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This information has been provided for librarians, instructors,
faculty and other educators interested in learning more about Searchpath.
If you have contributions or suggestions about using Searchpath,
please e-mail
us.
What
Is Searchpath?
Searchpath is a resource for
Jefferson College students. It is a self-instructional tutorial to teach basic
library and research skills. It covers the research process from initial topic
selection to citation styles and the issue of plagiarism. There is a link to Searchpath
on the Library's home
page or it can be accessed directly from http://www.jeffco.edu/library/searchpathClassic/.
Its content is organized into six modules:
| 1.
Starting smart |
is
an overview that introduces students to various types of sources. |
| 2.
Choosing a topic |
provides
tips on broadening and narrowing a topic and discusses search
concepts. |
| 3.
Finding books |
provides tips on searching our online catalog. |
| 4.
Finding articles |
provides
practice searching in an article database. |
| 5.
Using the Web |
includes the comparative evaluation of Web sources. |
| 6.
Citing sources |
includes the topics of citing, plagiarism, and copyright. |
Students can
complete the tutorial on their own time outside of class. Each of
its six sections takes about 15 minutes and students can complete
one or more modules at a time. Each of the modules is followed by
a short quiz (see details below).
Who
Is It Designed For?
Searchpath is designed for
students in classes with a substantial writing component or introductory-level
research. However, we hope instructors of other classes will find it useful and
assign it to their students.
How
Can Instructors Effectively Use Searchpath with Their Courses?
Please
have students complete Searchpath before they begin their
research or attend a library session. Students can complete Searchpath
on their own time and submit their quiz results to you.
Each module is followed
by a short quiz and a results page, which provides an overall percentage score
for that module, as well as a summary of questions answered right or wrong. Students
can either print the six results pages with their name and submit the printouts
to you as proof of completion.
Instructors may choose
to give extra credit points to students who complete Searchpath. We strongly
suggest that students be required to pass the quizzes with a score of at least
85% or better. Students
may retake a quiz as many times as they want to improve their score.
Does
Searchpath Replace Library Instruction?
No! We continue
to offer course-related library instruction and hope that you will
incorporate a library session into your syllabus. Timing is important!
Have your students complete Searchpath, then schedule library instruction
with us for a date after they've received an assignment.
Then they will learn about searching databases when they need these
skills to complete their research assignment. Research has shown
that:
- Students
learn best and retain most when they need the information.
- Library instruction
is more effective when the course instructor is present.
- Library instruction
is more effective when coordinated with a class assignment.
To arrange a library instruction
session contact:
Sue Morgan
636-789-3000, ext. 160
email: smorgan@jeffco.edu
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