Teaching Research and Information Literacy (TRAIL) - Think Like a Researcher: Instruction Resources

Think Like a Researcher!

Course Learning Outcome:  Demonstrate information literacy and be able to work with evidence

Goal:  Develop students’ critical thinking skills related to research and information

Specifically, students will be able to

• Consider both sides of an issue
• Distinguish opinion from fact/evidence
• Approach research with a question and an open mind
• Look for a problem that underlies a research question

• compliments discussion
• fact vs. opinion discussion
• TED Talk: Jack Andraka Video with pre and post questions for discussion

Head, Alison J. "Learning curve: How college graduates solve information problems once they join the workplace." Available at SSRN 2165031 (2012).

Personal & Academic Research (connects to reading)

Think about research you’ve done for a major purchase, life decision (like where to go to college), or personal problem.

• Describe the process you used to find the information you needed.
• Now think about academic research you may have done for an assignment in high school or college. How was your process for academic research different than for personal research?
• How do you decide what information to trust when doing any type of research?
  Do you enjoy research? Why or why not?