2. In this workshop we will look at...
• Developing an effective search strategy
• Resources available and how to use them
• Evaluating information for quality and relevance
3. Coursework marking criteria
Coursework 1 Report: 15 Marks
• Executive summary
• Layout
• Appropriate language / style
• References
• Evidence catalogue
• Findings from the investigation
• Building the case
• Group Contribution Guide – 1 mark
5. Quality of resources used e.g.
• Good range of resources
• Quality sources/expert authors
• Information is up-to-date
Relevance to project
• Supports project
Quality of referencing
• Harvard referencing system correctly used.
Using the right information
9. Sign-in to Library Search
Click on ‘Sign-in’,
choose ‘Middlesex
University’ and use
your MyUniHub ID
and password.
Signing-in enables you to access
full text material, check your
library record, request items,
create lists, save searches and
create alerts and export
references to RefWorks.
11. Journal databases
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing/JournalDatabases
• ACM Digital Library
• Computer Source
• IEEE Xplore
• Science Direct
12. Library Search and journal databases
provide:
• Access to quality information
• Information not available elsewhere
• Up-to-date
• Focussed/specific
• Full-text access
• Access on/off campus
13. Google Scholar
http://scholar.google.co.uk/
You may be
able to access
the full-text
here
Refine your
search
results here
Create an
alert for your
search, so
you can
keep up-to-
date with
new
publications
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing/Internet
14. It’s not in the Library!
• Inter Library Loans MyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary
• Sconul Access http://www.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access
15. Cite Them Right Online
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases > C
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/plagiarismreferencing
17. Find out more
MyLibrary > MySubject Library Guides > Computing, Maths and Engineering
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing
18. Life after Uni
•Accessing academic information
•Using other libraries
•Careers advice
•Preparing for job interviews
•Professional associations
•Keeping up-to-date
•Online communities
•Conferences
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing/LifeAfterUni
19. Need further help?
Your Librarian is:
Vanessa Hill v.hill@mdx.ac.uk
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/computing/Help
Hinweis der Redaktion
Welcome and intros.
How to develop an effective search strategy when you need to find information for an essay or project
The range of resources available and how to use them to find good quality and relevant information for your essay/project……now and in the future once you leave MDX
Evaluating information for quality and relevance
Research from Uni of Huddersfield shows that correlation between library usage and good grades.
Hand out Reference game:
Imagine that you are a lecturer teaching on a computer security module.
You have asked your students to write a report on Computer Security and Malware.
You will award 15% of the total marks for a list of quality references, which are both relevant and correctly given using the Harvard Referencing System. (The other marks will be awarded for content and style).
Look at the 3 reference lists that you have been given, and award a mark out of 5 for each list under the 3 headings (marking criteria):
1 = low mark
5= high mark.
List 1
All items relevant
Good range of resources: British Standards, encyclopaedia, conference proceedings, academic journals, books
Academic quality: reputable sources e.g. BSI, Britannica, IEEE....peer reviewed etc
Up-to-date: Nothing more than 2 years old.
Correctly referenced: Very good.
List 2
Some items relevant, some not e.g. newspaper article
Limited range of resources: mainly websites
Academic quality: poor academic quality- local newspapers, wikipedia, webopedia etc
Not Up-to-date e.g. book 1985
Correctly referenced: Badly referenced e.g. don’t know when accessed electronic resources, no publisher details for the book
List 3
All items relevant
Good range of resources: reasonable range of academic resources e.g. academic journal, books, conference proceeding
Academic quality: reputable sources e.g. IEEE
Up-to-date: older edition of Gollman book, everything just a little too old. Mothing really up-to-date.
Correctly referenced: Good, although brackets missing from date on Massicote item and single quotes missing from article title by Andrews.
Hand out worksheet.
5 mins.
Feedback.
Accessing resources
Click on MyStudy.
You can now access library resources from the MyLibrary box……detail on next page.
Students can also search individual databases.
Choose individual database or select @Computing, Maths and Engineering’ from the drop-down menu.
The 4 databases listed are particularly useful.
Access to quality academic information e.g. Peer reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings , research etc
Information not available elsewhere
Up-to-date
Focussed/specific....not designed to sell you things, search results not sponsored
Full-text access
Access on/off campus
Personalize e.g. In MyEBSCO, once signed up you can:
Save preferences
Organise research within folders
Share folders
Save search history
Create email alerts/Rss feeds for searches and subjects
Can provide citation and journal impact info > more info on next slide
Another source of information which supplements library resources is Google Scholar.
Find journal articles, theses, books, and more, from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities and other web sites.
Search across many disciplines
Locate the full-text document through your library or on the web
Keep up with recent developments in any area of research
Save items in a personal library
Inter Library Loan service: request copies of books and journals not held by MDX. £3 charge. Register as DL first. More info on our website.
SCONUL Access http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/ The SCONUL Access Scheme provides reciprocal access and borrowing rights for staff and students to approximately 170 member institutions in the UK. Apply online.
Take feedback and discuss.
Authority : Who is the author? What is their knowledge base/qualifications? How have they carried out their research?
Relevance : Is this what I need? Will it answer my question? Is it at the right level?
Intent : What is the purpose of information e.g. financial gain, propaganda, academic etc?
Objectivity : Balanced view? Opposing views represented? Links to supporting information?
Currency: How old is this information? When was it last updated and by whom?
More information about resources available for your subject area on the MySubject Library Guide plus useful online guides e.g. how to find information for your project using Library Search, How to request books etc.
Another feature is ‘Life after Uni’ on next slide……
Accessing academic information: once you leave you won’t be able to access our full-text e-books and e-journals, but you can still search Summon and our library catalogue and get information from other sources
Using other libraries: British Library and specialist libraries in London
Careers advice: careers advice available from the Uni
Preparing for job interviews: we have a number of databases which you can use (before you leave) which can help you find company information to impress potential new employers
Professional associations: The Library subscribes to several online resources provided by professional organisations, which provide academic quality information. By taking out a personal subscription to a professional organisation, it is possible to maintain partial access to key information sources, as well as professional support and development.
Keeping up-to-date:
Journal databases:Create email alerts/RSS feeds for searches and subjects
Table of Contents Alerts: Zetoc , CituLike, TicToc
Google Alerts: Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.), based on your queries. Simply enter a subject that you wish to monitor and you will be sent regular updates.
Blogs: Use Blogsearch to find blogs and blog posts for your subject
Online communities: Online communities are a useful tool for professionals to keep up-to-date with the latest news, trends, tools, techniques, as well as sharing best practice and advice.
Conferences: Attending conferences is a good way to find the latest information, make contacts with the leading authorities and vendors in the industry, as well as being an opportunity to network with your peers.
More information: http://bit.ly/LifeafterUni
