Information skills for year three

Welcome (back) to Birmingham City University Library.

This page contains resources that will help you build the information skills required to meet the information literacy learning outcomes for year 3 or level 6.

During their third year, students are expected to be able to develop and review search strategies to keep up to date with the literature and to generate new understandings within the discipline.

We strongly encourage returning students to review the starter guide and library news as the services and support offered by BCU Library can change year-over-year. 

Click on the headings below to reveal related resources.

Discover Library services and support.

Starter guide

Welcome! The Library and Learning Resource team gathered what you need to know to take advantage of the services offered by the library all in one place.

Induction

A short session where we welcome you to the University and introduce library services and staff who can help you along your academic journey.

Interactive induction video

If you cannot attend the live induction session, watch the video and practice new skills with guided online activities.

Discover your digital skills

To be digitally literate is hugely important in the modern world. BCU encourages all students to continually improve their Digital Literacy. In order to help each individual assess and improve their skills we have joined with JISC to provide the JISC Discovery Tool. Learn about yourself and get useful recommendations in 10 minutes.

Develop and review search strategies to keep-up-to-date with the literature.

Library Search help

BCU Library gives you access to millions of physical and online resources. Discover how the powerful features of the BCU Library Search can help you navigate this world of knowledge.

Systematic searching techniques

This workshop or drop-in session will alert you to various searching techniques to ensure that you find all of the information available around your topic. It will also encourage you to search beyond the University’s collection.

Note: this session is optional. Reach out to your tutor or course lead for more information.

Using Scopus and Web of Science workshop.

This workshop will show you how to:

  • Conduct a basic document search
  • Expand your search results
  • Download and export your results
  • Save your searches and create search alerts
  • Analyse your search results in the two key multidisciplinary databases

This workshop will be delivered during semester 1 and 2

Generate new understandings within the discipline

Dissertation guide

The research process for the literature review of your dissertation/independent project requires a different approach from that you will have used during your taught modules. For your dissertation/independent project you are responsible for finding, selecting, evaluating and managing all your research sources. This guide helps you make the most out of the resources available from the Library to support you in finding information for your dissertation/research project.

Supporting your research topic

This session enables you to apply a recognised process for reviewing the literature and ensures that you are aware of and know how to access the range of sources available to you. You learn how to develop an effective search strategy, and how to evaluate which sources of information are relevant to your research project.

Note: this session is optional. Reach out to your tutor or course lead for more information.

Get personalised support

Tutorials

With access to millions of resources, sometimes the library can seem like an intimidating place. Our specialist Librarians are here to help you make sense of it all by providing in-depth guidance and support in your chosen subject area. Tutorials are currently available online. They will take place via MS Teams, Skype, or our online chat service. There may be some limited appointments available on campus.
https://www.bcu.ac.uk/library/services-and-support/academic-skills-support/year3
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