Documentation training applied to oceanography

Duration

30h Mon. WS

Number of credits

Lecturer

Aida Alvera Azcarate, Ninfa Greco, Serge Scory

Coordinator

Ninfa Greco

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The objective of these lessons is to learn how to look for the bibliography and data sets relevant for the realisation of their master's final study.
Regarding the bibliographic search, the course starts with an overview of the methods for computer-based search criteria. The students will be presented with the main search engines and bibliographic databases for biologists, and some software for the management of their bibliographic references. Microsoft Academic, a new semantic search engine, will be also introduced. Then the students will perform their own bibliographic research. Attention will be drawn to ethical rules (no plagiarism).
The students will be also presented with some of the main oceanographic databases, which can be used to extract data to support the hypothesis of their final work and to compare with their own data.
The "data lifecycle" question will be addressed, in order to familiarise the student with the concepts of data collection, validation, prreservation and dissemination. The international context and legal framework will be also addressed.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Bibliography part:
The student will be able to:

• Determine the main points that need to be supported with the help of bibliography
• Select the appropriate bibliographic datasets
• Perform a computer-based bibliographic research and access the full text of the necessary references
• Combine the bibliographic information with other sources of information
• Sort the information in terms of their quality and pertinence to their work.
• Computer-based management of their bibliography
• Prepare a well-organised written summary of their bibliographic researches and an oral presentation
• Avoid plagiarism

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Bibliography part:

• Passive knowledge of scientific English
• The students must have read and understood the course materials from "Formation à l'exploitation des ressources documentaires", given by Ninfa Greco in BAC3 biology

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Biblography part:
After a 3-hour theory lesson, the students perform their researches with a computer.
Databases part:
Theoretic concepts will be given at the same time that practical applications are performed. Specific requests will be asked to the students, in order to address any difficulties the students may encounter.
The "data lifecycle" concept and its place within the international frame (mainly European) will be adressed from the theoretical point of view. The students will then develop a data management plan based on specific projects.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Face-to-face lessons. These are tutorials. The teachers answer questions from students and help them to overcome their difficulties. The students should adopt a proactive attitude.

Recommended or required readings

Bibliography part:
More references :

• Antonia Maria, Baschwitz Bertrand. 2010. Comment me documenter? Bruxelles: De Boeck. 185p. (Guides pratiques: former et se former).
• Pochet Bernard, version dated 24 May 2017. Lire et écrire la littérature scientifique. Gembloux : Presses agronomiques de Gembloux. Online. http://infolit.be/CoMLiS/
• University of Liege. 2015. Plagiarism? Not for me! A short guide for University of Liege Students. http://www.ulg.ac.be/upload/docs/application/pdf/2013-06/plagiarism_-_not_for_me.pdf

Assessment methods and criteria

Bibliography part:
The students must present a written report, preferably sent by e-mail to N.Greco@ulg.ac.be. This report must be sent 3 working days before the oral exam. The oral exam takes about 30 minutes: 15 minutes of oral presentation and 15 minutes of question and answers.
Databases part:
The students will present a written report addressing the approach used to obtain data for the realisation of their Master's final work. A data management plan will be included. The report will be also presented orally.

Work placement(s)

None

Organizational remarks

Bibliography part:
The course is presented from week 4 to week 10, on Monday from 14:00 to 17:00, at B7a. (computer room)

Databases part: A series of 3-4 lessons of about 3 hours will be given, inmediately following the bibliography part (i.e. during the first quadrimester.

Contacts

Bibliography: Ninfa Greco: N.Greco@ulg.ac.be
Databases: Aida Alvera: A.Alvera@ulg.ac.be

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