Week 4: Research Strategies & Information Seeking

 

Module 2: Week 4  Research Strategies & Information Seeking

Module 2: Introduction & Expectations

This week begins a new module, Module 2: Project Information Seeking and Career Development that will run through weeks 4-7, and focus on conducting research on the Lean Canvas problem and innovations you identified in Module 1. In addition you can select to complete additional career development and mentoring activities that supplement and enhance the research component.

  • Week 4: Existing Literature & Tools - Searching Strategies and Curating a Source Collection (Dr. Donna Ziegenfuss)
  • Week 5: Novelty - Patent Searching Strategies (Mr. Alfred Mowdood & Ms. Tallie Casucci)
  • Week 6: Skills Development - Preparing for Interviews (Dr. AJ Metz)
  • Week 7: Surveying the Landscape - Business & Market Analysis (Ar. Arabella Bhutto)

 

Week 4: Literature Research Searching Strategies and Portfolio Curation 

Although you will not have time to complete a thorough literature review in one week, you will begin a preliminary scan of the literature and curate a collection of 10 sources as a foundation for your topic/idea exploration. Doing research in the library or in the laboratory can sometimes be confusing and overwhelming. The purpose of the work this week is to get you started in the process, help improve your researching process, or if you are already underway will present some additional tools and strategies to help make your research more efficient.

Want to create an e-portfolio you can use for job searching? Here is a video tutorial to help you get started:

contact Information

Learning Objectives

  • Conduct a research literature scan using Google Scholar and other databases to explore your Lean Canvas Innovation topic/problem
  • Curate your collection of 10 literature sources in a citation management tool and create a bibliography in IEEE format
  • Reflect on your research and searching and curation process
  • Set up an E-Portfolio and add some of your assignments to the portfolio

The Library Research Assignments for Week 4 (10-20 points)

  1. Participate in adding to the Jamboard Links to an external site. and let us know what challenges you face when doing research (Jamboard Pg 1) and also what you learned this week  (Jamboard Pg 2)
  2. Library Research Graded Assignment Option (the detailed instructions, links, and tutorials are included within the assignment page).
    You will: 
    1. Do an exploratory search for relevant literature on your topic
    2. Create a bibliography using a citation management tool of 10 sources in IEEE format
    3. Write a reflection about your searching and curation experience

The E-Portfolio Assignment for Week 4 (10 points)

In addition to curating scholarly articles and setting up a citation manager to college and manage citations, you can also set up an E-portfolio that is part of Canvas (called Portfolium) and collect and manage your course work and any other materials you would like to curate in a portfolio. A tutorial for setting up the Portfolio Links to an external site.and building your professional identity will guide you through the process 

  1. Set up a Canvas Portfolio
  2. Add several ECE 6960 assignments to your portfolio
  3. Create an Invite Link and post the Portfolio Link into this Graded Portfolio Assignment Option 


Library Tools and E-Portfolio Follow-Up Weekly Topic Session -
2-7-24 (10 points)

Participate in the face-to-face weekly topic discussion session for the week 4 content about using library tools, citation management tools, and the e-portfolio tool on February 7th from 2-2:60 in zoom. Click on zoom link on the Canvas navigation menu.

 

 

Course Materials for Week 4:

!! Research Development: Information Seeking Strategies

To prepare to conduct an preliminary scan of the literature:

  • Make sure on your computer/laptop that Google Scholar is linked to the University of Utah Marriott Library by using these directions Connect Google Scholar to the Marriott Library Catalog resources or this video



  • Make sure that you have an account and a citation management tool installed and ready for researching
    • If you are already using a citation management tool (Endnote, Zotero or Mendeley) - do this assignment using that tool
    • If you do not use a citation management tool yet I would recommend Zotero Links to an external site..
      • It is free and has a desktop and online version that sync up.
      • You can install a chrome plugin extension so you can open to a page and add it directly to Zotero while working.
      • Zotero can also be used for websites and non-scholarly resources.
      • In addition you can attach the PDF files you find and annotate them right in Zotero
      • Here is a tutorial on setting up and using Zotero:

               Zotero tutorial is by Rebekah Cummings, Digital Matters Librarian (rebekah.cummings@utah.edu )

  • Additional detailed directions and links are available on the Literature Searching Assignment page to help you.
  • Need help with getting started? Post questions or request help on this research assignment discussion forum

Readings, Powerpoint Slides & Resources

Pre-Class VIDEOS, TUTORIALS & CLASS RECORDINGS

Supplementary & Supporting MaterialS

Some Other Research Tools

 

