Skip to main content

Search Smarter: our Information Skills eTutorials help you to prepare

 Whether you're settling into university life, juggling clinical placements, or stepping into your first professional role, one thing is clear: being able to find, judge, and use information confidently is a game‑changer.
That’s where the Health Library’s Information Skills eTutorials come in.
These short, practical online modules are designed to help you build the research and information‑handling skills you’ll rely on throughout your studies and your healthcare career—and you can complete them anytime, anywhere, at your own pace.

Why bother with information skills?

Searching for good information can sometimes feel overwhelming. Databases, keywords, journals, evidence hierarchies, critical appraisal… It’s a lot.
But strong information‑seeking skills don’t just make assignments easier—they make you a safer, more informed healthcare practitioner. Reliable evidence underpins everything from clinical decisions to patient education, and the sooner you feel comfortable navigating it, the more confident you’ll become.
Our eTutorials break these skills into manageable steps. Clear guidance to help you feel in control of your learning and your practice.

What you’ll learn

Each tutorial focuses on a different aspect of information and research skills, including:
  • How to plan an effective search strategy - Learn how to turn your assignment or clinical question into search terms that actually work.
  • Finding high‑quality academic and clinical evidence - Discover the best places to search and how to save time by using them effectively.
  • Evaluating information with confidence - Spot trustworthy research, avoid misinformation, and understand what makes a source reliable.
  • Referencing and citation know‑how - Get guidance you can follow.
Whether you’re writing your first university assignment or updating your knowledge on placement, these skills will make your work faster, smoother, and more accurate.

Perfect for busy schedules

Healthcare students and professionals are busy—we get it. That’s why the eTutorials are:
  • Short and flexible - Fit them between lectures, on the bus to placement, or during a quiet moment at home.
  • Self‑paced - go at your own speed.
  • Mobile‑friendly - Learn from your phone or tablet wherever you are.
  • Repeatable - Need a refresher? Revisit any tutorial anytime.
These are skills you’ll use again and again throughout your studies and career, so investing a few minutes now pays off again and again.

Your future self will thank you

Mastering information skills isn’t just about passing exams. It’s about:
  • building confidence in your academic work
  • developing the habits of an evidence‑based practitioner
  • saving time and reducing stress
  • feeling prepared for whatever the next stage of study or practice brings
Whether you’re aiming for top marks or simply want to feel more in control, our etutorials give you a strong foundation.

Ready to take the next step?

Your library team is here to support you every step of the way, and these eTutorials are a great place to start. Dive in, explore at your own pace, and discover how much easier study and clinical research can be when you have the right tools.

Start your Information Skills eTutorials today—and level up your learning, your practice, and your confidence.

[written in collaboration with MS 365 copilot chat]

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Sunday opening hours to begin this Sunday

  We’re pleased to inform you that the Health Library in the CEC will now open on Sundays from   10am to 4pm  as part of a   six‑month trial , responding to feedback requesting additional opening hours. This trial period will allow us to assess demand, usage, and feedback before making any long‑term decisions. During Sunday opening, the Library will be available for  self‑service use only . Entry will be via the  wooden door to the Library on your right , through the entrance next to the bridge. Security staff will be present to look after the space and ensure a safe environment. During Sunday self‑service, you WILL be able to: Use your  Keelecard  or NHS Library card to swipe access the Library between  10am and 4pm Access the different study spaces and  NHS/Keele networked PCs  within the Library Issue and return items using the self‑service machine During Sunday self‑service, you WILL NOT be able to: Access the Library ...

Struggling with Literature Searching? Your Health Library can help

  Whether you’re an undergraduate tackling your first systematic search, a postgraduate refining a dissertation, or a researcher navigating complex evidence resources, literature searching can feel overwhelming. Choosing the right databases, building effective search strategies and documenting your methods all take time and specialist knowledge. The Health Library is here to help students and researchers find the evidence they need, faster and with confidence. Our online information skills etutorials are designed to help you build strong searching skills, whenever and wherever you need them. Our bite‑sized tutorials guide you through: Turning your topic into a clear search question Choosing the right health databases Using keywords, subject headings, and boolean operators Searching effectively for articles, reviews and research evidence Saving, refining, and documenting your searches Perfect for students at all levels and busy researchers, the etutorials are flexible, pra...

Keele Library Latest: Announcing a Library Fines Amnesty – Paving the wa...

Keele Library Latest: Announcing a Library Fines Amnesty – Paving the wa... : From 11th April until the end of semester , we are offering a fines amnesty*. We would really encourage you to use this as an opportunity t... This fines amnesty applies to NHS staff as well as Keele students. Remember that fines will still be applied to items that have been recalled.