Research Tools & Resources

New as of Summer 2023, you can now access our Using Generative AI Tools guide in Canvas. This is a very introductory guide and may change over time as technology evolves. This guide defines generative AI, provides examples of generative AI tools, describes how they can be used in your work, describes problems and issues with the tools, and explains responsible use of the tools at the college. Note that LWTech does not have a college-wide policy or statement on generative AI. Please email the library if you have questions or want to learn about AI trainings at the college.

There are a variety of ways you can get help with using research databases. We highly recommend using official tutorials when available, which can be found within the databases (look for "Help" sections), on publisher websites, and on video streaming platforms like YouTube.

We also have several in-house video tutorials created by librarians, available to view on our publicly-available Canvas page. If you need additional help with a specific research database, please contact us and we will be more than happy to provide you with training.

How good is the information you managed to find in your research? Here are two ways to evaluate any information you find: the CRAAP test and the SIFT method.

The CRAAP test looks at the details of the information: who wrote it, when and why did they write it, etc. Applying the CRAAP test can look different based on where you find the information (in an article, in a book, on a website).

The SIFT method considers if the source you found is the best source for the information you want. Has anyone else written about the topic who you might trust more? What was the original context for the statements and ideas your source is quoting?

Do you know who made that website and why? The LWTech librarians are committed to bringing you the tools and support students and faculty need to understand how to properly evaluate web resources in the 21st century.

We have created several evaluation worksheets in-house. The Web Evaluation Matrix is designed to help you review any resource on the web based on Accuracy, Authority, Objectivity, Currency, and Coverage. The Video Evaluation Matrix is a similar tool, designed specifically to review video content on the web:

• Web Evaluation Matrix (Fall 2019) (pdf)
• Video Evaluation Matrix (Winter 2020) (pdf)

If you would like to learn more about evaluation and develop your skills further, please consider looking at the Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers Book. This free book provides practical techniques to guide you through web evaluation.

LinkedIn Learning is an amazing resource providing video instruction on countless tech-related topics. LWTech students and faculty have access to LinkedIn Learning by association with the college. Follow the directions below to sign into your LinkedIn Learning account.

1. Visit LWTech.edu/LinkedInLearning.
2. You will arrive at a screen prompting you to type in your email. Type in your LWTech email address and password(same as your computer/Canvas/Yammer/etc. login).
   Note: you will need to use a student or employee LWTech email address for authentication and eligibility purposes.
3. After you Submit, you will see a Welcome prompting you to link/connect your LinkedIn Profile 
   • Note: this step is OPTIONAL and is not required to use the LinkedIn Learning service. Connecting your LinkedIn Learning profile with your LinkedIn profile will allow you to login using your LinkedIn credentials as another way to access the service. You can choose to not connect and keep the two profiles separate.
   • You may be prompted to provide additional interest and skill information to help curate course offerings specific to your profile.
4. You can now browse the LinkedIn Learning resources by selecting from the dropdown menus to search by Subject, Software, Author. Or, type in the Search box a topic you’d like instructional videos on.

Need Additional Help with LinkedIn Learning? Contact Brianna Ramos. You can also check out the  IT Services LinkedIn Learning guide page.

StudentLingo offers more than 25 online video workshops available for free to all LWTech students that are accessible 24/7. These short, interactive workshops help students achieve their personal, academic, and career goals. Workshops include student activities, helpful action plans, links to additional academic success resources, and offer proof of completion. There are a wide variety of workshops available, which include: Tips for Success in Online Courses, Classroom Expectations and Behaviors, Effectively Communicating Online, Staying Motivated and Disciplined, Overcoming Procrastination, What It Takes to be a Successful Student, and many more.

First time users will need to register and create a password.

The following online resources are great places to find openly-licensed, multimedia content to use in a project, presentation, report, or other creative document. Please note that limitations for use of the content vary depending on the site.

• The Noun Project provides "nearly a million curated icons, created by a global community." Integration with Microsoft Office and multiple Adobe products exists as of 2017. Note: icons may be used with CC licenses if you provide the correct attribution; in many cases, you may pay to use the icons without attribution.
• Flickr is a hub for proprietary and open photos and other images. It is "home to 13 billion photos and 2 million groups." Note that a special search filter exists for accessing openly-licensed content.
• CC Search provides a central access point for numerous collections of open media. As described on the Creative Commons website, this search tool "is not a search engine, but rather offers convenient access to search services provided by other independent organizations. CC has no control over the results that are returned. Do not assume that the results displayed in this search portal are under a CC license. You should always verify that the work is actually under a CC license by following the link. Since there is no registration to use a CC license, CC has no way to determine what has and hasn't been placed under the terms of a CC license. If you are in doubt you should contact the copyright holder directly, or try to contact the site where you found the content." The following resources are available through CC Search as of 2017: Europeana, Flickr, Google, Google Images, Jamendo, Open Clip Art Library, SpinXpress, Wikimedia Commons, YouTube, Pixabay, ccMixter, and SoundCloud.
• Wikimedia Commons: provides "a collection of 40,896,269 freely usable media files to which anyone can contribute." These files are divided into three main categories: Images, Sounds, and Videos.
• Internet Archive: a robust an incredibly-expansive hub, providing "millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more." Note: the Archive also includes the "Wayback Machine" for viewing historical snapshots of millions of websites.
• Free Music Archive: offers a wide spectrum of recorded music discoverable via genre and curator, and is described as "an interactive library of high-quality, legal audio downloads directed by WFMU, the most renowned freeform radio station in America. Radio has always offered the public free access to new music. The Free Music Archive is a continuation of that purpose, designed for the age of the internet. It was launched in 2009."
• CCMixter is a unique platform for openly-licensed audio content that bridges musicians, singers, and remixers.