Learning Online - Researching Your Project

Overview

In this Learning Online - Researching Your Project course from the University of Leeds by FutureLearn , 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.

Learning on this course

You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

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 which 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 researching by participating in the test which concludes the course.