Partnering with the UIC Library to support student learning
Although the majority of today’s students are “born digital,” the information landscape has become increasingly complex and politically polarized. While it’s certainly easy to quickly land on a source online, the sheer volume and diversity of results produced by a simple Google search means that building guided exploration and critical evaluation of information into the learning experience is arguably more crucial than ever before.
As you develop and finalize your courses, consider the UIC Library your partner in integrating research support and providing access to key resources to meet students’ research and learning needs. You can expect UIC students to develop foundational research skills such as searching for and evaluating sources and thinking critically about information through library instruction offered to all students in English 161, the required first-year composition course. Beyond that, library liaisons seek to have conversations with course instructors about the information literacy skills that are key to their disciplines and course learning outcomes.
UIC librarians aim to support student research skills across the disciplines and at all levels by collaborating with faculty to:
- Integrate targeted library instruction in a range of modalities (e.g. face-to-face, or online synchronous or asynchronous)
- Develop assignments, activities, and online learning materials that scaffold information literacy skills into courses, from introductory to advanced or specialized competencies such as citation management, data management, and data literacy, or integration of primary source materials and the library’s special collections
- Create research guides that provide online access to course-related content and library collections
Requesting library materials for courses:
The library can identify and acquire materials such as e-books and streaming videos to supplement course content. Traditional textbooks, however, are often not available through the library due to publisher restrictions. The library can purchase films through streaming video platforms such as Kanopy and Academic Video Online, although we cannot purchase course access to many commercially available films, such as those that are only available through Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu.
Contact the library to collaborate or request resources:
We look forward to working together to develop instructional approaches that help students navigate the complexities of the information landscape and become more proficient consumers and producers of information in a variety of formats and contexts.
- Find a subject librarian or specialist for your discipline or department to discuss instruction or collections
- Send general inquiries through Chat with A Librarian or email
- Request course instruction
- Recommend an item for the library to purchase
- Request course reserves