Online Library Instruction in a Time of Remote Teaching and Learning

This past summer an Online Instruction Task Force was formed by the Research Services and Scholarly Engagement Department of Falvey Memorial Library at Villanova University. Recently its members offered a professional development workshop entitled “Zoom for Instruction.” Topics covered included Zoom Breakout Rooms, Polling & Surveys, and the Webinar Interface.

Here are just some of the resources the Online Instruction Task Force recommended:

ZOOM
• 8 Ways to Be More Inclusive in Your Zoom Teaching:
https://www.chronicle.com/article/8-Ways-to-Be-More-Inclusive-in/248460
Primarily geared towards course-scale instruction, but includes some tips that could apply to our teaching, too.
• Harden Your Zoom Settings to Protect Your Privacy and Avoid Trolls (EFF):
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/04/harden-your-zoom-settings-protect-your-privacy-and-avoid-trolls
A lot of these are settings that Villanova auto-enables and that have become common sense, but this is a nice summary.
• Video Conferencing with Zoom: Online Course Tips & Ideas (Learning Solutions):
https://learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/video-conferencing-with-zoom-online-course-tips-ideas
Includes ideas for activities and assessments, as well as Zoom pointers.
• Teaching Remotely With Zoom: FAQ and Instructions (Harvard):
https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/communications/teaching-remotely-with-zoom-faq-and-instructions/
A nice FAQ with some specific scenarios.
• Tips and Tricks for Teachers Educating on Zoom (Zoom):
https://zoom.us/docs/doc/Tips%20and%20Tricks%20for%20Teachers%20Educating%20on%20Zoom.pdf
Mostly basic stuff that a lot of us know at this point, but links to documentation on various useful features.

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND BEST PRACTICES
• Best Practices: Online Pedagogy (Harvard): https://teachremotely.harvard.edu/best-practices
• Effective Teaching Online (Inside Higher Ed):
https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2017/07/12/7-guidelines-effective-teaching-online
• Virtual Information Literacy (Ashley Lierman, Rowan University, TCLC presentation): https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1wq69tjVYunTKHS6KA4iwEqYlPZi77FWF/

ACCESSIBILITY
• Accessible Teaching in the Time of Covid-19:
https://www.mapping-access.com/blog-1/2020/3/10/accessible-teaching-in-the-time-of-covid-19
• Disabled People Use the Internet!: Building and Maintaining Inclusive Library Spaces Online (presentation from The Exchange 2020 Virtual Conference): https://cedi.unc.edu/the-exchange-2020-virtual-conference/

TRAUMA-INFORMED TEACHING
• The Single Most Essential Requirement for Designing a Fall Online Course:
https://www.hastac.org/blogs/cathy-davidson/2020/05/11/single-most-essential-requirement-designing-fall-online-course
• Trauma-Informed Teaching & Learning Online: Principles and Practices During a Global Health Crisis (Columbia School of Social Work):
https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/d8-gc9d-na95

For more information contact Deborah Bishov, Social Sciences & Instructional Design Librarian, deborah.bishov@villanova.edu.