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University Libraries' Virtual Learning Tutorials: Tutorials & How-to Videos

Interactive tutorials on library resources and information literacy concepts.

Virtual Learning Tutorials

Interactive tutorials providing step-by-step and how-to instruction on a variety of library research topics.

Quick Search Catalog Database Searching Introduction to Research Citing Sources Library Orientation Library Modules in Canvas

Questions?

Signe Boudreau, Associate Professor of Teaching & Learning Librarian

Quick Search Catalog

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Saving Results and Managing Your Library Account

This tutorial will guide you through the process of saving and managing your results in Quick Search and managing your library account.

Tutorial

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Finding Articles & Books Using Quick Search

Learn the best way to access over 3,000,000 (that's million) books on the shelves and hundreds of online databases providing access to millions of electronic resources, such as journal articles, books, encyclopedias, data sets, images, and more.

Tutorial

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Searching the Library Catalog by Topic

  • perform and modify a basic keyword search,
  • interpret an article record, and
  • locate the call number and availability of a book
Video (4:09)

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Finding a Journal Article from a Citation

This video will show you how to find an article in the library catalog, using the citation.

Video (3:06)

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Advanced Search

  • Personalize your Search Settings
  • Access and use Advanced Search
  • Get to Additional Research Tools and Help
Video (2:31)

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Finding Books and Ebooks in the Library Catalog

  • search for books and ebooks owned by UNL Libraries,
  • search for and request books owned by other NU Libraries
  • locate the call number and availability of a book
Video (4:09)

Introduction to Research

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Peer Review

A video and knowledge check about the peer review process.

Video (2:52)

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Introduction to Scholarly Research

  • Distinguish between major types of publications.
  • Explain what constitutes an empirical study.
  • List the requirements of peer review.

Tutorial

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Choosing a Research Topic

A video, knowledge check, and digital activity to help you through the process of choosing a research topic.

Video (3:49) Handout

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Generating Keywords and Search Strategies

A tutorial on developing keywords for your research topic and developing a search strategy.

Tutorial Handout

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Systematic, Scoping, Rapid, and Systematized Reviews: What’s the Difference?

This video discusses the similarities and differences between these evidence synthesis methodologies and when you might want to use one over the other.

Video (52:42)

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Scholarly and Popular Sources

A video and handout about the differences between scholarly and popular sources and how to tell them apart.

Video (3:55) Handout

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Evaluating Sources for Credibility

A video and knowledge check about evaluating sources.

Video (3:49) Handout

Searching Databases

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Choosing Library Databases

A tutorial to help you through the process of finding and choosing a library database.

Tutorial

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Finding Articles Using Academic Search Premier

In this short tutorial, you will learn to:

  • Effectively search in a library database
  • Identify strategies for broadening and narrowing search results
  • Discover methods for saving and citing articles
Tutorial

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Finding HathiTrust eBooks

HathiTrust is a digital library that provides access to millions of items either full-text or search only depending on copyright restrictions.

Tutorial

Citing Sources

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Fundamentals of Academic Integrity

  • Understand the importance of academic integrity
  • Understand what constitutes plagiarism
  • Find the resources you need to properly cite your sources
Tutorial

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Managing Citations and Documents with Zotero

  • Identify core functions of Zotero and reference and citation management software
  • Configure Zotero settings for optimal performance at UNL
  • Create and manage a Zotero library
  • Format citations and bibliographies using Zotero's Microsoft Word plugin
Video (15:49)

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Citation Management Tools

  • Locate free citation generators and citation management tools
  • Determine when a citation management tool may be beneficial
  • Distinguish between the different citation management tools recommended by the University Libraries
  • Identify criteria to consider when selecting a citation management tool
Tutorial

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Developing a Writing Process and Inclusive Citational Practices

  • Identify part of the writing process and reflect on and document your writing process
  • Identify and access resources for addressing gaps in representation and perspective
  • Practice using a synthesis matrix to prepare to integrate potential sources with respect to knowledge about your discipline and project
  • Review strategies for working through writer's block
Tutorial

Library Orientation

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Using the Libraries

This tutorial will introduce you to resources and services available to help you succeed as a student, including how to:

  • Navigate the UNL Libraries website to find information, get help, and find up-to-date information on library hours, policies, and study rooms.
  • Identify one or more subject specialists and guide(s) in your area of study.
  • Discover resources from the Libraries for citing sources and preventing plagiarism.
Tutorial

Library Modules in Canvas

Each of the tutorials found in on this page can be customized for a specific course or program and/or imported into a Canvas course. Some of the tutorials are already available to add to your course through the Canvas Commons. The following modules are available and can easily be imported.

 

NEW! Library Research Basics: Search like a Pro

Students will learn to:

  • Determine the types of information sources you need
  • Locate the best information for your assignments
  • Apply tips to be more efficient at searching library databases

NEW! Essentials of Data Management & Creating Your Plan: Information for Graduate Students

Students will learn to:

  • Identify the basics and importance of good data management in research
  • Describe best practices in classifying data types and naming and structuring files and folders
  • Locate the main online resources for storing and sharing data
  • Determine how to identify, understand, and comply with data management requirements of funding agencies
  • Articulate how to develop a data management plan for your research project
  • AI and Information Literacy
    Students will learn to:
    • Explain generally how AI-based tools work as well as their benefits and risks
    • Recognize when AI gives inaccurate or misleading answers, and fact-check AI output
    • Cite AI-generated work
    • Begin exploring creative ways to use these tools
       
  • Introduction to Academic Integrity and Citation Resources: UNL Libraries 

    Students will learn to:

    • identify UNL's definitions of academic integrity and plagiarism
    • articulate reasons for attributing sources
    • recognize differences among quotation, paraphrase, and summary
    • identify resources to support academic integrity.
       
  • Reading a Scholarly Article: UNL Libraries: Students will learn to identify the parts of a scholarly article and understand their purpose, determine how to approach reading a scholarly article, and apply strategies for reading. (The linked title will take you to a preview of the module. Some videos, images, and quiz content may not appear correctly until you import it into your course.)
     
  • UNL Libraries Creating and Using Library Accounts: Students will learn how to save search results and renew materials using their Library Account and create an Interlibrary Loan account, which they can use to request and renew materials from non NU libraries.
     
  • UNL Libraries Orientation: Students will learn how to locate key resources on the libraries website, contact a librarian for help, identify subject experts and resources, create an interlibrary loan account, and choose a library database.

     
  • UNL Libraries Evaluating Sources: Students will learn about different types of sources they might use in a research paper and how to evaluate those sources for credibility.
     
  • UNL LIbraries Annotated Bibliographies: Students will learn the reasons for creating annotated bibliographies, review annotated bibliographies from a variety of disciplines, understand the components of an annotated bibliography, and practice writing their own.

 

Adding a module to your Canvas course

  1.  Open up Canvas and select the Canvas Commons icon in your navigation menu. ""
  2. Enter "unl libraries" or the title of the module you want to import into the search box and select the module you are interested in adding.
  3. The module detail page contains a Note for Instructors, which provides some context. You may also preview the module content before importing it into your course.
  4. Click Import and select the course you want the module copied into.
  5. The module is now available in your course site.
  6. After adding a module to your course consider adding course or assignment specific information.

video (01:31)
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