Skip to Main Content

Information Literacy: Computer Science

Information Literacy Skills for Computer Science Majors

What skills do your majors need in order to conduct research in your discipline?

Computer Science majors should be able to:

  • Query databases to extract required information (specifically, community owned knowledge bases relevant to the discipline)
  • Discern the value of the information (validity and relevance)
  • Organize and present information in clear and accurate manner
  • Understand and interpret graphically presented information
  • Write a paper in proper scientific format and appropriately cite sources
  • Clearly present ideas to a group
  • Understand and avoid using plagiarism

In which classes will these skills be taught?

CSCI 101:  Information literacy is introduced to CS majors through a research paper focusing on historic people and events within the field of computer science.  Students submit a research paper that follows a standard scientific format and requires the use of the library databases.  The topics of plagiarism and appropriate use of citations are covered in this class. 

All CSCI classes:   Computer Science students, regardless of their concentration regularly use community owned knowledge bases (Stackoverflow, GeeksforGeeks, MSDN, etc.) to assist with the development of their course specific programming projects.  Using these sites requires students to quickly and efficiently determine the validity of the information being provided (incorrect, obsolete, irrelevant).   These skills are reinforced throughout the courses taught in the computer science department.

How will you know that the students have mastered these skills?

CSCI 101: Student’s papers will follow a standard research format for their assigned topic.   The paper will include citations and a bibliography containing both primary and secondary sources.   The students will use the library database to conduct their research.

CSCI 461 and CSCI 462:   All computer science majors will develop their own senior project that relies on project specific content from community owned knowledge bases. At the end of this two semester sequence, all student projects are reviewed and evaluated by department faculty.