Academic Year/course:
2019/20
543 - Master's in Molecular Chemistry and Homogeneous Catalysis
60455 - Bibliographic resources and databases
Información del Plan Docente
Academic Year:
2019/20
Subject:
60455 - Bibliographic resources and databases
Faculty / School:
100 - Facultad de Ciencias
Degree:
543 - Master's in Molecular Chemistry and Homogeneous Catalysis
ECTS:
2.0
Year:
1
Semester:
First semester
Subject Type:
Optional
Module:
---
1.1. Aims of the course
The aim of the course is that students develop research skills in both general and specific bibliographic resources, and they acquire the necessary abilities to develop research skills in an autonomous way, one of the basic proposals put forward by the European Higher Education Area.
1.2. Context and importance of this course in the degree
The course is part of the Structural Characterization Module. This is a cross optional course of 2 ECTS taught in the first term which intend to give students the fundamental tools to carry out chemical researches, regardless of the particular area that are going to specialize later. It is essential to know how to access to available scientific information in a reliable manner and how to manage it.
1.3. Recommendations to take this course
Class attendance and resolution of the exercises that teachers propose for each database are mandatory.
2.1. Competences
To be able to recognize and to determine what information is needed in a given context.
Capacity to locate potential sources of information in their discipline, both general and specialized (search engines, databases, specialized information resources) and to use the most appropriate.
To choose tools and design apropriate information search strategies according to the needs and to access available sources.
To understand and to select the information obtained. To organize and present a clear, accurate and legible report including citing sources and background documents employees.
To use and to understand the importance, for both future own activity and coworkers, of reference management software in order to organize bibliographic references.
To evaluate critically the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of both the search process and the information obtained. To optimize information searches.
2.2. Learning goals
The student must identify how to access and manage different types of library resources available.
The student must recognize how to plan a literature search on specific research topics, and to select the databases of adequate scientific data.
The student should discern how to analyze and classify the information obtained, and to distinguish the most useful in each case.
The student must practice reference management software in order to organize bibliographic cites.
In conclusion, the fast development of new tecnologies, the facilities to publish on network and the big amount of information available, make it essential for the students confident information sources that guarantee them the recovery of reliable and quality information such as that we can find in catalogs or databases.
2.3. Importance of learning goals
Learning outcomes obtained in this course are key in order to have an overview of a specific problem. Essential skills for current students and professionals are developed. In this context, it is a contemporary subject that intends to fulfill the current demand of exigency, competitiveness and ability to communicate in an international environment.
3. Assessment (1st and 2nd call)
3.1. Assessment tasks (description of tasks, marking system and assessment criteria)
The continuous assessment of this course is based on the following activities, weighted as indicated:
1. Formative evaluation by themes based on proposed exercises that measure the gradual acquisition of theoretical knowledge (20%)
2. Written test that will consist of a series of exercises that include the use of any of the databases used throughout the course and will be taken at the end of the classes (80%)
The students that have not passed the subject or wish to improve their score have the option to carry out a global test either in the first or the second call. This test will consist on the presentation of the information required in different global exercises that entail the management of databases used throughout in a critical way.
The number of official examination calls per registration and their use will be subjected to the statements of the Regulation of Permanence in Master Studies and the Regulation of the Learning Assessment (https://ciencias.unizar.es/normativas-asuntos-academicos). The latest document will also regulate the general design and scoring criteria of the assessment activities, as well as the exam schedules and timetable for the post-examination review.
4. Methodology, learning tasks, syllabus and resources
4.1. Methodological overview
The methodology followed for this course will consist of interactive lectures that allow students to know the possibilities offered by the available library's resources. In addition, a set of exercises will be proposed for their resolution individually or in groups that will be carried out during the classroom with the help of the teacher as well as self-assessment on homework.
The course requires online access to several databases, so the classes are held in the computer room and, whenever possible, with an individual access to each database by the student. The aim is that the students can follow the teacher's explanations interactively from their own computer.
Classroom materials will be available via Moodle. These include a repository of the lecture notes used in class, the course syllabus, as well as other course-specific learning materials, for the students' personal study.
4.2. Learning tasks
The course includes the following learning tasks:
- Interactive lectures (0.8 ECTS).
- Problem-solving sessions (0.4 ECTS).
- Computer practice sessions (0.8 ECTS).
- Small group or individualized tutorials.
4.3. Syllabus
The course will address the following topics:
Topic 1. Reliable information: skills in information retrieval. Sources of information: Evaluation of informative resources.
Topic 2. Ethics and intellectual property: citation and bibliography. Academic work without plagiarism. Creating quotations and references. Software for managing bibliographie.
Topic 3. Retrieval information from electronic general Chemistry resources. Basic concepts. Multidisciplinary data bases. Library catalogues. Bibliographic databases: ISI products, Scopus, Science Direct. Internet search tools.
Topic 4. Retrieval information from specialized Molecular Chemistry electronic resources: Beilstein, Gmelin, Scifinder, etc. Editorial bases: RSC, ACS, Wiley, etc. Crystallographic data bases: CSD, ICSD. Patents. Selecting online resources.
Topic 5. Bibliographic management: Description and use. Endnoteweb, RefWorks, and Mendeley.
4.4. Course planning and calendar
Further information concerning the timetable, classroom, assessment dates and other details regarding this course, will be provided on the first day of class or please refer to the Faculty of Science https://ciencias.unizar.es/calendario-y-horarios, and the Master's, http://masterqmch.unizar.es.
Students will be provided with different teaching material either at reprography or through the University's virtual platform https://moodle2.unizar.es/add.
The information about schedules, calendars and exams is available at the websites of the Sciences Faculty, https://ciencias.unizar.es/calendario-y-horarios, and the Master, http://masterqmch.unizar.es.
Controls and supervised individual or iteam-based practical work related to different bibliographic resources will be made throughout the course. The presentation of practical works will be done according to the schedule to be announced well in advance.