Skip to main content
It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results.
Link to CSU Home
Link to CSU Home
Students in the Library

Michael Schwartz Library

216.687.2478
Students in the Connection Lounge
Michael Schwartz Library

Developing a Research Strategy Library Workshop

A short online workshop about developing a research topic, exploring keywords, and finding appropriate sources for academic research.

Welcome!

Are you struggling to think of a topic for a research assignment? Or unable to find any good sources to back up your thesis? Were you asked to use library resources for a research assignment, but you don't know where to begin? This library workshop, presented by the Michael Schwartz Library, will help you to answer these questions and more. Students can enroll at the link below, or contact Mandi Goodsett at a.goodsett@csuohio.edu for more info.

This workshop targets students in 100 and 200 level courses, although it is open to anyone. Please note that this workshop is not offered for credit through the library. If you are a faculty member considering offering this workshop for extra credit or course credit, please contact a librarian (my contact information is to the right) about embedding the content in your Blackboard course where you will be able to grade it yourself. 

If you are a faculty member considering offering this workshop for extra credit for more than 40 students, please contact a librarian (my contact information is to the right) before encouraging students to enroll.

Please use the tabs above to find more information about the workshop.

Workshop Content

The workshop will be broken down as follows.

  1. Pre-Test (5-10 min.)

  2. Topic Tycoon - choosing a research question of appropriate scope (10-15 min.)

  3. Word Wizard - creating a concept map to develop useful keywords for searching (15-20 min.)

  4. Source Star - understanding the role of the information timeline in finding and using sources (5-10 min.)

  5. Search Sage - using the libraries resources to find appropriate sources for your research (30-35 min.)

  6. Post-Test (5-10 min.)

After attending the workshop, students will be able to …

  • identify different formats of information and their underlying creation processes in order to assess the fit between an information product’s creation process and a particular information need.
  • develop a research topic of appropriate scope and modify the topic throughout research as necessary in order to contribute a well-founded, focused argument or explanation.
  • generate relevant and varied keywords in order to gain a better understanding of their topic and discover more useful words for searching.
  • use Boolean search operators, subject headings, limiters, uniform titles, and location information to find appropriate books and other materials from library resources.

Can faculty members use the workshop materials to offer credit in their own courses?
Certainly! We encourage faculty to contact the library about embedding the material from this workshop into their own course. To begin the process, we will contact eLearning and identify a place for the material in your Blackboard course. Once it has been transferred to your course, you will be responsible for grading the material and keeping it up-to-date.

Can I earn credit for completing all of the materials as they appear in the research guide?
Unfortunately, no. The responses for the activities in this research guide are not collected for grading. Therefore, faculty who would like to grade workshop materials will need to contact a librarian about adding the material in Blackboard. That said, students who wish to earn digital badges may send evidence of completion for each activity to receive a badge. This can be in the form of a screen shot or print-out.

Digital Badges

Students who complete portions of this workshop can receive digital badges to acknowledge their new knowledge and skills.

What is a digital badge?
Digital badges are micro-credentials which learning or accomplishments that happen both in the classroom and in less formal settings, like these online workshops. The criteria for 

What can I do with a digital badge?
Digital badges can be displayed in online portfolios, websites, or LinkedIn profiles (more information on how to add a badge to your LinkedIn profile is here).

Credly Pro Badge

Credly Pro

  • Learning Outcome: Students will create a Credly profile and understand both the library’s digital badge tracks and how to earn badges.
  • Criteria: Create a Credly profile.

Topic Tycoon

Topic Tycoon

  • Learning Outcome: Students will develop a research topic of appropriate scope and modify the topic throughout research as necessary in order to contribute a well-founded, focused argument or explanation.
  • Criteria: Complete the workshop pre-test and the Developing a Research Topic tutorial.

Word Wizard

Word Wizard

  • Learning Outcome: Students will generate relevant and varied keywords in order to gain a better understanding of their topic and discover more useful words for searching.
  • Criteria: Complete the Developing Keywords tutorial and submit a concept map for a research topic.

Source Star

Source Star

  • Learning Outcome: Students will identify different formats of information and their underlying creation processes in order to assess the fit between an information product’s creation process and a particular information need.
  • Criteria: Complete the Information Timeline tutorial.

Search Sage

Search Sage

  • Learning Outcome: Students will use Boolean search operators, subject headings, limiters, uniform titles, and location information to find appropriate books and other materials from library resources.
  • Criteria: Complete the Scholar/OhioLINK tutorial, the Academic Search Complete tutorial, the Scavenger Hunt, and the workshop post-test.