Librarians can work with faculty to help create library related assignments which can support the KCTCS General Education Student Learning Outcomes, especially for Written and Oral Communications.
For examples of assignments, see Alternatives to the Traditional Research Assignment below.
Do:
1. Consult with a Librarian in developing library research assignments. A librarian may see practical problems which you may have overlooked.
2. Request individualized orientation to the library’s online collections. Librarians can assist in selecting appropriate resources for specific courses. Library sessions can be tailored to meet the research needs of a particular class and focus on discipline-specific resources.
3. Have students check with the library to schedule the study room (Maysville and Rowan campuses) for small group collaboration.
4. Check with the library to ensure you are asking your students to use current methods and resources.
5. Use Library Reserves. If you want students to use the same sources, place a print copy on reserve, or link to an article from a library database. Ask a librarian for assistance so that you use the Persistent Link.
6. Allow the librarians to be embedded in Blackboard for more library help in an individual class.
1. DON'T Assign the same topic to all students. This creates a Mob Scene in the library! Resources may be limited on that particular topic.
2. DON'T Assign Scavenger Hunts. Students often do not use critical thinking skills for this kind of assignment.
3. DON'T Tell the students that they cannot use “Web” articles. The library's databases are all accessed through the Web. When instructors tell students not to use the "Web", students think that also excludes library databases. Instead, stress the importance of the quality of the information located, not "where" it is found. Explain why some Web sources (i.e. Wikipedia) may not be used.