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Teaching Support

Librarians work with faculty to support students' development of research and information literacy skills. Instruction is often connected to specific assignments and is aligned with course learning outcomes. Instruction may take the form of an in-class session, a customized online resource (i.e. a module in Canvas or a course tab in a research guide), or a virtual session through Adobe Connect, Zoom, Google Meet or another platform if the class is online.

Best practices:
  • To ensure librarian availability and adequate preparation time, we require at least 2 weeks advance notice before your first choice session. Additional notice is preferred for classes that take place on evenings or weekends or in the spring/summer semester
  • Consider scheduling your class within 2-3 weeks of your students’ assignment deadline; this makes it easier for your students to apply the skills learned in class to their assignment(s)
  • We recommend that instructors attend the scheduled Library class, as students are more engaged when their instructor is present
  • Please provide a copy of the assignment, evaluation criteria, course outline and any other relevant curriculum information to help your Librarian customize the session to meet the needs of your students
Common areas of instruction include:
Introductory
  • Introduction to the Library’s services and resources
  • Searching for books, articles, and media using the Library website (Omni)
  • Identifying types of information sources used in a discipline or subject area
  • Introduction to article database searching
  • Evaluating information sources/critical thinking
  • Distinguishing between scholarly and popular sources
  • Using citation guides and tools
Advanced 
  • Advanced use of discipline-specific specialized information sources (e.g. market research, data, patents, grey literature)
  • Advanced literature searching, including systematic reviews
  • Research metrics, scholarly impact and researcher profiles
  • Evaluating journals for article submission
  • Open access and open data requirements and best practices
  • Finding, evaluating, using and creating Open Educational Resources (OERs)
Specialized 

We are also able to offer more specialized topics, including workshops on citation management tools like EndNote and Zotero, copyright, and 3D printing.

The North Oshawa Library's Instructional Lab is available for Library instruction sessions and workshops. With a total of 58 computer workstations, the Lab can be used as a single space or divided in two.


Import Library Instructional Modules from Canvas Commons

The Library’s Canvas modules teach students how to find, evaluate and ethically use Library resources and other credible information sources for research and assignments. They are self-paced and include text, video, activities and quizzes.  

How to integrate modules into your course:

  • These modules can be used in combination or as individual, standalone units
  • Modules can be previewed in Canvas Commons
  • Faculty can add modules to their Canvas course shells

Use Persistent Links

For copyright compliance, using persistent links is the preferred method for sharing Library resources in Canvas. Posting PDF or scanned copies of resources may be prohibited by the license terms for Library resources, and there are restrictions on how much content can be shared under the Fair Dealing provisions of the Copyright Act. Contact copyright@ontariotechu.ca if you have questions.

Persistent links remain constant and can be used in reading lists and course outlines. They are different from the link in your browser's address bar, which is temporary and unique to that browsing session.

Instructions for creating persistent links to library resources are available on our website under Library Resources for Remote Users.

In Omni, you can find the permalink option when you select an item and view the record. In databases, the link can be found in various places, including below the abstract or in the Share menu. If you cannot find the persistent link for the item you wish to use, please contact your Subject Librarian for assistance.

Embed a Library Research Guide in your Course

Click on the "+" button at the top right of the module where you want to add a Library Research Guide. In the pop-up window:

  1. Select "External URL" in the dropdown list.
  2. Type in the URL in the URL section, or paste it from the list of Research Guides
  3. Give your Research Guide page a name.
  4. Click "Add Item"

The Learning Portal is an open learning resource with modules on study skills, research, writing, digital literacies, digital citizenship and careers. Created by College Libraries Ontario (CLO), the portal’s content is free to be used, copied and adapted.

For an overview of the Library's accessible facilities, related services, adaptive equipment and assistive use carrels, see the Accessibility page.

The Library provides a variety of resources in accessible formats.

Streamed Video Collections

The Library’s streamed video collections provide closed captions and in some cases, additional accessible features (e.g. transcripts).

DVDs

The Library will provide, on request, a transcript or closed captioned version of any DVD in our collection for students with perceptual disabilities. If you require a transcript or captioned version, please contact library@ontariotechu.ca. Learn how to find closed captioned videos in the Library catalogue.

ACE (Accessible Content E-Portal)

The Accessible Content E-Portal (ACE), a service of Scholars Portal, provides alternative formats for Library print materials. Formats include PDF, DAISY, ePub and plain text. Students must be registered with Student Accessibility Services to access ACE.

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