First-Year Foundations

Welcome!

This is your guide for your First-Year Foundations library instruction session. Here you'll find the links you need to follow along with the session. 

The Lorekeeper's Trial, part 1

Description: 

• Work in teams (parties) of 2–4
• Each person takes on a role: Ranger, Cleric, Rogue, or Wizard
• Complete tasks to find books, news, articles, and AI-assisted insights
• Record your discoveries in your Quest Log
• Share your findings with the class at the end

Character Roles

Ranger: The Book Hunter 

Skilled at navigating terrain and tracking lost knowledge, the Ranger hunts for wisdom hidden in the library’s shelves. 

Task: Brave the book stacks to locate a physical book relevant to your team’s research question. Once you find the book, take a photo to prove you achieved your quest.

Tips for Your Quest: 

• Check the item's location before venturing into the library shelves! Try to keep to books on the 3rd floor of the library to limit your travel time, if possible. 
• Use the library catalog or Start Your Search (filter to "Catalog only") to find the book. 
• Use just a few keywords to keep your search broad enough to find results.
• Make note of the call number and head to the correct section of the stacks
• Once you have your call number, give yourself 5 minutes to find the book on the shelf. If you don't find it, take a picture of how close you got, wherever you are and return to the classroom. 
• Use the guide below on "How to Locate Call Numbers in the Leatherby Libraries"

Cleric: Misinformation Healer 

Wise and discerning, the Cleric protects the party from misinformation and helps separate fact from fiction. 

Task: Find a credible news article related to your team’s research question. 

Tips for Your Quest: 

• Use Google, a library database (e.g., Newspaper Source), or another search tool to find a news article on your topic. 
• Apply the SIFT method to evaluate the source’s credibility. 
  • Stop to pause before you read it
  • Investigate the source (publisher and author). Use a news rating tool (e.g., MediaBiasFactCheck)
  • Find another reliable news article with a similar title. (some examples: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, Associated Press, Reuters.)
  • Trace the claims to the sources (does the article quote/reference any people, reports, etc.)
• Be prepared to explain why the source is trustworthy. 

Rogue: Information Sleuth  

Clever and well-connected in scholarly circles, the Rogue knows how to sneak into the vaults of academic research. 

Task: Locate three peer-reviewed journal articles on your team’s topic.

Tips for Your Quest: 

• Use Start Your Search or other library databases to find 3 peer-reviewed articles on your topic. Make sure you find the full text (hint: click the "Full Text" box)
• If you can't remember how to filter to only peer-reviewed sources, ask your team and/or your librarian for help. 
• Use keywords related to your research topic.
  • Optional: ask for help in coming up with keywords from your party's Wizard. 
• Use the information in the articles’ titles and abstracts to ensure they are all highly relevant to your topic.  

Wizard: Conjuror of Knowledge 

The Wizard calls upon powerful arcane tools (AI) to conjure up knowledge, strategy, and clarity. 

Task: Use AI tools to help the team brainstorm keywords, refine the research question, or suggest resources.

Tips for Your Quest: 

• Use PantherAI (using ChatGPT, Claude, or another AI tool) to get ideas and search terms. [see link below]
• Ask AI for ways to narrow, broaden, or refine your question using careful prompting. 
  • Include a context for your question and a specific output you want to receive in your prompt. 
• Help teammates improve their searches by sharing AI insights. 

Prepare for Your Quest!

Complete the following steps: 

1. Assemble your party (2-4 students per party)
2. Decide on your role (See the table below for a quick reminder of each role)
   • Note: If your party has fewer than 4 students, some students will have to assume more than one role to complete.
3. (Optional step) Come up with a name for your party
4. Discuss this question with your party: “What information and skills will you need from the librarian to complete this quest?”  
   • Come up with an answer and decide who in your party will give your response to the class discussion. 

Choose Your Role in Your Party

Discussion with your party: 

Ask yourselves: “What information and skills will you need from the librarian to complete this quest?” 

Decide who in your group will share your response. 

The Lorekeeper's Trial, part 2

To find your research question, you must roll the 8-sided die and then use the research question corresponding to the number you choose (see the slide projected on the screen by your librarian). 

Your Lorekeeper will ask you to either: 

• Roll the 8-sided die handed to you earlier, OR
• Your librarian will help each group roll and assign a topic. 

Once every group has a research topic you can begin your quest!

IMPORTANT: Make sure each student (not just one per party) submits a Quest Log entry once you have completed all of the actions (see link below)!

We will discuss your experience after the activity, so think ahead about what you might want to say. 

Submit your Quest Log and Session Feedback

Each student must complete the quest log to describe their experience. The session feedback is also included in the same Google form.