Library Instruction Sessions
We seek to provide customizable instruction sessions to help learners achieve their research goals. Library instructors are available to teach sessions on a variety of research-related topics tailored to specific courses and disciplines.
Library instructors are available to teach sessions on topic mapping and keyword selection, developing research questions, finding sources, evaluating sources, incorporating sources into their own research, creating citations, and using a variety of research tools and methodologies. To partner with a library instructor to design an instruction session tailored to your course goals either reach out to your subject librarian or fill out our instruction request form. If you would like to give students a holistic experience with conducting research, course-integrated library instruction is an effective way to do so. Library instructors are available to deliver multiple instruction sessions throughout the course of a semester to guide students through all components of research assignments. Contact your subject librarian to discuss the possibility of having library instruction embedded in your course.
Learning Goals & Instruction Examples
Library instructors strive to craft learning objectives aligned with course research goals and incorporate active learning strategies throughout instruction sessions. Below are some examples of commonly targeted learning objectives and samples of learning activities.
Sample Learning Objectives
- Learners will evaluate information sources for credibility and relevance to their research needs.
- Learners will identify strategies for efficiently reading academic materials.
- Learners will demonstrate how to perform advanced searches in library databases to find peer-reviewed material relevant to their research needs.
Instruction Examples
Session Expectations
In order for library instruction to be successful and for learners to fully benefit from the sessions, course instructors must:
- Submit instruction requests at least two weeks in advance. This ensures the availability of a library instructor and provides us with adequate time to design an effective lesson.
- Submit a copy of the course syllabus or the relevant assignment description. This guarantees library instructors can better design content and activities aligned with course goals.
- Be present during the library instruction session. This helps create an environment where students are actively participating in the learning process.
Assignment Design & Consultation
Library staff are excited to partner with course instructors and lend their instructional design expertise in order to create and meet research-related learning outcomes that support the curriculum. Library instructors can assist in the development of student-centered active learning content and alternative assessment measures to ensure that learners are gaining critical thinking and research skills aligned with course objectives. Email our instruction librarian Liz Dunne (edunne@fsu.edu) to begin the assignment design process.
Asynchronous Resources
FSU Libraries have expanded the traditional content of library literacy sessions by incorporating critical thinking, evaluating resources, and research skills support through asynchronous learning resources.
Libraries in Canvas
We've gone beyond the physical library to seamlessly integrate our services and resources right into the Canvas dashboard and your course site. Use the Library Tools link in your course site and the FSU Libraries course to search for materials, find research support, and access our library services. Integrate our library modules, videos, and tutorials into your Canvas course from the Canvas Commons. Find out more about our Libraries’ integrations in Canvas.
Research Guides
The Libraries boasts a large number of research guides on all manner of research-related topics. Research guides typically provide overviews of topics, collect and organize pertinent resources, and provide procedural information for how to conduct research in certain disciplines. Library staff are also available to create research guides tailored to the content and assignments of specific courses. If you’d like to explore the possibility of building a custom research guide for your course, please reach out to your subject librarian.
Other Learning Objects
We’ve created a comprehensive suite of videos & tutorials that course instructors are welcome to incorporate in their classes. We are also available to create custom video tutorials, eLearning modules, and other digital learning objects. To pursue creating course-customized digital learning objects, please reach out to your subject librarian so they can collaborate with the Instruction and Distance Learning teams to explore design options.
Asynchronous Learning Tools & Support
FSU Libraries provides support and guidance for asynchronous instruction tools. Find out more about tools that can be used to conduct class activities online on this Tools for Asynchronous Learning Guide.
Course Materials
Our Libraries' offers services and tools that help instructors deliver course materials to their students. Find out more on our Library Support for Course Materials page.
Tours, Orientations, and Visits
What can your library do for you? FSU Libraries welcomes students, instructors, campus classes, and public groups to visit and explore our expansive collection and free resources. Tours are curated to fit your needs. To request a tour with us, please reach out to Student Engagement Librarian, Crystal Mathews. During your tour, we will highlight key library services identified by you.
To schedule a tour for a class, FSU course instructors can reach out to their subject librarian. We also provide tours for the public such as high school students and local researchers. We offer tours of all our main campus libraries
Workshops
FSU Libraries seeks to provide learners with a variety of workshops on topics such as best practices for data management and avoiding plagiarism as well as sessions geared towards teaching specific research tools including (but not limited to) SQL, SPSS, coding languages, citation managers, and more. For information on what workshops, please see our workshop listings.