Signature Courses help students learn to critically examine valid sources of information. Most first-year students know how to get answers from the internet, but for many, the ability to find other types of resources and to process all of the information they find may be a skill that has yet to be honed. Signature Courses ensure that all first-year students receive instruction in basic research and information evaluation skills, otherwise known as information literacy skills, which serve them throughout their time at the university. Students will leave their Signature Courses as discerning research consumers.
Please bookmark the Information Literacy Guide, created specifically for Signature Course faculty.
There are three learning outcomes for this component of the Signature Courses:
- Students will be able to evaluate sources of information based on criteria such as creation process, authority, currency, relevance, purpose, and perspective.
- Students will be able to describe a research strategy that includes choosing an appropriate source of information, type of information, and keywords.
- Students will be able to describe the idea that sources of information exist in conversation with each other.
Request a class session (including online sessions) or tailored assignments.
Librarians in the Teaching and Learning Services Department are excited to help incorporate information literacy into your Signature Course. Use the link above to schedule online research skills sessions (synchronous or asynchronous), consult on assignment design, or discuss other ways to incorporate research skills into your class.