I-Know Faculty Guide:SLO 1: Find Career Applications

I-Know Librarian

Beyond the Classroom

Why is SLO 1 (Find) important to learn?

Developing a search strategy is a skill that students can transfer to many different scenarios and careers. This page highlights the relevancy of this level of objectives, applying them to a setting beyond the college classroom. 

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, Critical Thinking is one of the top competencies that a student can demonstrate to employers to show that they are career ready. Part of this competency includes the ability to "Gather and analyze information from a diverse set of sources and individuals to fully understand a problem."

Applying these skills to the workplace

Because of their exposure to SLOs 1A and 1B in UNIV 1101, students can share with employers that they can do the following tasks: 

  • Understand the bigger picture of how information is organized and accessed
  • Determine the scope and type of information needed for a research project 
  • Seek multiple perspectives while critically evaluating information 
  • Persist and think creatively to overcome search challenges 
  • Synthesize ideas gathered from multiple sources

Career Examples

As professionals, students may need strategic search skills in the following situations...

Business

Business

Education

  • Finding research interventions supported by evidence to implement in classroom instruction.  
  • Finding and evaluating lessons plans that align with specific curriculum standards.  
  • Teaching their students the skills to strategically search and critically evaluate digital information. 

Teacher in classroom

Engineering and Computer Science

  • As a mechanical engineer, searching regulatory and safety standards as well as manufacturing and production techniques. 
  • As a civil engineer, searching for data on topography, soil composition, hydrological features, or environmental factors as well as finding information on local building codes and regulations. 
  • As an electrical engineer, researching information on the latest electrical components, devices, equipment and electrical system designs for various applications.
  • A web developer will need to use the skill of strategic searching in their real-life work. 

Engineering Blueprints

Fine Arts

  • Researching techniques, styles, materials, and trends in art movements. 
  • As an artist, finding appropriate sources to promote one’s art through social media, online galleries, and digital artists’ spaces
  • As a music director, searching copyright and licensing requirements to obtain permission for performances, recordings, or arrangements.
  • Searching for grants when you are seeking funding for your art. 

Art supplies

Humanities

  • As an author, gathering information to ensure accuracy and authenticity when writing, which may involve researching current or historical events, cultural practices, geographic details or specific time periods. 

Media and Communications

  • As a digital content strategist, searching social media platforms to analyze new market opportunities and industry trends. 
  • As a journalist, gathering and analyzing data and statistics from reputable sources, research studies, surveys, or government reports to back up their arguments or provide insights. 
  • For product designers, you will need to do market research on your products' target users. 

Man with camera

Nursing and Health Sciences

  • Finding credible health information quickly to share with a patient using freely available resources.
  • Staying updated with current evidence-based practice guidelines and developments in nursing by researching scholarly journals, clinical practice guidelines, and nursing research studies.
  • Seeking information about medications, including their classifications, indications, contraindications, dosages, administration routes, and potential side effects.

Nurse and patient

Psychology and Sociology

  • Research case studies to gain a deeper understanding of a condition or behavioral disorder, particularly in areas such as clinical psychology, abnormal psychology, and developmental psychology. 
  • As a forensic psychologist, search public records and documents, social media, and online correspondence to gain greater insight about an incident or individual.  

Human brain

Science

  • Searching databases, literature search tools, and resources specific to scientific fields. 
  • Finding trusted professional forums to inquire about or share scientific studies.
  • Searching peer-reviewed studies to validate scientific claims or find leading edge research.

scientist

References

Diekema, A. R., Hopkins, E. (Betsy) S., Patterson, B., & Schvaneveldt, N. (2019). Using Information Practices of Nurses to Reform Information Literacy Instruction in Baccalaureate Nursing Programs. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 14(4), 72–102. https://doi.org/10.18438/eblip29588

Indeed Editorial Team. How To Write a Recommendation Report. (2023, June 29). Retrieved August 14, 2023, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-recommendation-report/

LinkedIn Learning. Doing secondary research - Writing a Business Report Video Tutorial. Retrieved August 14, 2023, from https://www.linkedin.com/learning/writing-a-business-report/doing-secondary-research?u=75727812

LinkedIn Learning (n.d.) Finding what you’re looking for - Search Techniques for Web Developers Video Tutorial. Retrieved August 14, 2023, from https://www.linkedin.com/learning/search-techniques-for-web-developers/finding-what-you-re-looking-for?u=75727812

LinkedIn Learning (n.d.) Why art/design students need to learn research and use libraries - Information Literacy Video Tutorial. Retrieved August 14, 2023, from https://www.linkedin.com/learning/information-literacy/why-art-design-students-need-to-learn-research-and-use-libraries?u=75727812

Marr, B. (2022). Future skills: The 20 skills and competencies everyone needs to succeed in a digital world. Wiley.

National Association of Colleges and Employers. (2019). Career Readiness Defined. Retrieved August 14, 2023, from https://www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined/

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2018, April 13). Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bls.gov; Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

Weise, M., Hanson, A., Sentz, R., & Saleh, Y. (2018). Robot-ready: human+ skills for the future of work.

I-Know SLO 1 Find

1A) I can identify and pursue effective digital approaches for accessing information

1B)  I can assess the quality and relevance of one’s search

Aligning with the ACRL Framework

SLO 1: Find aligns with the ACRL frame Searching as Strategic Exploration. This frame touches on the way learners look for information, and their disposition when searching. 

Subjects: Library Services