Teaching Template: Please Download to Complete
This template is designed to help you plan a teaching session. All fields are optional. Before completing the template you may like to read a summary of
Backward Design: Designing for Teaching and Learning by Alison Hicks
Session Title
LITERATURE SEARCHING
Theme of Session
Audience
Session Format
Session Length
Room Requirements
(e.g. PCs, seating)
Framework Competencies
(please select all that apply)
Literature / Keyword Searching If Other please give details:
Undergraduate
If Other please give details:
Workshop
If Other please give details:
31-60 minutes
If Other please give details
Standard desks and chairs with power, so own devices may be brought along. Class can be done with or without PCs
Resource Discovery ☒
Critical Assessment ☒
Managing Information ☐
Creating and Communicating ☐
HEA Area of Activity / Core
Knowledge / Professional Value
(optional)
Student Learning Outcomes
(what students will learn)
You can find further guidance on
student learning outcomes in
Backward Design: Designing for
Teaching and Learning by Alison
Hicks
You may wish to number the
learning outcomes so you can
reference them in the Feedback
and Assessment section.
1. To consider how to structure a search based on a research question for a Literature
Review
2. To understand which databases are available and how to search them
3. To promote awareness of Library help, referencing and avoidance of plagiarism
4. To promote awareness of other Library services e.g. Statistics software manuals &
dissertation binding
Suggested Timings
(optional)
Session Content
(what will happen in the session)
Activity
10 mins (including
introduction)
20 mins
5-10 mins (leeway point in
session where you can slow
down or speed up to manage
timings!)
2 mins/5 mins
iDiscover Demo –
reminder of
availability of
iDiscover workbook
for self-directed
learning (given out
at Induction)
Explanation of
Literature Review
cycle + small group
activity to create
Keywords for
searching using
mind map or list
technique
Explanation of
Boolean Searching
and phrase
searching – brief
demo of technique
on iDiscover/key
database
Watch short video
on Critical Thinking
Or work in small
groups with two
article extracts and
discuss with peers
Resources needed
Class PC to access slideshow
and live demonstration of
iDiscover basic searching and
features e.g.
Space to work in small groups,
pencil and paper exercise
(students ideally bring essay
question/project title for
exercise). Discuss with peer
group.
Ability to play video with
sound on Class PC –
alternative is to provide two
short article extracts (1
academic/1 non-academic)
HEA Area of Activity / Core
Knowledge / Professional Value
(optional)
10 mins
5 mins
Show 5-6 slides
signposting key
datasets for
Economists’ data,
and other library
services e.g.
advertising 1-to-1
bookable Library
sessions
Feedback: ask
students to write
down something
they have learned
and will apply after
session. Collect up
student feedback.
Class PC to access slideshow
Pencil and paper exercise
HEA Area of Activity / Core
Knowledge / Professional Value
(optional)
Learning Outcome covered
(optional)
Feedback and Assessment
(how you will know if the
outcomes have been achieved)
It will depend upon what students write on their 1 minute
feedback sheet. Another option is to ask the academic staff
for feedback on student literature searching – this is not
always possible though.
Teacher Reflection
(what worked well and what you
would do differently)
Resource Requirements
(details of any other resources
needed e.g. software, handouts)
When I delivered the session the video did not play with sound – but that is not a crucial part of the session. However, it led me to
include an alternative exercise in case the technology does not function. Students engaged well with the pencil and paper parts of
the session.
Spare iDiscover Workbooks in case any of the class have not picked up their iDiscover Workbook in Induction.
If students want to bring their own devices to practice literature searching they can do so.
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