YOURPACEAI WORKSHOP · Beginner
AI research & information literacy
Use AI to explore questions, compare sources and build a research brief you can verify.
60–90 minutes · Five modules, a portfolio workbook and automatic assessment.
No coding required. Start with the fictional source pack; optional independent research needs access to original sources.
Open interactive workshopRead all lessons freely here. The interactive workshop lets you save your workbook, take the automatic assessment and earn a non-accredited certificate.
By the end, you can
- Frame a focused research question.
- Trace claims to source passages and dates.
- Write a brief separating facts, inference and uncertainty.
Practice materials
Download practice packRead the fictional source material
FICTIONAL SOURCE PACK
D1: Library guide. The library opens Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:00. Community room hire costs £20 per hour. Last reviewed: September 2026.
D2: Booking policy. Room requests require staff confirmation. A submitted request is not a confirmed booking.
D3: Accessibility note. Step-free entry is available. Hearing-loop availability must be checked with staff.
No source describes weekend opening or refunds. These are invented documents for practice, not real library information.
CLAIMS TO REVIEW
C1: The room costs £40 for two hours.
C2: A request guarantees a booking.
C3: A hearing loop is definitely available.
C4: The library opens on Sunday.
From a question to a verified brief
MODULE 1 OF 5
Frame your question
Decide exactly what you want to find out and what would count as convincing evidence. AI can suggest search terms and subquestions, but its suggestions are a starting point. Keep sensitive or unpublished information out of tools unless you have permission.
Worked exampleInput
Broad question: “Tell me everything about community spaces.”
Reviewed result
Focused question: “What can these three documents establish about booking the fictional library room?”
Scope tells you which evidence is relevant and stops the brief from expanding into unsupported topics.
Quick check: Are invented practice documents real-world research evidence?
No. They are training material; use real original sources for an actual decision.
Your activityChoose a non-sensitive topic. Write one research question, two subquestions and a limit on scope.
MODULE 2 OF 5
Trace claims to sources
An AI summary can sound certain while being wrong. Open each cited source and check that it exists, is relevant and actually supports the claim. Prefer original research or official documentation where appropriate; compare publication dates and context.
Worked exampleInput
C1 says two hours cost £40; D1 says £20 per hour.
Reviewed result
Mark C1 as a calculation supported by D1: 2 × £20. Mark C2 contradicted by D2.
A claim log separates a quoted fact, a calculation and an interpretation. Record the passage and source date.
Quick check: Does D3 support “a hearing loop is definitely available”?
No. D3 says availability must be checked.
Your activityAsk an assistant for a short explanation. Find and open original sources for three claims; mark unsupported claims.
MODULE 3 OF 5
Write with uncertainty
Separate facts, interpretations and unanswered questions. Keep a small source log with the claim, URL, date and what the source supports. Summarise in your own words and disclose AI assistance when the context calls for it.
Worked exampleInput
No document gives Sunday opening.
Reviewed result
“Weekend opening is not stated in the supplied source pack; ask staff before planning.”
Unknown is different from false. Keep the brief useful by explaining the next evidence needed.
Quick check: Can a confident AI citation replace opening the source?
No. Verify the source exists and supports the precise claim.
Your activityWrite a short brief with three checked claims and one limitation. Include links to the sources you read.
MODULE 4 OF 5
Build a claim-to-source log
Use columns Claim, Source, Passage, Date, Evidence type and Verdict. Review all four supplied claims. Mark supported, contradicted or not established.
Worked exampleC1 supported calculation; C2 contradicted; C3 not established; C4 not established. Do not count three unsupported claims as three verified facts.
Your activityComplete the log and rewrite unsupported claims as questions or caveats.
MODULE 5 OF 5
Write a verified one-page brief
Lead with what the documents establish, then show limitations and next questions. If you extend the research, open the original sources and record access dates.
Worked exampleSupported facts: weekday hours, £20/hour room fee and staff confirmation required. Avoid stating that a room is available on a particular date.
Your activityWrite a short brief using three supported facts from D1–D3 and one unresolved question.
A brief with a traceable source log
Review C1–C4, then write a short source-grounded booking brief with limitations.
Workbook sections
- Research question and scope
- Four-claim source log with passages and verdicts
- Rewritten brief with three supported facts
- Unanswered questions, dates and next verification steps
Review rubric
- The question is narrow enough for the source pack.
- Each verdict traces to an actual passage or documented absence.
- Fact, calculation and inference are distinguished.
- Unknowns and the evidence still needed are visible.
Automatic assessment and certificate
Five knowledge questions and three applied scenario checks are marked immediately. Pass with at least 4/5 knowledge answers and all 3/3 applied checks correct. Feedback and retries are available. Certificates also require five completed activities and a four-section workbook. The portfolio is recorded, not independently graded; the assessment is open-book, unproctored and non-accredited.
Take the workshop assessmentContinue with external study
Go further with a portfolio project
Create a one-page brief on a non-sensitive topic. Verify three claims against original sources and record what remains uncertain.
External course access and fees are set by their providers.
