library tools for teaching kate peterson, university libraries shannon klug, writing studies august...

Library Tools for Teaching

Kate Peterson, University LibrariesShannon Klug, Writing Studies

August 30, 2010

Agenda

• Research skills of Undergraduates• Tools for Teaching– New website– Library Course Page (Course reserves)– Peer Research Consultants – Assignment Calculator– UThink

Is research today…Harder?Easier?

Undergraduate Students

• Start with Google and Wikipedia• Little discipline knowledge• Never used an academic library

(may not have had librarian or library training in high school)

• No knowledge of how scholarly communication works

New Libraries website

• Tabbed structure-easier for undergrads to search

• More safety nets• Great in usability testing

• Available for all courses• Easy URL:

https://www.lib.umn.edu/course/WRIT/1301

• Course specific library databases and support, links to course reserves, chat with a librarian

• “Block” in Moodle and on MyCourses tab

Course and E-reserves• Can be used for a variety of materials• When licensed resources are linked inside e-

reserve course pages, instructors no longer need to include them in traditional course packs– Not paying royalties on licensed articles saves

students money!

• Statistics show that students use e-reserves heavily

• Library will evaluate non-licensed documents for fair use

Peer Research Consultants

• Support undergraduate library research

• PRCs have completed WRIT 1301

• Extensive training in library research, tutoring and cultural competencies

• https://www.lib.umn.edu/services/prc

Peer Research Consultants• Available for one-on-one

drop-ins in early October• PRCs can help with

students with… (average of 30 mins per student)

– Selecting and narrowing a topic

– Finding books– Finding articles and

scholarly articles– Evaluating sources – Basic citation creation

• Debuted in 2002• Created in partnership with Center for

Writing and Center for Teaching and Learning

• Goal: Break down research and writing process for students into deadlines (get email reminders)

• New beta version in 2009: https://tools.lib.umn.edu/ac/

• Customize assignments for your class– Research Paper– Poster – Media/Video

• Add, delete, edit steps• Add course specific readings, etc. to a step• Move assignment online (where students

live)– Students can sign up to get email reminders

UThink Upgrade

• UThink blogs are hosted by University Libraries– http://blog.lib.umn.edu/

• Upgraded to MT 4.25 in 2009 • UThink now has a whole bunch of new

features (including tagging, page creation, custom fields, etc.)

Reasons to use a blog in your class

• Takes learning and engagement with classmates outside of the classroom

• Asynchronous• Participatory / student centric• Encourages collaboration• Easy to share multi-media (links, images,

video, etc.)• Learn how to write for a public forum

Ask a Librarian

• It’s a tab!• Subject librarian• Chat 24/7• In-person• Phone-612-626-2227• Email

Contact Us

• Kate Peterson– katep@umn.edu, 626-3746

• Shannon Klug– klugx004@umn.edu, 625-9236