Learning Online: Researching Your Project (FutureLearn)

Overview

In this course, you’ll explore the rich and diverse range of information available to you online, how to use search tools effectively, and the ways in which you can begin to assess information that you might want to use in your studies. Using a wide range of learning activities, you will be challenged to dig deeper and think critically about the information that you find online.

This course is just one of a series about ‘learning online’, which introduces you to the essential skills and tools you need to study online.

What topics will you cover?

• Searching effectively online using a variety of search engines and tools
• Combining information from multiple sources, blending online and offline materials to aid research
• Sharing research to collaboratively develop a broader understanding of topics
• Assessing and evaluating information: considering the authority, timeliness, and relevance of sources to ensure validity
• Critical thinking: utilizing information and providing context to research to aid the drawing of conclusions

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to,

• Assess and record your current level of knowledge regarding searching and researching online.
• Identify and discuss your search engine of choice.
• Explore methods of using search tools more effectively to locate appropriate sources.
• Perform web searches using different ‘operators’ and advanced search options.
• Discuss the benefits of using a wide range of online sources for researching subjects.
• Demonstrate effective use of multiple sources to contribute information in a collaborative environment.
• Assess the quality and appropriateness of information found online to help determine its validity and contribute an example to the discussion.
• Identify sources that need to be up-to-date and relevant in order to be of use when researching. Demonstrate an understanding of some of the core principles of how to critically assess a source.
• Explore an information journey and produce a timeline relating to a topic of your choice.
• Assess your post-course knowledge of research by participating in the test which concludes the course.

Teacher

• Raphael Hallett
• Angela Newton