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Main entrance to the Technology Resource Center

Renton Technical College Library

Workshops

The Renton Technical College Library offers a variety of free information literacy workshops for RTC students, faculty and staff. These workshops teach how to find, evaluate and use information more effectively, efficiently and independently.

The available "canned" workshops are listed below but instructors may also request customized workshops for their classes or workshops combining some of the topics listed below. For more information about scheduling a library workshop, click here.

Orientations	Includes Info About
Orientation to the RTC Library	Services available from the RTC Library and how to access those services. A simplified version is available for ESL students.

Introduction to Libraries	Includes Info About
Library Terminology	Particularly designed for low-level ESL students to learn basic library terminology. Uses a game show format.
Practicing Library Situations	Particularly designed for low-level ESL students to practice basic library situations such as checking out, returning and renewing library materials. Uses role playing format.
Using an English Language Dictionary	Particularly designed for ESL students to learn the basics of using an English language dictionary.

Online Resources	Includes Info About
Introduction to the Internet and MS Internet Explorer	Internet terminology, reading a web address and recognizing domain names, cautions in using the Internet, how to use MS Internet Explorer to access, view, print and save web pages to floppy disk.
Web Searching with Google	How to conduct basic and advanced searches of websites in Google.
Online Job Search	How to use the web as one tool in your job search.
Using NoodleBib to Cite Sources	Using NoodleBib subscription to create MLA or APA style bibliographies online, printing out bibliographies and saving bibliographies to floppy disk.
Online Resources	An quick overview of several online resources such as the Library's online catalog and a few of the online databases listed below.
Online Catalog and Finding Materials in the RTC Library	How to conduct searches in the RTC Library’s online catalog, how to read and interpret Dewey Decimal and call numbers in order to find materials on the Library’s shelves.
Auto Repair Reference Center Online Database	How to access and conduct searches in the AARC online database, print out information and save articles to floppy disk.
CINAHL with Full Text Online Database	How to access EbscoHost's CINAHL online database, print out articles and save articles to floppy disk.
eLibrary Online Database	How to access and conduct searches in the eLibrary online database. Also includes information on how to print and save information from the database to floppy disk.
Gale Online Encyclopedias	How to access and conduct searches in several Gale online medical encyclopedias.
Grolier Online Encyclopedias	How to access and conduct searches in the two Grolier encyclopedias: Encyclopedia Americana Grolier's Multimedia Encyclopedia
ProQuest Online Database	How to access ProQuest, conduct searches for periodical articles, print out articles, and save articles to floppy disk.
ReferenceUSA Online Database	How to access and conduct searches in the Business Database and Residential Database sections of the ReferenceUSA online database. Also includes information on how to print and save information from the database to floppy disk.
WOIS Online Database	Conducting occupational searches in WOIS, printing results, and saving results to floppy disk.

Other Workshop Topics	Includes Info About
Introduction to Information Literacy	Discussion about what information literacy is and why it is important in our daily lives.
Getting the Most from Your Textbook	How to use the table of contents, index, glossary, and other parts of your textbook to find information effectively and efficiently.
Big6™ Information Problem-Solving Process	The Big6™ information problem-solving process and how it can be used to solve all types of information problems at home, work and school including how to write a research paper.
Selecting the Best Sources of Information	Magazines vs. journals, primary vs. secondary sources, variety of information formats and sources, how information “ages”, web sites vs. online databases, criteria for selecting sources.
Basic Search Strategies	Identifying keywords, keyword vs. subject searching, Boolean searching, using narrower vs. broader terms, other search tips.
Basic Reference Books	Types of different reference books, how to use some basic print reference books, how to use table of contents and indexes to find information within books. Source types include almanac, atlas/map, dictionary, directory, encyclopedia, handbook/manual.
Program or Subject-Specific Reference Sources	How to use a variety of print and web reference sources for a specific program or subject such as Business Reference Sources, Legal Reference Sources or Medical Reference Sources.
Evaluation of Information	Distinguishing between fact and opinion, general criteria for evaluating information, specific criteria for evaluating different types of websites.
Information Ethics	Discussion of information ethics including intellectual freedom, confidentiality, copyright and plagiarism.
Creating Pathfinders	Definition of a pathfinder, steps for putting together a pathfinder using the Big6™ process. This project uses most of the skills taught in the other library workshops. A pathfinder is an annotated list of the best sources of information (books, videos, periodical articles, web sites, newsgroups, mailing lists, people experts, organizations, etc.) available on a specific topic.
Using Your Public Library’s Resources	Locations of local public libraries (RPL, KCLS, SPL), services they offer, how to use their online catalogs and log into their online databases.

Information About Scheduling Workshops

Available to:	Any current RTC faculty or staff member and to current RTC students as arranged with their instructor. Instructors are expected to attend workshops with their class unless specific arrangements have been made two weeks prior to the workshop date.
Dates and Time:	As requested by RTC faculty for their classes. Done by mutual arrangement with any RTC librarian. Some drop-in workshops may be scheduled by RTC librarians for any RTCer to attend.
Location:	RTC Boeing Library Classroom (RTC Technology Resource Center, Room C-204) or another electronic classroom by special arrangement.
Workshop Size:	Up to 24 attendees with a desired minimum of 5 attendees.
Workshop Content:	Each session is designed to be competency-based active learning and may include an assignment to assess competency. (Assignment is optional per instructor’s request).
Workshop Length:	Each workshop session is designed to be one hour in length. There may be some time available in the workshops to complete the workshop assignment but some assignments may need extra time outside of the workshop to be completed.
Workshops Series:	Workshops can either be scheduled as individual units or as a series of sessions based on the request of the instructor.
Customized Workshops:	RTC faculty may request customized workshops for their classes in addition to the list of “canned” workshops.
Prerequisites:	Some sessions may have recommended prerequisites (such as basic keyboarding and mouse skills or the completion of another workshop session).
Scheduled by:	RTC faculty or staff member in conjunction with an RTC librarian, preferably with at least one week’s notice when possible.
Questions?	Contact Librarian Debbie Crumb at (425) 235-2352, ext. 5678.

Last updated: 12/1/11