In this workshop, students work with a selection of articles (provided by the consultant) to break down which sources might be considered "scholarly" and why.

• Source Evaluation [Two Options—Can Do One or Both]

  • “Trust Issues” [Game] (~45mins): After critically discussing the concept of credibility, consultants and the instructor lead students through this card game that hones contextual awareness, defense of one's citational sources, and source evaluation.

  • SIFT (~45mins): This hands-on workshop asks students to engage with the "[S]ee, [I]nvestigate, "[F]ind better coverage, and "[T]race to original content" method of source evaluation with a walkthrough and practice session.

The lesson plans and baseline content for each of these workshops are available for to run yourself, if you so choose; but we strongly recommend consulting with a librarian (see #3 in our introduction above) before doing so.  Workshop materials live here: : https://tinyurl.com/pwr-library-workshops.

Note that you must use your UW NetID account to access the workshop materials. 

Encourage your students to make an appointment with a Student Research Consultant on defining a research question, exploring background

(3.) One-on-One Consultations

Librarians and peer research consultants maintain availability throughout the year to meet with you and your students one-on-one.  These meetings can take place virtually or in-person in the Odegaard Writing & Research Center on the first floor of Odegaard Library.

• (Instructor) Library Consultation appointments provide a great space for you to talk about assignment design, brainstorm ideas for information literacy activities or Canvas materials, help develop library-specific assignments, and more with a librarian! This should be your go-to move for any remotely Library-related questions or clarifications.

[Booking Link: https://cal.lib.uw.edu/appointments/uwlib?g=15419]

• You can encourage your students to make Research Peer Consultation appointments for guidance with defining research questions, exploring background info, narrowing or broadening topics, and identifying useful sources with student consultants. Feel free to provide the booking link in your Canvas syllabus.

[Booking Link: https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/owrc-research]

(4.) Multimodal Support

A variety of options to support your and your students' multimodal composition projects also exist at UW, many of which the Libraries maintain. These include the following.

• Odegaard Sound Studio
  Odegaard library houses a sound studio that both instructors and their students can book. The second floor desk also checks out microphones that do not pick up sound unless spoken into. It is the perfect space for instructors interested in audio/video pedagogies and podcasts and there are technicians available who can help set up. 

https://itconnect.uw.edu/guides-by-topic/technology-facilities/sound-studio/

BOOKING: https://cal.lib.uw.edu/space/11930

• Learning Technologies Workshop Support

Online video workshops include Photoshop fundamentals, Audacity (audio editing application), and iMovie (Apple film editing.)

https://itconnect.uw.edu/tools-services-support/teaching-learning/workshops/

BOOKING: https://itconnect.uw.edu/tools-services-support/teaching-learning/workshops/#calendar
 

• Digital Storytelling

Learn tools and techniques to communicate your research in a more engaging manner.

https://www.lib.washington.edu/openscholarship/services/digital-storytelling

• Podcasting & Video Workshops (*Designed for Your Own Projects)

  • SIGN UP FOR A PODCASTING WORKSHOP: https://sites.uw.edu/libstory/podcasting/syllabus-for-podcasting/

  • SIGN UP FOR A VIDEO STORYTELLING WORKSHOP: https://sites.uw.edu/libstory/video-storytelling/syllabus-for-video/

* The Notebook was inspired by a similar project at UC Berkeley.

UW Libraries Teaching & Learning Portal for Instructors.
https://www.lib.washington.edu/teaching/teaching-support

An overview on all aspects of Libraries support for your course or section, including managing course materials, use of handouts and tutorials, synchronous and asynchronous online class instruction and workshops, consultations for either you or your students, and assignment design collaboration. Essentially a web-based version of this document.

Two of our most-consulted guides introduce students to the basic concepts and tools for source evaluation and the purposes and practice of citation in various styles.

EVALUATING: https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/evaluate/
CITING: https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/citations 
 

Library 101 Toolkit for Instructors (From Duke University Libraries)
https://sites.duke.edu/library101_instructors/

Lessons and activities aimed at writing instructors and librarians to teach basic research skills and concepts.

English Composition Research Guide [for students]
https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/englishcomp

Student-facing research guide that presents some basic multidisciplinary research sources appropriate for most 100-level PWR courses. Gets students into the habit of using the Libraries discipline-focused Research Guides as a starting point for literature review.

Odegaard Sound Studio
https://itconnect.uw.edu/guides-by-topic/technology-facilities/sound-studio/
Odegaard library houses a sound studio that both instructors and their students can book. The second floor desk also checks out microphones that do not pick up sound unless spoken into. It is the perfect space for instructors interested in audio/video pedagogies and podcasts and there are technicians available who can help set up. 
BOOK THE SOUND STUDIO: https://cal.lib.uw.edu/space/11930

Learning Technologies Workshop Support
https://itconnect.uw.edu/tools-services-support/teaching-learning/workshops/

Online video workshops include Photoshop fundamentals, Audacity (audio editing application), and iMovie (Apple film editing).
BOOK ONE: https://itconnect.uw.edu/tools-services-support/teaching-learning/workshops/#calendar
 

Digital Storytelling
https://www.lib.washington.edu/openscholarship/services/digital-storytelling

Learn tools and techniques to communicate your research in a more engaging manner.
SIGN UP FOR A PODCASTING WORKSHOP: https://sites.uw.edu/libstory/podcasting/syllabus-for-podcasting/
SIGN UP FOR A VIDEO STORYTELLING WORKSHOP: https://sites.uw.edu/libstory/video-storytelling/syllabus-for-video/

Open Scholarship Commons Group Working Spaces
https://www.lib.washington.edu/openscholarship/space

In-person services and collaboration spaces for 21st century open scholarship. Scroll down the page for availability and booking for space