Welcome

Hi. I'm Heather, your embedded librarian and I've created this guide to help you with your research for ITC105. 

On this page you will find an introduction to the steps you should take when researching for an assessment, with a focus on assessments 2 and 3. You'll find links to videos and resources that will give you the tools to find great information. Use the activities on the test your knowledge tab to see what you need to revise.

When you are preparing for assessment 4, hop over to the second page of this guide for information on creating presentations. 

If you would like an introduction to our Library website and services check out:

Getting started with your assessment

The first thing is to make sure you clearly understand the task and what topic you are seeking information for, this is called topic analysis. Check your assessment task details in your Subject Outline. 

With an understanding of your task you then need to plan how you will search for information. This starts with identifying and brainstorming keywords. Using these keywords, you are able to develop a search strategy to help find specific information about your topic.

From your assessment task:

Keywords Synonyms or related terms
Additional language learning language acquisition, bilingualism, multilingualism, code switching, language education, linguistics
Daylight saving Daylight Saving Time, DST, seasonal time adjustment, origins
Facial recognition software surveillance, automated face recognition, biometric authentication, facial detection, automated identification, biometric, computer vision 
Cashless society digital currency, cash free, digital money, e-money, cryptocurrency, electronic fund transfers, finance
Keywords Synonyms or related terms

Cloud Computing, Small business

 Hosted software, utility computing, online storage, software, on-demand computing, Infrastructure, platform, service, SME, SMB, micro business, company, enterprise, sole-proprietor, family business
Artificial Intelligence, Everyday Life Machine learning, generative artificial intelligence, GenAI, GAIT, life, society, routine, living standards, home life, workplace, transformation, impact, influence
Drones, Ethical Considerations unmanned aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, pilotless, ethical code, concerns, implications, advantages
Facial Recognition Software 
surveillance, automated face recognition, biometric authentication, facial detection, automated identification, biometric, computer vision 

Does your task place any limits? These might be a resource type, date or location. For example, "in the last X years" or Australian content.

For guidance in topic analysis check out:

Create a search strategy

When you search using Primo Search or a library database use the keywords and limits you identified above to create your search. Combine the keywords with search operators, rather than searching with a whole sentence or question. Search operators tell Primo or the database how to search with your keywords.

For your assessment topic potential search strings could include:

  • ("Small business" OR SMB) AND "Cloud comput*"
  • “facial recognition” AND (polic* OR law)
  • (unmanned OR unpiloted) AND aircraft AND ethic*
  • "artificial intelligen*" AND (work OR home OR everyday)

Remember: you will need to try a range of searches. Don't stop after just one. You can add additional search lines in the advanced search to broaden or narrow your search. 

To understand how search operators work check out:

Choose the right place to search

Before you start searching, think about what types of information you need and where you can search to find those types of resources. As part of your assessment 2 report, you need to find and use 3 journal articles in Primo or our A-Z Databases related to your chosen topic, and 3 additional articles found either online or from the library’s databases. 

Primo Search

Primo Search is a good place to start as it allows you to use one search box to bring back results from most of our Library collection including books, eBooks, journal articles, newspaper articles and more. You may get a large number of results and some of these will be from outside your subject/discipline area. Check the content is relevant to your assessment task before you use it.

Library databases

Databases will help you find academic resources and are often subject specific. You will get fewer results than Primo, but they will be more relevant to your subject/discipline. 

I recommend trying the following database:

The IT, Computing & Mathematics list has more databases you can search.

Learn how to search efficiently in Primo and Library databases:

Other Sources

For your assessment you must also locate media articles and/or reports related to your topic. You may find this information using Google, or you can use the Library's media databases for more control over your searches.

I recommend trying the following:

For government or industry reports you will a range of useful links in our Grey Literature Library Guide.

Learn how to search effectively using the internet, and how to evaluate internet sources:

Evaluate

Using credible information will improve the quality of your assessment and may result in better marks, but how can you tell whether the resources you've found are credible and suitable for your assessment? Have you been asked to use peer reviewed, academic or refereed articles? Are you using authoritative websites?

The information below will help you evaluate the information you find, in books, journal articles, or online to make sure it’s reliable.

Your textbook

Good news!

Your prescribed texts are available online through the library. The best way to access them is through your 'Readings & Resources (Leganto)' list within your subject site.

However access to your textbook is limited. Follow the best practice in the video below to ensure you have access to what you need without disadvantaging other students in your subject.

Watch this space!

Later in the session I'll add a video demonstrating search skills and strategies you can use to locate relevant, high quality resources for your assessments.

Reading, writing and referencing

The Academic Skills team can help you to build your writing, referencing and reading skills to be successful at Charles Sturt University.

Explore resources from the Academic Skills team in the Learning Skills section of the Student Portal.

Here are some pages to get you started:

Using AI

Generative AI tools can be helpful study companions — they can support your thinking, help you explore new ideas, and guide you toward useful resources.

You might use Gen AI to:

  • Generate topic ideas or refine research questions
  • Clarify tricky terms or complex concepts
  • Suggest useful sources or recommend databases
  • Improve your keywords or search strategies

Important: Always check your subject outline to see if using AI tools is permitted. Using AI without permission could breach academic integrity rules.

Think of AI as a starting point — a way to support your research, not replace your critical thinking or use of credible academic sources.

See more on AI: