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Online Library Instruction in a Crisis

Supporting online information literacy instruction in times of duress

Key Points

Less is more.

Online teaching takes more time for students and instructors! Focus on how we can support students through the research process without creating too much additional work or strain on already crunched schedules. This might mean cancelling previously-scheduled instruction and offering resources via email.

Start with what you have.

Take stock of instructional resources you already have available: lesson plans, LibGuides, tutorials, worksheets, etc. What can be adapted or shared online? You don’t need to start from scratch!

Practice with the tools.

Take some time to practice using Zoom, Sakai, and other tools that might be new to you. Use the Remote Teaching Checklist to make sure you have what you need.

Bandwidth and Immediacy

Students may not have access to reliable, high-speed internet (or any internet at all) and might be accessing content from time zones all around the world. Aim to provide learning experiences that support students in low-bandwidth and low-immediacy ways first, before spending more resources on high-bandwidth and high-immediacy teaching.

Bandwidth / Immediacy Matrix