LibGuides: Engineering Library: Information Skills

Information Skills Training

The library team provide training and one-to-one support to develop your information and research skills. On the following pages you will find self-directed modules featuring videos to watch, information to read and activities to try out new skills.

For support in any of these areas, contact the library team or book a one-to-one supervision using our Booking Form.

CLIC also run training on Excellence in Engineering Writing, Presentation Skills for Engineers, and related writing and speaking skills. For more information, see their Communication for the Global Engineer programme or email the Centre.

You can also visit the Research Skills Guide for more resources and information including searching the literature, publishing in journals or monographs, building your online profile, understanding research metrics and more.

Skills for the Informed Engineer

Today's Engineers require information skills to effectively select, critically evaluate, use, and create technical information and data. Development of these skills are recognised as part of the academic and professional development of Engineers by the Engineering Council as evidenced in the learning outcome in AHEP and the UKSPEC.

The Engineering Library is launching a NEW Informed Engineer Digital Badge scheme in 2020-2021, working with the Department's Centre for Languages and Inter-Communication (CLIC) and based on their work to create a Global Engineer Digital Badge as part of the work of the GELS network.

Participants can earn a digital badge for each of the three individual skills: Information Seeker and Evaluator, Information and Data Manager, and Information Creator. Once the requirements for all four skills have been met, participants are automatically awarded the Informed Engineer Digital Badge. In addition to the core Information skills badges there is an additional Engineering Integrity badge available.

Engineering Undergraduate and Masters students can gain Digital Badges by completing courses on this site. Engineering PhD and CDT students also have courses that are eligible, available via Moodle. Please contact the library team if you have any questions.

Badge	Skills	Criteria
Information Seeking	Information Seeker and Evaluator: Demonstrate skills in literature searching	Completion of the Literature Searching and Reviewing module and creation of a Search Profile
Information Management	Information and Data Manager: Demonstrate knowledge of referencing as part of good academic practice	Completion of the Referencing module and Referencing Quiz
Data Management	Information and Data Manager: Demonstrate knowledge of data management planning	Completion of the Managing Your Data module and creation of a Data Management Plan
Poster Design	Information Creator: Demonstrate creating information in a concise and appealing manner to engage with colleagues, peers and others in their research.	Completion of the Designing Conference Posters module and creation of a draft poster design
Engineering Integrity	Demonstrate knowledge of Academic Integrity and Ethics	Completion of the Academic Integrity module and Ethics Case Study Scenarios activity
Informed Engineer	Demonstrate a range of Engineering Information skills through the completion of at least three Skills for the Informed Engineer badges	Awarded once participants have successfully earned badges from three of the four different skills categories