Primary Sources
Contact: Mike Davidson or Alissa Helms
Learning Objectives:
- Students can distinguish between primary and secondary sources.
- Students can explain the unique aspects of primary source research and the purpose of using primary sources in research projects.
- Students gain experience in locating primary sources effectively.
We will define primary and secondary sources and discuss the role they play in historical and other types of research. Through hands-on activities students will learn to locate primary sources and become more confident about incorporating primary sources into their research projects. This session can include guidance in locating specific resources for a class assignment or topic.
Archives & Special Collections
Contact: Alissa Helms
Learning Objectives:
- Students can distinguish archives from libraries and understand their purpose.
- Students understand how archival and special collections materials can be used and accessed.
- Students gain experience in analyzing primary sources to determine characteristics and evidentiary uses.
This session is designed to introduce students to the Spinelli Archives and the basics of archival research. Through hands-on activities students will engage with our archival collections, learn how to analyze primary source documents, and practice thinking critically about information, its creation, and its historical legacy.
Recommendations: Pairs well with the Primary Sources session.
Copyright & Creative Commons
Contact: Christin Wixson or Alissa Helms
Learning Objectives:
- Students can explain the basic principles of copyright, including how copyright is acquired and what rights are involved.
- Students can find and identify openly licensed works and use them according to the terms of those licenses.
It’s easy to reuse the content we find on the internet, but harder to know when it’s ok to do so. Students will learn some copyright basics and be introduced to the suite of Creative Commons licenses. Students entering a variety of fields can benefit from developing their skills in finding openly licensed content appropriate for reuse.
Recommendations: Pairs well with the Citation session.
Metacognitive Awareness in Research
Contact: Mike Davidson or Christin Wixson
Learning Objectives:
- Students will understand the concept of cognitive biases.
- Students will reflect on their own existing assumptions and how they influence their search behaviors and source selection.
We often think about where to search or what assignment we’re trying to complete, but rarely do we think about the mental processes that lead to these decisions. In this session we will discuss how cognitive biases can affect our research in ways that may be invisible to us. We will practice increasing our metacognitive awareness through intentional consideration of these processes so that we can make better decisions, get better information, and improve our learning.