Graduate Course Award in Research Information Literacy

Formal Description:

The Graduate Course Award in Research Information Literacy is a one semester equivalent course.

Students who complete the course have demonstrated skill in Information Searching, and in Information Management. Students are also required to show proficiency in using at least two Information Technology software packages.

The coursework requires students complete a minimum of 14 modules in Information Searching, Information Management and Information Technology. In addition, students must complete an advanced Literature Review Project that demonstrates proficiency in information literacy and a Research Sources Consultation.

Enrolment:
A checklist for requirements is available for you to organise your session enrolments

Graduate Information Literacy Program courses undertaken as early as 2003 may count towards your Course Award: Contact grad.ilp@anu.edu.au to ascertain how many of your 2003 course attendances can count towards your Course Award

For Course Requirements A, B and C. (see below) you can either:
1. Register your intention to begin the Course Award by email:
grad.ilp@anu.edu.au and a record will be kept of your attendances.
2. Indicate you wish to have previous sessions count towards your Course Award by email: grad.ilp@anu.edu.au We will advise you of how many modules you still need to complete.
NOTE: Students need to ensure they have signed the attendance sheet at each training session attended this year

For Course Requirement D (see below) you need to:
Contact grad.ilp@anu.edu.au to arrange an interview time.

 

Outline of the course:


A.            Information Searching

Students must select at least two of the following 3  courses:

1.      Search Strategies and Topic Analysis

Students will learn how to analyse a topic, identify keywords, conduct searches using Boolean operators, and  limit searches. These skills will be taught using multidisciplinary databases and electronic journals

2.      Selecting and Searching Subject Databases

Students will learn to select information sources appropriate to their information needs. They will acquire skill in evaluating information sources and the information retrieved.

Prerequisites: Search Strategies module or relevant experience in database searching

3.      Web Searching and Evaluating Web Sites, Citation Searching and Current Awareness Profiles

Students will be introduced to at least 2 major search engines and will learn to use advanced search techniques. The importance of critically evaluating web information will be stressed. Students will be introduced to citation searching on  the Web of Science.  Students will also learn how to set up a current awareness profile.

Prerequisites: Completion of the Search Strategies course recommended

 

B.                Information Management

Attendance at all  4 courses compulsory

1.      Information Literacy – an Introduction

This course will introduce students to the requirements for completing the Graduate Course Award. Students will also be introduced to the concept of information literacy and the Australian Information Literacy standards.

2.         Management of the Thesis Production Process

Students will be made aware of the ANU thesis timeline.

Basic project management and time management concepts will be introduced and students will have an opportunity to draft a timeline- plan for their own thesis. Students will also be introduced to the facilities and services available at the ANU that will help them  to successfully complete a research degree.

3.      The Literature Review- Strategies and Skills for Writing a Literature Review

This seminar aims to give students an understanding of how the process of organising, focusing and developing a Literature Review may influence both the information you choose to document from your readings and how you organise it.

4.      Students must attend one of the following: EndNote OR BibTeX

4.1  EndNote

Endnote is a bibliographic management program. It allows users to create libraries into which they can manually enter or import bibliographic references. EndNote has over 700 bibliographic styles and users can edit and create styles. Formatted references can be transferred to Word documents and a bibliography will be automatically generated. Endnote can interface with a number of databases and references can be exported from the database into an EndNote library. This can include an abstract. Students will be made familiar with all the above by completing EndNote A and B training.Both required unless doing BibTeX training.

OR

4.2   BibTeX  taught over 2 sessions.

BibTeX is another bibliographic management program. BibTeX should be the choice for students who will be using LaTeX as their word processing package. Students will be taught to use BibTeX and how to maintain a reference list.

 

C.                Information Technology

Students must complete the E-Publishing of Theses and Research Papers course and either the 4 Producing Theses in Word or the LaTeX modules and  one further IT course of their choice

1.      E-Publishing of Theses and Research Papers

This course looks at the Australian Digital Thesis Project and the E-Prints Repository. Students will learn to convert documents into PDF format and how to submit work to these web sites. Attendance Compulsory

2.      Students must attend one of the following:   WORD    OR    LATEX

2.1  Producing Theses in MS Word 2000 – Modules A-D

These 4 modules cover those features of Word that are useful for working with long documents such as theses.

Module A covers Formatting and Styles. Module B covers using Templates. Module C looks at Navigating and Linking. Module D Table of Contents charts and graphics. Completion compulsory unless students do LaTeX training
OR

2.2  LaTeX -4 Modules

These 4 modules cover those features of LateX that are needed to complete long documents. Module A provides an introduction to using LaTeX. Module B focuses on creating lists, figures and tables. Module C teaches students to create bibliographies and cross references using LaTeX. Module D is on using styles and class files. Completion compulsory unless students do Word training

3.      Students must select one or more of the following IT courses

These courses are offered as part of the wider Information Literacy Program: http://ilp.anu.edu.au

Dreamweaver : Taught over 2 sessions

Microsoft Excel :Taught over 2 sessions

Microsoft Access : Taught over 2 sessions

Microsoft Powerpoint: Taught over 2 sessions

SPSS : Taught over 2 sessions

Photoshop : Taught over 2 sessions

 

D.                Literature Review Project and Research Consultation

Both compulsory

1.      Literature Review Project

Students are required to submit:

1.        A 50 to 100 word statement of the project

2.        A bibliography of no less than 50 references with abstracts selected from a variety of sources. Each reference must include a brief statement of why the reference was selected and how it will support the project.

3.        A log of sources used.

4.        A record of search strategies used.

The project may be submitted in either Word, LaTeX, as a Web page, or in Powerpoint.

2.      Research Sources Consultation

Students will meet with a librarian for a research consultation. This will involve an in-depth look at sources specific to the thesis project

 

General Information


Course Director: Information Literacy Program Coordinator (Graduate Students) - Karen Visser
Prerequisites: To be enrolled for  a PhD, an MPhil, or other doctoral degree. Those enrolled in a Masters by Coursework will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You would need to be enrolled in at least a 6 unit course requiring a research component in relationship to research sources and literature.
Presenters: Principal presenters will be staff from the Information Literacy Program
Contact Person:  Karen Visser, Phone 61258279, E-Mail  grad.ilp@anu.edu.au
Dates: 14/07/2003 and following
Total number of contact hours: 24.5 contact hours, a minimum of 15 hours additional work outside of formal classes will be required.
Assessment procedures: Project to be assessed on a pass/fail basis Status may be given where students can demonstrate prior learning.
Fee for the course: No fee
Name of person to sign certificate: Head of Information Literacy Program (Vic. Elliott)