How to Research

In the Library Research Skills course, students will learn the essentials for library research. The Canvas course has nine interactive modules:

• Exploring Pros and Cons of Generative AI
• Finding Specific Articles and Books
• Searching Smarter With Keywords
• Choosing a Research Topic
• Designing a Search Strategy
• Revising Your Search to Get Results
• Navigating Different Types of Information
• Evaluating Information and Avoiding Misinformation
• Citing Your Sources

Each module includes a video, text-based information, a quiz, and a feedback form. A single module takes about 10 minutes to complete, and the entire course takes around 90 minutes. Certificates of completion are provided for individual modules and for the full course.

This YouTube playlist includes all of the videos used in the modules and is available outside of Canvas.

Option 1 (Recommended): Students self enroll in the course

U of A instructors can assign the entire Library Research Skills course or individual modules of the course. You will need to:

• Share the self-enroll link with your students: https://canvas.ualberta.ca/enroll/KCX9T4. (You can also enroll in the course to look over the modules before assigning them.)
• Either ask students to complete the full course, or list specific modules they should complete.
• Ask students to submit certificates of completion as proof they finished particular modules or the entire course. See the instructions for creating a Library Research Skills assignment in your Canvas course.
• Please complete this brief form to help us gather feedback and analytics.

Option 2: Import module(s) into your Canvas course

Alternatively, instructors can submit a request to embed individual modules in their Canvas course. This option requires additional steps for optimal integration and updating. It should be done before the start of classes. It is better suited for more advanced Canvas users or those with additional Canvas support.

To learn what's involved in this option, see the Instructors' Guide to Importing Library Research Skills Modules Into Canvas.

For more information, email library.teachingandlearning@ualberta.ca.

Preview module content

You can use the self-enroll link to be added to the Library Research Skills course as a student. Alternatively, you are welcome to email libraryteaching.learning@ualberta.ca and we can enroll you as an observer. The observer role will allow you to move freely through the modules and access all content without having to complete quizzes.

U of A students can access the Library Research Skills course with the self-enroll link. You can download completion certificates after each module, and after you finish the entire course.

If you are currently linking to previous versions of library tutorials (e.g., the foundational tutorials; the public or Canvas Commons versions of Exploring Pros and Cons of Generative AI, Evaluating Information and Avoiding Misinformation, or Citing Your Sources), please email library.teachingandlearning@ualberta.ca.