The shift to online courses this fall semester will likely shape the way faculty approach their classes as they look ahead to 2021 and beyond. Because of that, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library is adapting to provide more resources and support to match.
Hamilton Library’s University Librarian Clem Guthro said, “We know that teaching online and keeping students engaged can be a challenge. During COVID-19, the library has continued to support students and faculty, including purchasing more resources to help faculty with online teaching and creating meaningful online experiences for students.”
To ensure success in the virtual classroom, the UH Mānoa Library serves as a valuable resource offering a comprehensive collection of material and workshops relating to online instruction and course design which people may not know are available.
“Many faculty had to quickly transition their courses online for the fall and focused on workshops for immediate help and may not have had the time to engage with the literature,” said UH Librarian Brian Richardson. “As the spring semester approaches, we want to remind faculty that our online resources are available, and our library staff can readily assist as teachers think about curriculum and lesson planning.”
Available material for online teaching include e-books, videos and articles that provide tutorials and tips. There are resources faculty can utilize as recommended readings for their classes. Library staff are also able to set up streaming videos and provide class presentations via Zoom.
Richardson noted that the library hopes to provide more resources in the spring, such as e-books for teachers to use as textbooks in their classes. “We probably have over a hundred titles in our collection that are being used, which has allowed students to access textbooks at zero-cost,” he said.
While the book stacks remain closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, the library’s “Request, Sign, Grab and Go” service allows UH Mānoa patrons to check out physical library items from Hamilton Library’s collection that are eligible to be borrowed. Library staff can also assist through the “Ask a Librarian” online live chat service.
Online instruction resources
- Online Education (course design, online assessment, online presence)
- Learning and Research Skills (includes videos that faculty can share with their students)
- Teaching Resources (classroom instruction, course development, institutional references)
- October 23 and November 17: Streaming video resources at Hamilton Library
- November 19 and December 19: Integrating e-books into Laulima courses
