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Library Research Guides
Trinity College
Library & Information Technology Services

Library Instruction & Collaboration Examples

Continue the conversation

To continue the conversation and see how research librarians can work with you and your course, please feel free to contact us:

Rose Beranis, Wellness Librarian & Experiential Learning Coordinator

Susan Chatham, Research Librarian

Amy Harrell, Head of Collections, Research, & Instruction

Jeff Liszka, Humanities Librarian

or...

Learn more about instruction and activity options.

Request a research instruction workshop/activity. 

Finding & Evaluating Data (POLS-LIP: OER Project)

Short Description:

This workshop was designed for the POLS Legislative Internship Program, during which students worked in groups to compile an annotated bibliography and write a chapter proposal for a Connecticut Law/Legislation textbook covering the history of the CT Legislature and General Assembly, the legislative process, and Connecticut-specific issues.  As part of this process students were asked to find data and statistics on these topics to enhance their understanding and incorporate into their chapter proposal and bibliography. This workshop focused developing skills for finding and evaluating information, specifically data and statistical sources.  During the workshop students had the opportunity to practice evaluating different sources both as a group and individually and were introduced to sources where they could look for relevant data including Census.gov, CT Data Haven, CT Open Data, and Social Explorer.

Lesson Materials:

Discipline(s):

  • Best suited for Social Sciences or STEM courses, or classes with assignments that require or recommend data sources

Target Audience:

  • All students, but works best in 200-400 level workshops. 

Total Time:

  • 60 - 90 minutes

Using Social Explorer for Demographic and Social Data Analysis

Short Description:

This instruction session was designed for the Liberal Arts Action Lab, to introduce students to Social Explorer, a web-based mapping and data visualization tool essential for various fields such as sociology, economics, public health, and urban planning. The session covers accessing and utilizing the platform, understanding census data, creating maps and reports, and interpreting demographic and socioeconomic data. 

Lesson Materials:

  • Lesson Plan
  • Handouts/Worksheets: 
    • Social Explorer Access Guide
    • Census Data Overview
    • Visualization and Customization Tips 
    • Research Data Interpretation Guide 

 

Discipline(s):

  • Sociology
  • Economics

Target Audience:

  • Undergraduate Students
  • Graduate Students
  • Researchers
  • Students in fields requiring demographic and socioeconomic data analysis 

Total Time: 45 minutes 

Discipline(s):

  • Best suited for Social Sciences or STEM courses, or classes with assignments that require or recommend data sources

Target Audience:

  • All students, but works best in 200-400 level workshops. 

Total Time:

  • 60 - 90 minutes