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Online tutorials - UK

There are many online tutorials available for users to choose from. Universities and Colleges have the option to design their own, which is time consuming, so many either direct their users to existing freely available tutorials or customise or repurpose existing ones.

Tutorials are normally in a modular format, which specifies how long each module should take. This is usually between 20 – 60 minutes, with some of the longer ones sometimes being broken down into smaller parts. They are designed to be completed at an individual’s own pace and users can pick and choose the areas they wish to work through. Animation, graphics and interaction are a usual feature, however the extent to which they are present varies. There are normally self assessment questions either throughout the tutorials or at the end. The resources below demonstrate the variety of tutorials available.

Introduction by Tracey Totty, Middlesbrough College, April 2008

Photgraph by Wrote is entitled Screens and has been used here under the Creative Commons Licence.


Online tutorials

  • The University of Birmingham as part of a project called BRUM (Birmingham Re-Usable Materials) have developed 15 reusable learning objects (five types) for information literacy. They are downloadable from their website and available from Jorum. Although not traditional tutorials they are great resources that illustrate different ways of teaching information literacy. The project has a blog and their final report is available.
  • University of Bolton: BISSTO Learning Centres -Is part of a key skills web site and TLTP3 initiative. Comprehensive in terms of content. Utilises notepad so students can make notes during the tutorial. Has very good skills checklist. Links information skills to other key skills.
  • Bournemouth University: InfoSkills A Web Based Library Tutorial, University Library -Divided into four modules: Finding information, Referencing, Using the Intenet and Using the OPAC. Has nice floor plans and reviews of what the students have learnt.

  • De Montfort University, Know how - Internet tutorials, key skills guidance, and self-study booklets aimed to help students improve all aspects of their learning.

  • Edinburgh University: How to... Help in using the Library, University Library -They link to the University of Glasgow's package that was produced with TLTP TILT funding, "Library skills tutorial". It has five modules: Defining unfamiliar terms, Highlight keywords, Broad and narrower terms, Synonyms and relater terms and the complete search strategy, an overview. It utilises clipart and questions for students to answer.

  • University of Exeter: Information Skills Support, Library and Information Service -Four modules: Using the OPAC; Search skills for electronic sources; Internet tutorials; Citing & referencing and links to study and research skills books and other related resources.

  • GAELS: Glasgow Allied ELectronically with Strathclyde: Information Skills Training, University Libraries of Glasgow and Strathclyde - Subject based information skills packages: Biomedicine, Chemistry, English, Engineering, History, Physics and Politics. The Engineering package contains four modules: Managing your information for research, Tools for information seeking, Information types for engineers and Further information and resources. Allows a user to search a database while still in the package.

  • Glasgow Caledonian University: Information Skills Course, University Library -Divided into five modules: Information organisation, Keywords, the Internet, Using the catalogue and Evaluating information. Appears to have more formal assessment as uses Questionmark and students have to log-in to undertake the assessment.
  • University of Hertfordshire: i-Spy. The i-Spy information skills tutorials were developed by University of Hertfordshire Information Consultants within a coherent structured framework mapped to recognised information literacy standards. It is based on three main categories, all of which are underpinned by reflection: Connecting with information, Interacting with information, Making use of information. To see a demonstration click on login. Accept the terms and conditions, then follow the links to: Support > Learning and Information Services > Help & Support > i-Spy tutorials.
  • Intute: free online service providing you with access to the very best web resources for education and research, evaluated and selected by a network of subject specialists. Resources include:
    • the Internet Detective - a tutorial that helps students develop Internet research skills for their university and college work
    • over 60 subject based internet tutorials offering a guide to important web sites, tips on searching the Web, and advice on evaluating websites.

  • Judge:Web Sites for Health, Judge Project -Provides a set of guidelines for health consumers to enable them to make informed choices about the information they find on the Internet.

  • Leeds University: Online tutorials for staff and students, Library -These tutorials help to develop skills in finding and using information. They offer step by step instructions and interactive exercises to help staff and students practise their skills.

  • Leeds University: Library video for new students, Library - This video uses Boxmind software to bring film footage, transcript and illustrations online, helping first time users of Leeds University Library.

  • Leeds Metropolitan University: Pilot - Develop your skills, Learning Centre -Customised from a package being used by QUT in Australia. It has seven modules: Defining your topic, Determining your information needs, Locating & retrieving relevant information, Researching with electronic tools, Evaluating information, Organising your information and Using information appropriately. Exercises are at the end of the package.

  • University of Leicester: Information Retrieval Skills for Distance Learners, University Library -Comprehensive tutorial with six modules: Information sources, Databases overview, Search elements, Planning, Search results and Citing references. Has quizes at the end of five of the modules.

  • Netskills Tonic: the online netskills interactive course -A course of instruction on using the internet, constructed with the support of JISC. TONIC is free but users are asked to register.

  • University College of Northampton - Liberation, Learning Resources This is a tutorial that teaches students how to search the web in particular subject areas and how to evaluate the sites they find. Allows students to carry out "real" searches on the web, while in the tutorial.

  • Open University: Safari - Skills in Accessing, Finding and Reviewing Information, Learning Skills - Contains seven modules, Understanding information, Unpacking information, Planning a search, Searching for information, Evaluating information, Organising information and Where do I go from here? Includes activities and OU members can save and retrieve comments.

  • Open University: TU120 Beyond Google - The Internet has been a powerful force in de-compartmentalising our lives. Students no longer expect to keep a set of tools, techniques and skills exclusively for their academic work. As librarians we need to understand the tools students choose to use and recognise that we may no longer be the experts. The course is delivered online and is predominantly activity-based. We have also recognised that many of our students like to learn ‘on the move’ by including MP3 files and podcasts. Students will receive an MP3 player with their course materials. Beyond Google is a very pragmatic course, with search as its central theme. It acknowledges that, for most people, Google will be the first port of call, but encourages them both to think about what Google is doing, and also to venture further afield.
  • Information handling skills @ Slainte. The Information Handling Skills material is an interactive course containing 23 generic standalone learning bites which demonstrate how to plan an information task, use, retrieve and evaluate information from a variety of sources: books; newspapers; journals; CD-ROMs and the web to name just a few.
  • Engage in research: the interactive resource for bioscience students has been developed by the CETL_AURS, University of Reading.  It illustrates how to carry out research including how to structure the literature review.
  • South Bank University: Information Quest, Learning and Information Services Comprehensive tutorial with twelve modules ranging from Defining your topic to Using the Inter-Library Loan/Document Delivery Service.
  • Southampton Solent University : Ontrack - Research Skills Training Online, Library -Is a linear package that takes students through six modules: Analyse the topic, Identify keywords, Create search strategies, Identify information sources, Apply the strategy to the information sources and Retrieve the information, record and evaluate it. Has a quiz at the end that gives feedback. They also offer a tutorial on the Library catalogue, how to find information by topic, virtual tour and video called More than words.
  • Thames Valley University: InfoTrek -InfoTrek is made up of six units covering: Define your topic, Choose your keywords, Create your search, Identify and locate sources of information, Cite references and Analyse your results and includes a quiz.
  • University of Ulster: Links to the Glasgow University TLTP TILT package "Library skills tutorial" from the Library Training Page.


Data on this page was originally hosted on the HEA-ICS website. They have kindly given us permission to replicate the data here. Links on this page were collated by Ruth Stubbings, Loughborough University Library, and have been updated to include resources identified by Mariam Garibyan and the Information Literacy project at the University of Sussex.

Last updated by the CSG IL group: 28 July 2008