Writing Support

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Matrix Mentoring

Learning Objectives

  • Identify your expectations and boundaries in mentoring relationships 
  • Recognize the significance of peer mentoring

IntroDuction

There is no "one-size fits all" path for students in STEM fields. Depending on your past experiences, current research training environment, and overall educational and career goals, you will identify different mentoring needs. These needs shift as you move into different stages of your career. Mentors, including supervisors, colleagues, and peers, will greatly influence your professional growth and can provide you with helpful feedback. This week, a podcast, reading, and assignments are designed to help you clarify your expectations in your mentoring relationships. In addition, you will be asked to consult with a peer (e.g., classmate, research team member, advanced PhD student, post-doctoral student) on your current educational/professional questions or concerns. These peer consultations might be focused on the "big problem" you are researching, a patent you are developing, a new research project, or even focused on professional issues related to conflict with a mentor or peer and tips for managing the impostor phenomenon. 

Readings / Activities

OverView of Assignments

This week's assignments include:

  • Completing a Mentee Expectations Worksheet and Reflection to the podcast episode (see above)
  • A Peer Consultation: Set up a meeting with a peer to discuss any professional questions or concerns. The consultation meeting could be focused on the "big problem" you are researching, a patent you are developing, a new research project, or even on professional issues related to conflict with a mentor or peer as well as tips for managing the impostor phenomenon. 
  • Completing a short reflection on what you learned from the peer consult

Career Development

Learning Objectives

  • Create a compelling resume that showcases soft and hard electrical engineering skills
  • Gain tips for interacting with employers at a career fair
  • Learn how your social media presence can positively and negatively influence your job search
  • Begin to craft a positive social media presence

IntroDuction

This week you'll be preparing for an upcoming *Internship & Career Fair.  First, you'll read some tips for creating a compelling electrical engineering resume, including specific hard and soft skills that are most in-demand for electrical engineers. Then you'll watch a video with guidance on how to interact with employers at a career fair.  And because we live in a digital world, we'll also take a look at your social media presence. Know that hiring managers review social networking platforms to screen candidates. Thus, presenting your professional self goes beyond your resume.

*Why attend an Internship & Career Fair?  Some of you might be wondering why you should attend an Internship & Career Fair now, when you may not be ready to apply for an internship or a job, or you may already have one.  Attending an Internship & Career Fair has numerous benefits at any stage of your career development:

  • Learn about job opportunities in your field
  • Network with potential employers (Over 80% of all job offers come through networking)
  • Practice your elevator pitch
  • Improve your interviewing skills and speaking confidence
  • Get your resume reviewed 

Link to all related career fairs: https://careers.utah.edu/events Links to an external site. 

Pre-Class Readings / Activities

  • Read the career blog titled, "Electrical Engineer Resume Example (Guide & Tips for 2024) Links to an external site."
  • Think about ways you can improve your own resume (or create one). 
    • Showcase hard and soft electrical engineering skills 
    • List professional memberships
    • Describe any electrical engineering research projects you've worked on while in graduate school 
    • Note any research presentations or publications
    • Highlight languages you speak
  • Sample resumes are included in the "Supporting Materials" section below.

Pre-Class VIDEOS, Tutorials, & Class Recording

  • Watch this video on "Speaking with Recruiters at a Career Fair"
    • It provides a bad example and then a good example of how to speak to a recruiter. It also shows you how a recruiter might interpret things you say and do.                                                                                                                       

Overview of In-class and Post-Class Assignments

As I mentioned previously, the assignments for this week will help you prepare for the STEM Internship & Career Fair. 

 

HOW TO GET YOUR RESUME REVIEWED

Option 1: Have your mentor review your resume and provide feedback.

Option 2: E-mail your resume to the Career Success Center (they will provide a resume review). Just send an e-mail to: resumereviews@careers.utah.edu

Option 3:  Drop in at the Career Success Center (first floor, Suite 1300 of the Ken Garff Business Building) for an in-person resume review. (Tues - Friday 9:30 AM - 3 PM. No appointments are necessary.)

Option 4: Log into Handshake Links to an external site. and look for any resume workshops that are being offered this semester.

Supporting MaterialS

Assignment Selections for week 4 (Homework)

Lean Canvas Topic Assignment

  • Week 4 Information Searching - Searching the literature and creation of a curated collection of the literature around your topic in a citation management too
  • Set up a Canvas portfolio and profile, add several ECE 6960 assignments to the portfolio, add an invite link to the portfolio in the assignment 

Mentoring Matrix Topic Assignment

Career Development Topic Assignment