Week 2 Assignments And Exam Information Literacy

Week 2 Assignmentsails Exam Information Literacyprepareknowing Ho

Reflect: Given that you have been in college for awhile, it’s time to reflect on what you have learned through the use of the Ashford University Library in relation to how you learned to acquire new information from a variety of sources. Write: This week, you will take the Standardized Assessment of Information Literacy Skills (SAILS) Exam. This exam is not graded, and your results are anonymous. The exam will exit from your screen immediately after completion, and you will not receive feedback or results. This is a nationally-normed, standardized exam for students in universities all over the United States.

The results of this assessment will guide Ashford University in developing the best possible library resources and research methodologies training. Results will be published (in aggregate) on Ashford’s assessment website. Your participation is voluntary, so thank you if you choose to participate. Click on the link in your online course to access the SAILS Exam. After completing the SAILS Exam, in at least two paragraphs (of five or more sentences each), describe your experiences using resources, including concerns encountered when conducting academic research through the Ashford University Library.

Areas of concern may include developing a research strategy, using the search function within a database, or evaluating sources. Explain how using the Ashford University Library has improved your experience in conducting research. For example, you could identify and explain how specific tutorials that you have used have helped improve your ability to conduct research. The Information Literacy Assignment must include at least two paragraphs (of at least five sentences each) that respond to the two prompts, and that are formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Must include a separate title page with the following: Title of paper, Student’s name, Course name and number, Instructor’s name, Date submitted. The paper should have no more than 15% quoted material based on the Turnitin report. A reference page must be used when citing specific sections and/or tutorials of the Ashford Writing Center.

Paper For Above instruction

The journey of developing strong research skills is essential for academic success, particularly in an environment that emphasizes information literacy like Ashford University. My experiences using the Ashford University Library have considerably enhanced my ability to locate, evaluate, and apply scholarly resources effectively. Initially, I encountered challenges in developing a coherent research strategy, often feeling overwhelmed by the multitude of available databases and search options. However, through targeted tutorials provided by the library’s online resources, I learned to refine my search techniques and utilize Boolean operators more effectively, which significantly improved the relevance of my search results. These tutorials also guided me on how to critically evaluate sources, distinguishing between scholarly articles and less credible materials, thus ensuring the integrity of my research.

Participating in the SAILS Exam further highlighted areas for improvement in my information literacy skills. One concern I encountered was understanding how to effectively use the search function within various library databases. I realized that mastering advanced search filters and keywords could save time and increase the precision of my research. The library’s tutorials on database navigation have been particularly helpful in this regard; they provided practical, step-by-step guidance that I could apply immediately. Additionally, the process of evaluating sources, which I previously found daunting, became clearer through the library’s in-depth tutorials on source credibility, bias, and relevance. Overall, the Ashford University Library has played a pivotal role in strengthening my research skills, enabling me to approach academic assignments with greater confidence and competence, ultimately enriching my learning experience.

References

  • Ashford University Library Tutorials. (2023). Utilizing library resources for academic research. Ashford University. https://library.ashford.edu/tutorials
  • Lloyd, M. (2017). Research strategies for students: Improving academic success. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 43(2), 105-113.
  • Miller, T. (2019). Evaluating sources for scholarly research. College & Research Libraries, 80(4), 489-493.
  • Smith, J. A. (2020). The role of information literacy in higher education. Journal of Education and Information Technologies, 25(3), 219-234.
  • Wilson, D. (2018). Effective use of academic databases. Journal of Information Science, 44(5), 635-644.
  • American Library Association. (2015). Framework for information literacy for higher education. https://alair.ala.org/handle/11213/8659
  • Booth, A., Sutton, A., & Papaioannou, D. (2016). Systematic approaches to a successful literature review. Sage Publications.
  • Head, A. J. (2018). Reimagining information literacy for a digital world. Communications of the ACM, 61(11), 38-40.
  • Kennedy, G. (2019). Developing research skills in university students. International Journal of Educational Technology, 4(1), 55-66.
  • Rowlands, I., & Nicholas, D. (2015). The role of the university library in information literacy. Library & Information Science Research, 37(4), 267-273.

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