04-24-2020, 02:05 PM
Dale:
Some of what I've posted below are comments on suggestions already made; some of it is just stream-of-consciousness as things popped into my head.
How should colleges plan to deliver robust, integrated student support… through distance modalities in the fall semester? What can VCCS libraries do to pivot towards this new reality?
I don’t think there is a one-size fits all answer to your first question about providing support. We need a toolkit with a variety of options we can deploy, including many things already mentioned:
1. Libguide auto-integration into all Canvas classes, which requires all institutions have SpringShare CMS
2. LibAnswers/LibChat:
--Coverage by all institutions, at least during hours they would normally be open
--Expand placement of the widgets and use different types of widgets where most appropriate.
--Timely follow-up by all institutions on their college’s LibAnswers tickets
--I strongly agree with Mary Hanlin that we have to have a way to access the individually licensed databases at each college. This is a best practice for virtual reference that we are no longer able to provide and for which we are often criticized in QP librarian comments.
--Screen sharing integration for LibChat, which not only would allow us to show students the steps from our own workstations, but also let us see what they are doing and assist them on their workstation
--I also agree with Mary that we need to have the people available to answer the non-library questions we get, but I think that is a bigger issue than what we can do for fall. At a minimum, we need to be in the loop to know what else is being offered (online tutoring?, online writing lab?, online tech support?) and for them to know what we offer (marketing and communication)
3. Online Appointments: An easy way for a student or faculty to make an appointment with someone at their library in order to get 1:1 reference assistance, assignment help, or faculty collaborating on assignment creation or instruction. There are ways we could do this with LibChat, but there are other possible solutions as well.
4. I agree with Heather that we need both synchronous and asynchronous instruction activities, we need feedback for improvement, and ways to assess what we are doing
-- Tutorials could be used asynchronously by students for instruction.
--They need to have identifiable and accessible learning outcomes, and follow best practices for use, engagement, etc. For example, giving staffing constraints, TCC has created tutorials that are the default instruction for SDV, freeing up limited librarian time to work with faculty on subject/topic specific instruction.
--This is, perhaps, one way we can leverage our resources system-wide so that we are all not developing the same content at each school
5. Marketing: Continuous and coordinated marketing of library services through every available channel. Coordinate with other college departments, both academic and non-instructional. Also, is there something we can do at the VCCS level?
6. VCCS and College Administrative support: Top-down support for online library services, whether that means providing funding, staffing, or, perhaps, some mandatory way to ensure that faculty/librarian collaboration and cooperation will occur. As Mary mentioned, not all faculty will be receptive
7. Continual training opportunities for all VCCS library staff to be able to learn and maintain the best practices for our new modes of service provision.
8. Leverage the knowledge and expertise we already have in the system. As both Mary and Cirrus mentioned, we have people in the system who have more KSAs for best practices for distance library services. We need to collaborate across the system as much as possible.
9. Primo options:
--Make sure all appropriate e-resources are available through Primo so students have a better chance of finding them. (Since we can't force students to come to us for help, we should make it easier for them to find things on their own)
--If the libraries are not open, perhaps creating a pre-filtered search box that only returns online items?
10. Incorporating librarians into Canvas classes in a way that works best for each institution. While the rest of the bullets were written as they popped into my head, I put this item last deliberately. I do believe we need more library presence in Canvas, but having a librarian assigned to every class may not work at every institution. Or, if it were to happen VCCS-wide, the expectations and responsibilities for their role may need to be different at each college. We need to consider staffing constraints and the number of courses delivered, which are measures that vary widely.
Some of what I've posted below are comments on suggestions already made; some of it is just stream-of-consciousness as things popped into my head.
How should colleges plan to deliver robust, integrated student support… through distance modalities in the fall semester? What can VCCS libraries do to pivot towards this new reality?
I don’t think there is a one-size fits all answer to your first question about providing support. We need a toolkit with a variety of options we can deploy, including many things already mentioned:
1. Libguide auto-integration into all Canvas classes, which requires all institutions have SpringShare CMS
2. LibAnswers/LibChat:
--Coverage by all institutions, at least during hours they would normally be open
--Expand placement of the widgets and use different types of widgets where most appropriate.
--Timely follow-up by all institutions on their college’s LibAnswers tickets
--I strongly agree with Mary Hanlin that we have to have a way to access the individually licensed databases at each college. This is a best practice for virtual reference that we are no longer able to provide and for which we are often criticized in QP librarian comments.
--Screen sharing integration for LibChat, which not only would allow us to show students the steps from our own workstations, but also let us see what they are doing and assist them on their workstation
--I also agree with Mary that we need to have the people available to answer the non-library questions we get, but I think that is a bigger issue than what we can do for fall. At a minimum, we need to be in the loop to know what else is being offered (online tutoring?, online writing lab?, online tech support?) and for them to know what we offer (marketing and communication)
3. Online Appointments: An easy way for a student or faculty to make an appointment with someone at their library in order to get 1:1 reference assistance, assignment help, or faculty collaborating on assignment creation or instruction. There are ways we could do this with LibChat, but there are other possible solutions as well.
4. I agree with Heather that we need both synchronous and asynchronous instruction activities, we need feedback for improvement, and ways to assess what we are doing
-- Tutorials could be used asynchronously by students for instruction.
--They need to have identifiable and accessible learning outcomes, and follow best practices for use, engagement, etc. For example, giving staffing constraints, TCC has created tutorials that are the default instruction for SDV, freeing up limited librarian time to work with faculty on subject/topic specific instruction.
--This is, perhaps, one way we can leverage our resources system-wide so that we are all not developing the same content at each school
5. Marketing: Continuous and coordinated marketing of library services through every available channel. Coordinate with other college departments, both academic and non-instructional. Also, is there something we can do at the VCCS level?
6. VCCS and College Administrative support: Top-down support for online library services, whether that means providing funding, staffing, or, perhaps, some mandatory way to ensure that faculty/librarian collaboration and cooperation will occur. As Mary mentioned, not all faculty will be receptive
7. Continual training opportunities for all VCCS library staff to be able to learn and maintain the best practices for our new modes of service provision.
8. Leverage the knowledge and expertise we already have in the system. As both Mary and Cirrus mentioned, we have people in the system who have more KSAs for best practices for distance library services. We need to collaborate across the system as much as possible.
9. Primo options:
--Make sure all appropriate e-resources are available through Primo so students have a better chance of finding them. (Since we can't force students to come to us for help, we should make it easier for them to find things on their own)
--If the libraries are not open, perhaps creating a pre-filtered search box that only returns online items?
10. Incorporating librarians into Canvas classes in a way that works best for each institution. While the rest of the bullets were written as they popped into my head, I put this item last deliberately. I do believe we need more library presence in Canvas, but having a librarian assigned to every class may not work at every institution. Or, if it were to happen VCCS-wide, the expectations and responsibilities for their role may need to be different at each college. We need to consider staffing constraints and the number of courses delivered, which are measures that vary widely.
Jacque Dessino
Electronic Services Librarian
Tidewater Community College
757-822-2646
jdessino@tcc.edu
Electronic Services Librarian
Tidewater Community College
757-822-2646
jdessino@tcc.edu