Designing Effective Research Assignments

General Guidelines

1. Assignments:
1. Assign relevant, content-based research assignments that focus on problem solving and analysis. Avoid “scavenger-hunt” assignments.
2. Clearly define the task and steps required to complete it.
3. Suggest specific online library databases to use (e.g. “Academic Search Premier”, “netLibrary”, “Lexis-Nexis Academic”)
4. Indicate the number and type of resources required.
   1. Number of sources: indicate a minimum or a range of sources required, as appropriate
   2. Types of sources (e.g. journal, magazine or newspaper articles, books, statistics, web pages, multimedia


2. Preparing Students:
   1. Discuss students’ topics with them. Make sure the topics they choose are neither too broad nor too narrow.
   2. Make sure students know how to use appropriate online and print resources.
      1. Talk to a CMC Librarian. Invite a librarian to do a presentation for your students by filling out our Library Instruction Request Form or contacting one of our librarians directly.
         

         Virtual Library is equipped with the Traveling Computer Lab, consisting of 10 laptops and an Internet connection. The Traveling Computer Lab allows us to turn any classroom into a computer lab and provide a hands-on research experience for your students. Moreover, if you would like to provide additional in-class research time, you are welcome to borrow the Traveling Computer Lab.

      2. Assign appropriate online tutorials for students to go through prior to starting their research
      3. Distribute Library Card Request Forms at the beginning of the semester
   
   
3. Grade:
   Grade research assignments and allocate a percentage of students' final grades.

Sample Assignments

Sample Research Assignments
Provided by University at Buffalo – UGL Undergraduate Library

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reference@coloradomtn.edu