The DIY Toolkit is a series of modules we have created for instructors who want to introduce library research lessons to their students themselves. Look for more modules coming soon!
- Module One: Finding Library Databases for Scholarly Articles
- Module Two: Finding Books at the University of Michigan Libraries
- Module Three: Scholarly and Popular
- Module Four: Plagiarism
- Module Five: Evaluating Information on the Web
Module One: Finding Library Databases for Scholarly Articles
- Slide Presentation -- Finding Scholarly Sources at the University of Michigan: A short slide show to introduce the concept of scholarly information to your class.
- A screencast that demonstrates why using library databases is beneficial.
Why Use Library Databases? 
Click to see videoLibrary databases will give you better sources quickly for a better paper.
Running Time: 2:00
Credits: Shapiro Undergraduate Library
Created: October 6, 2010
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwdhHM9C9Pk
- A screencast that demonstrates using the library’s “browse” feature to select the best database for a research topic:
Finding Library Databases 
Click to see videoLearn how to find databases using the Browse feature of the Library website.
Running Time: 2:03
Credits: MLibrary Video Task Force
Created: October 5, 2010
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9vYvP5DroY - Handout of quick tips on finding databases
- Exercises for student practice
- Quiz to assess student learning
Module Two: Finding Books at the University of Michigan Libraries
| Getting Started with Mirlyn | |
 Click to see video |
A short video demonstrating the basics of using Mirlyn, the University of Michigan's library catalog. Running Time: 2:32 |
- Slide Presentation -- Using Mirlyn: a short PowerPoint presentation that teaches how to use the tools Mirlyn provides to find the best materials for your research.
- Catalog Search Tips: Explanations of some of the tools that will be helpful in your Mirlyn search.
- Research Tracking Form: Google Doc’s Template that can be used to keep track of materials and quotations.
Module Three: Scholarly and Popular
| Publishing a Scholarly Article | |
 Click to see video |
U of M librarian Beth Strickland talks about her research and the process of publishing an article in a scholarly journal. Running Time: 4:03 |
- Handout -- Is This Article Scholarly? : a Word document highlighting the major criteria that students should consider when distinguishing between scholarly and popular press articles
- Slide Presentation -- Evaluating Resources: Scholarly vs Popular : a short PowerPoint presentation with comparative images, side by side, comparing a scholarly journal and a popular magazine.
- Exercise: A scholarly vs. popular exercise for student practice.
- Quiz: A scholarly vs. popular exercise to assess student learning.
Module Four: Plagiarism
- A slide presentation that helps students recognize plagiarism and provides a plagiarism checklist.
| Using the Work of Others | |
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Slide Presentation -- Using the Work of Others: Getting Ideas Into Your Paper While Avoiding Plagiarism: A PowerPoint presentation that describes why plagiarism matters, reviews different types of plagiarism, and describes when it is appropriate to summarize, paraphrase and use direct quotations. |
- Exercise: A plagiarism exercise
- Exercise Instructor Version: An answer key for the plagiarism exercise above.
- Website: MLibrary's Academic Integrity website is a robust site maintained by UM librarians including resources for instructors, students and UM Rules and Procedures.
- Quiz: Virtual Academic Integrity Laboratory online tutorial and quiz.
Module Five: Evaluating Information on the Web
- A slide presentation that provides students with a strategy for evaluating information on the web.
| Evaluating Information on the Web | |
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Slide Presentation -- Evaluating Information on the Web: Getting the Most out of Your Resources: A PowerPoint presentation that provides a strategy to identify appropriate web information for your projects. |
- Handout: 5 W's for Evaluating Information.
- Exercise: A critical thinking exercise evaluating information on the web and in Wikipedia.
- Exercise Instructor Version: An answer key to the above student exercise.
Please contact Doreen Bradley, Director of User Education Initiatives, or Amanda Peters, Instruction Coordinator for Shapiro Undergraduate Library, if you have comments, questions or ideas regarding the DIY Toolkit.
