Kansas State University

The Library & Beyond: New workshops for student success

Submitted by Sarah McGreer Hoyt

Can your students determine fact from fiction? Would you like them to improve their time management skills or know about primary sources for conducting original research? Please let them know about K-State Libraries' free workshop series, The Library & Beyond.

Held most Wednesdays this semester, the series features resources, tools and skills to help them succeed in the classroom — and at life! All events are in 407 Hale Library unless otherwise noted. Contact Jason Coleman, head of library user services, at coleman@k-state.edu for more information.

• Breaking Your News Bubble: Understanding media in a post-truth society, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Feb. 15 in 501 Hale Library. 

Part 1: Panel discussion of the news environment. We asked journalists how students can effectively research in a post-truth society ... and you won't believe what happens next! Join our panelists for the first installment in a three-part series on critically evaluating the media in context in order to avoid the pitfalls of propaganda, fake news and bias. Attend one or attend them all.

• A Kansan in the White House: A decade of Marlin Fitzwater, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Feb. 22. 

K-State alumnus Marlin Fitzwater was the longest-serving White House press secretary in U.S. history. He was both a witness and an active participant in many historic moments during the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush presidencies. K-State Libraries hold the Fitzwater papers, more than 70 boxes of documents and memorabilia with research potential for students in history, political science, communication, journalism and more. Come discover your next great research project!

• Breaking Your News Bubble: Understanding media in a post-truth society, 2:30-3:30 p.m. March 1. 

Part 2: Tools to evaluate news resources. Want to break out of your news bubble but don't know where to turn? Join us for a hands-on evaluation of your current media diet, and you'll come away with a new menu for well-balanced media consumption. This is a continuation of our three-part workshop on critically evaluating the media in order to avoid propaganda, fake news and bias. You are welcome to attend even if you weren't at Part 1.

• Breaking Your News Bubble: Understanding media in a post-truth society, 2:30-3:30 p.m. March 8.

Part 3: Critical evaluation "Hack-a-thon." Can you tell when a piece of information is the truth, a lie or somewhere in-between? We'll look at some entertaining and enlightening examples to test your nose for news and help you refine your skills. This is the final installation in our three-part workshop on critically evaluating the media in order to avoid the pitfalls of propaganda, fake news and bias. Join us even if you were not at the earlier sessions.

• Organize Your Life, 2:30-3:30 p.m. March 15.

Whether you're struggling with time-management or you've already earned your black belt in productivity, a few well-chosen resources for organization can take your life-skills game to the next level. From digital tools like Trello and Google Keep to analog methods like Pomodoro and Kanban boards, you'll come away with options that are right for you.

• Keep Calm and Don't Get Sued: Using content ethically and legally, 2:30-3:30 p.m. March 29. 

Are you posting photos online? Writing blog posts? Making videos? Writing research papers? It's likely that you use copyrighted content every day. Did you know that even simply posting a photo online can be copyright infringement? Maximum damages can reach up to $100,000! Fortunately, there are simple alternatives, and we can teach you how to navigate the complex web of copyrighted content — without sacrificing creativity and innovation.

• How to Make Better Choices: Developing an evidence-based approach to information gathering, 2:30-3:30 p.m. April 5.

Evidence-based practice is a process used to improve decision making. If this phrase is new to you, join us! We'll define and review the evidence-based practice process while presenting multiple examples to facilitate the discussion. Using evidence-based practice will help you develop better research questions and make better evidence-based decisions. We'll also review the best sources for health information — health information based on evidence, not conjecture.

• The Internet Archive: Free and open access to primary sources, 2:30-3:30 p.m. April 12. 

The Internet Archive has wide-ranging collections that include both scholarly and entertaining websites, books, music and computer programs. This workshop will include explorations of Internet Archive content, discussions on accessing and using the materials in research and reviews of searching strategies. So, whether you would like to analyze the playlists of more than 11,000 Grateful Dead concerts or wish to explore emulation as a preservation strategy for video games, this workshop will add another set of tools to your research toolbox.

• Student to Student, 2:30-3:30 p.m. April 19. 

What do fellow students find most useful about the Libraries? Attend this student-led session for tips from K-State Libraries Student Ambassadors — from "secret" study nooks to the most helpful librarians, these pros have the inside scoop.