Are you including research assignments in your courses this semester? If the answer is yes (or maybe), we encourage you to work with a librarian to make sure your students get the information they need to successfully complete the research assignments in your courses.

The library staff understands that faculty instruction time is very important. With this in mind, we offer many different options for providing students the research skills and relevant library resources they need to be successful in your course. If you have questions or would like to talk to a librarian about instruction options, please use the Ask a Librarian form at the top of the library’s website: library.wilson.edu.

In-person classes:

Traditional library instruction – this instruction takes place during class time and can be tailored to the amount of time that works best with your course schedule (15 min., 30 min., 50 min., etc.).

Guided instruction – these instruction sessions do not have to include formal instruction. Instead, the students in the class can bring their own laptops (or book a computer lab on campus) and get started on their research with a librarian in the room to provide help and guidance as needed.

If your course schedule does not give you a lot of flexibility or you are reluctant to use class time for a visit from the library, there are other options available for you:

5 minute “meet and greet” – a librarian can visit your class (at the start or end of a class session) for a couple of minutes to introduce themselves and provide a very brief overview of the library’s website and relevant library resources.

Research paper consultations – students can make individual appointments with a librarian outside of class time or the librarian can set up “office hours” for students.

Hybrid and online classes:

“Real time” library instruction via Zoom – this type of instruction is great for synchronous online courses as well as asynchronous courses that have optional “in person” Zoom meetings. The “real time” library instruction can be recorded for students who cannot join the Zoom meeting.

Research paper consultations – students can make an appointment to Zoom with a librarian or the librarian can set up “office hours” for students using the personal meeting room option in Zoom.

Embedded library instruction provided through Canvas – this type of instruction is very customizable. Faculty can choose what kind of library presence they would like to include in their Canvas courses. The options are:

Link to the library’s website and contact information
Research assignment discussion board moderated by the library
Link to library video tutorials – these can be tutorials that have already been created or ones that can be created to directly address your assignment goals
Customized Canvas library module or link to a research guide for your courses
Librarian can attend optional Zoom office hours (can be recorded)
Faculty-librarian collaboration on assignments with feedback provided to students by a librarian (such as an annotated bibliography assignment or an evaluation of a preliminary works cited list for an assignment)