A Collaborative, Student-Centered Approach to Designing an Undergraduate Researcher Tutorial

Abstract

This chapter describes the collaboration between the University of Washington Libraries and Undergraduate Research Program (URP) to create a flexible and scalable online tutorial focused on critical research and information skills for undergraduates. Working together as a team, the UW Libraries and URP created shared goals for the project that included centering student perspectives and needs, incorporating student voices throughout the tutorial, and making the final product as inclusive as possible for students, faculty, and staff. The project team solicited student input in tutorial content creation by means of interviews with undergraduate student researchers and key stakeholders who support them, and incorporated student voices by employing graduate student assistants as co-authors of content. The result is an inclusive and accessible online tutorial that allows students to tap into their prior knowledge and experience and independently gain research and information skills usually not taught in the classroom or laboratory setting. In our experience, cultivating partnerships and intentionally involving and centering students throughout the curriculum development process takes time, but the effort ultimately results in a product with far greater reach, impact, and relevance to students.