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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
