How the University of Melbourne Library can help engineering students

1. How a presentation could help your
students?
• Shows main aspects of scholarly literacy in a lecture situation.
• Can be targeted specifically to the requirements of the
subject.
• Can be included in the timetable
• Gives students the tools they need before researching for
their assignments.
• Allows students to identify librarians so they can ask for
further assistance.

2. What librarians put in their
presentations?
• How students can determine the information needed
• How to find information, identify sources
• How to evaluate information – is it authoritative, useful?
• Organise and document information – citing, avoid
plagiarism

3. Developing research skills
Identifying keywords for searching.
Topic:
Water pumping and storage systems for remote settlements
Using Boolean searching
pumping AND ‘storage systems’ AND remote
‘water pumping’ OR ‘water supply’
aquifers NOT rock

4. Showing where students can get good information
Web search
engines
Google
Google Scholar
University of
Melbourne
search tools
Library Catalogue
Discovery
Databases
Scopus
Inspec
IEEE Xplore
ACM Digital
Library

5. Showing students how to search with a database

6. The importance of valuating sources
C
• Is it CURRENT?
• Check the date
R
• Is it RELEVANT?
• Does it have relevant information for my assessment task?
A
• Who is the AUTHOR?
• What are his/her credentials in this field?
A
• Is it ACCURATE?
• Cross check new information/facts with other sources
P
• POINT OF VIEW? Biases: political, cultural, religious, personal?
• PURPOSE? To inform, persuade, sell, entertain?

7. The importance of documenting information and citing
• Avoid plagiarism
• Help readers trace the sources you used
Acknowledge the work of others:
• Quotations,
• Paraphrased comments, and
• Any ideas originally presented by other
authors.
You should attribute:

8. Enhancing teaching
by including web
based learning
activities