Library Instruction for the
Professional Writing Program
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Friday, September 12, 2008 |
The Scheduling Process
Request Form
PROGRAM GOALS:
The University of Maryland Libraries has a long tradition of partnering with the Professional Writing Program in delivering effective research sessions for students.
This program aims at:
- partnering librarians with PWP faculty to customize targeted research session(s) for students. General overviews are often boring and ineffectual;
- focusing on student-centered learning. The librarian will need to learn in advance the purpose & parameters of assignment(s), AND obtain a list of topics students have selected, in order to demonstrate relevant research strategies and suggest appropriate resources;
- keeping formal lecture & demonstration to a minimum by offering opportunities for active learning or 'hands-on.' Students will be encouraged to use the majority of class time to research their topics & collaborate with their teammates. One-on-one expert research guidance will be provided.
return to top THE SCHEDULING PROCESS:
- Submit your request:
As soon as you are prompted by User Education Services' series of pre-semester e-mail announcements, submit your request for instruction using the Request Form (below). We will not be able to accommodate requests submitted after the deadline because we cannot guarantee that librarians will be available to teach a session. - Make your best prediction:
Every group of students you teach can be unique, which in turn may dictate the pace of the course. We can appreciate your difficulty in predicting when might be the best time to schedule a research session. Our advice is to give it your best guess. Provide 4 possible dates on the Request Form (below) when a research session could fit into your syllabus. - Wait to receive e-mail confirmation:
Your request is added to a queue. In order to manage more than 400 requests for instruction every academic year from a variety of university departments, User Education Services handles them on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive e-mail confirming the best date and the best instruction lab we could arrange for you, based on availaibility. - No confirmation received after 4 business days?
Most often you will receive an e-mail confirming your request on the same business day. If after 4 business days you haven't received one, do not delay and contact User Education Services at libues[at]umd.edu or call (301)405-9070. - Verify the PWP-Librarian Teaching Schedule:
After the deadline for submitting requests is past, the librarian sign-up process begins; this is a complex internal process that can take several days to complete. The outcome is the posting and distribution of the Fall, Spring, or Summer PWP-Librarian Teaching Schedule. This Schedule contains the name(s) & contact information of the PWP faculty, the librarian(s), and date, times and instruction room locations.Mistakes do happen. All parties involved are encouraged to review this Schedule to verify its accuracy. If there are errors or discrepancies, contact User Education Services at libues[at]umd.edu or call (301)405-9070 right away.
- Collaborate & customize:
Our common goal is to focus on student learning. Since general overviews of library resources can be boring and ultimately ineffectual, it is important that librarians and PWP faculty work together. Once you learn the name of the librarian(s) who has volunteered to teach your session(s), please contact them in advance, and be sure to provide them with the following:- a list of topics students have selected to research; and
- a copy of the assignment(s).
- Your attendance:
We request that you attend the session with your students. Your input during the session is an important part of its ultimate value and success. Who better to address the concerns of students about the assignment or about the direction of their research than you! The librarian may decide to cancel the class if you do not attend. From time to time exceptions are made, but this is done in consultation with the librarian in advance.
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