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W.I. Dykes Library

Online Instruction - Frequently Asked Questions

1. I’m teaching an online class and I have no idea where to begin!

If you’re not familiar with Blackboard Course Management System, contact the Technology, Teaching, and Learning Center (TTLC).  They offer workshops to help you create an online class. They are also on hand to answer questions.
You can find a Quick Start toolkit here: http://www.uhd.edu/uhdonline/basicessentialsfaculty.html

 

If you’re interested in attending one of TTLC’s Blackboard workshops or would like to know what workshops are offered, check the current TTLC calendar here: http://www.uhd.edu/computing/ttlc/training/current.html.

 

If you have questions about how to create something in Blackboard, contact TTLC at (713) 221-2786 (x2786) or send email to vistasupport@uhd.edu.


The TTLC office is located at A700.  Office hours are M-F: 7:30am-6pm.

 

2. What services does the library offer for online courses?

Borrowing material from other libraries:
Current students, faculty, and staff in good standing can get a TexShare Card free-of-charge from the W.I. Dykes Library Circulation Desk.  If the student is not able to come to the library to receive their TexShare Card, one can be mailed to them.  The TexShare Card Program is an initiative of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission that allows UHD students, faculty, and staff to borrow books and other materials from participating Texas libraries.  For more information about obtaining a TexShare card see our website here: http://www.uhd.edu/library/about/texshare.html

 

Placing items on reserve:
Faculty members can put library or personal materials on Course Reserve.  Course Reserves provide your students with access to books, videos, and articles.  You can place a physical copy of an item on reserve for your students to pick up at the library.  Additionally, the library can supply some materials electronically, such as chapters of books or articles.  Information about Course Reserves is located on the library homepage here: http://www.uhd.edu/library/about/reserves.html.

 

Purchase recommendations:
The library encourages your purchase recommendations.  If there is an item that you feel should be included in our collection, please let us know!  Information about how to recommend a book, journal, or database can be found here: http://www.uhd.edu/library/about/purchase.html

 

A full list of faculty-oriented library services is located on the Library website:  http://www.uhd.edu/library/about/faculty.html.

 

 

3. How do I find content for my course?

If you are looking for great online content to include in your course, the library offers numerous digital resources ideal for online classes. The library currently holds more than 120,000 electronic books, 87,000 electronic journals, and close to 7,000 digital videos and audio clips. 

 

The library offers an array of unique databases that allow you to share digital images and audio clips. You can also share online reference materials such as electronic dictionaries, thesaurus, atlas/maps, and encyclopedias. If you are interested in including dynamic content in your course, you might consider creating a Films on Demand playlist. Films on Demand is a streaming video database that makes it easy to incorporate educational videos into your online class. You may also consider including a recommended reading list for your students with links to some of the library’s vast e-book collection or journal articles.  This would allow your students to read an entire book or set of scholarly articles about your subject online. 

 

You can browse library materials by format here:  http://www.uhd.edu/library/databases/indexbyformat.html.

 

The library has also organized available resources by subject. Click here to find your subject: http://www.uhd.edu/library/databases/indexbysubject.html

 

If you are having difficulties finding material for your class, please let us know by using the ask-a-librarian form at http://www.uhd.edu/library/forms/askform.html.  A librarian will contact you with suggestions to get you started. You can also contact your subject librarian directly. To find out who your subject librarian is, check the library website here: http://www.uhd.edu/library/about/liaisons.html

 

 

4. Can students in my online class check out books?

Online students have all of the same privileges that on-campus students have. They are able to check out books at UH-Downtown, UH, UH-Clear Lake and UHD Northwest. Library circulation procedures and policies are located here: http://www.uhd.edu/library/about/borrowing.html

 

All students also have access to our vast e-book collection. Most e-books can easily be found in the library catalog.  Once their book is located, they will only need to enter their e-services login and password to access the book’s content.

 

 

5. How do I use library material in my online course?

The library has created step-by-step instructions on how to share online library material with your students. These guides are located here: http://www.uhd.edu/library/guides/blackboard-databases.html

 

If you’re unsure of which guide you should use, or if you need additional help, please contact the library. We are always happy to help you!

 

 

6. Can I have the library give online instruction for my class?

The library can create custom online resource guides for your class. Examples can be located here: library.uhd.edu. Contact your subject librarian for more information.

 

You can also request to have a librarian(s) embedded in your online class for up to a week. Students will be able ask the librarian(s) questions about how to locate information about their research topic. This is especially beneficial for students when scheduled in the beginning stages of a research assignment. Contact the Online Instruction Librarian, Dauna Campbell at campbelld@uhd.edu for more information.

 

 

 

W.I. Dykes Library • University of Houston-Downtown
One Main Street • Houston, Texas 77002
Information 713-221-8187 • Circulation 713-221-8186

 

Page maintained by UHD Library Webmaster

Last updated or reviewed on 11/10/10

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