Future of Research: Health and Natural Science Workshop Series

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The Future of Research Series provides faculty with the opportunity to explore and discuss college research within the framework of 21st century student outcomes and skills. Join Health Sciences Librarian, Debra Smith, and Science Librarian, Laura Burt-Nicholas, to learn practical, time-saving and effective ways to incorporate research and evidence-based (scholarly) resources in your instruction and assignments. Attend any or all of the three 45 minute workshops.

Want to see when these workshops might be scheduled this semester? Check out our library faculty workshop calendar.

Questions, resource exploration and discussion are encouraged. Highlighted resources and examples are tailored to health and natural science curriculum. All sessions will be held in Library (SRC) classroom 3114

  1. Incorporating Research
  2. Incorporating Library Resources
  3. Incorporating Streaming Videos and Technology

No Paper Necessary: Incorporating Library Research

Why Incorporate Research?

  • You’re modeling professional behavior for students
  • Evidence-based practice (systematic reviews in academic terms) is at the core of health & natural science professions
  • Research enhances critical thinking skills
  • You’re modeling good citizenship for your students
  • Research is integral to formulating and answering “big” and “cutting edge” questions
Daunted by the mere thought of reading 20-30 research papers per course section? FEAR NOT! Alternatives that foster research, critical thinking AND evidence-based (research-based) practice exist!

Alternative Research Projects:

  • Focused annotated bibliographies
  • Presentations & posters
  • Worksheets (guided instruction combined with assigned reading/audio visuals)
  • Incorporate research into your flipped classroom and/or as a homework assignment
  • “Show and tell”
Any assignment can be given as a group project teaching professional behaviors--how to collaborate/communicate/work together in a lab or clinical setting—as well as making grading more manageable.
Creating and providing students with a rubric identifying the important concepts to be demonstrated in the assignment with point value for each assists instructors and students in assigning/understanding point distribution and final scores.

Structuring Your Research Assignments and Questions:

  • Avoid assigning “pick a topic” papers
  • Customize your assignments:
  • Make it local
  • Make it specific
  • Use Scaffolding

Active Learning Opportunity:

Have an assignment that you would like to revamp? Interested in drafting a new assignment? Let’s discuss!

See our Tip Sheet from the Workshop!

No Paper Necessary: Incorporating Library Resources

Not all information sources are equal

  • Each format offers specific types of information
  • Encyclopedias and dictionaries, websites, books, journals, reports, white papers, guidelines, systematic reviews, research articles
  • Assignment requirements dictate the most suitable resources
  • What students hear is not always what instructors mean

Identifying the Right Resources for Projects

The Library's Research Guides are starting points for researching a wide variety of topics.
You are also encouraged to speak with your liaison librarian. (Not sure who is your liaison? Check your research guide or the COD Library's Liaison Guide!)

Structuring Searches

Database Name Search Tips and Tricks
CINAHL Complete http://www.codlrc.org/HS/cinahl-research-tips
Micromedex http://www.codlrc.org/HS/mobilemicromedex
Science Direct Use your last name and library card to log in here.
SciFinder http://www.codlrc.org/chemistry/searching-scifinder

Active Learning Opportunity:

  • Have an assignment that you would like to revamp? Interested in drafting a new assignment? Let’s discuss!
  • Make use of this “free” time to explore Library databases and ask questions of your Library and discipline colleagues.

See Our Tip Sheet from the Workshop!

No Paper Necessary: Incorporating Streaming Videos & Tech In Courses

Incorporating Streaming Videos in Courses:

  • Think of flipping your class or “switching up” how you deliver in-class content utilizing COD Library resources
  • Find and embed videos (or clips) into Blackboard shells
  • Add multimedia content inside or outside the classroom
  • Locate and utilize transcripts and/or closed captioning
  • Maximize the instructional potential of videos

Highlighted COD Library Online Videos

Incorporating Technology in Courses

Take advantage of existing Online Instruction Resources and COD Campus-Wide Learning Technology support:

Useful E-Tools:

What Additional Resources do YOU Recommend?

Active Learning:

Play and explore: what skills do you teach that could stand video reinforcement? What concepts could be better illustrated with technology? Let’s see what we can find.

See Our Tip Sheet from the Workshop!