Start Date
4-1-2016 2:40 PM
End Date
4-1-2016 3:30 PM
Description of Proposal
George Washington University Libraries were tasked with transforming support for graduate students while taking into account increasing numbers of online students, off-campus programs, and students working full-time. In addition, due to librarian turnover and other factors, we needed to accomplish our goal with a reduced workforce and without reducing services and instruction to our undergraduate population. Our solution focuses our graduate instruction on in-person workshops and digital objects (research guides and “How-Do-I?” videos), along with a “toolkit” with scripts, handouts, presentations, and outlines so that, while one librarian may be the expert (e.g. citation management), any librarian can have the tools to teach that workshop, in the event that expert is on leave, changes roles, or simply too busy.
To better accommodate our graduate student population, we advertised heavily our “What Grad Students Need to Know” research guide, we assigned a librarian to specifically handle our distance education programs, providing both in-person and online support and instruction. Since many students work full-time, and many also are in government positions, we also geared our in-person graduate workshops to line up as much as possible with Federal holidays (Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, MLK Jr. Day, and Presidents’ Day). This presentation will discuss the progress, challenges, and positive outcomes of this initiative.
Workshops Toolkit: tailoring learning to schedules and needs
Room 460
George Washington University Libraries were tasked with transforming support for graduate students while taking into account increasing numbers of online students, off-campus programs, and students working full-time. In addition, due to librarian turnover and other factors, we needed to accomplish our goal with a reduced workforce and without reducing services and instruction to our undergraduate population. Our solution focuses our graduate instruction on in-person workshops and digital objects (research guides and “How-Do-I?” videos), along with a “toolkit” with scripts, handouts, presentations, and outlines so that, while one librarian may be the expert (e.g. citation management), any librarian can have the tools to teach that workshop, in the event that expert is on leave, changes roles, or simply too busy.
To better accommodate our graduate student population, we advertised heavily our “What Grad Students Need to Know” research guide, we assigned a librarian to specifically handle our distance education programs, providing both in-person and online support and instruction. Since many students work full-time, and many also are in government positions, we also geared our in-person graduate workshops to line up as much as possible with Federal holidays (Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, MLK Jr. Day, and Presidents’ Day). This presentation will discuss the progress, challenges, and positive outcomes of this initiative.
What takeaways will attendees learn from your session?
http://libguides.gwu.edu/gradstudents