What exactly is embedding?
There are 2 types of embedding:
- Physical Embedding: a librarian is physically stationed in the building of a particular academic department. More common at larger colleges and universities.
- Electronic Embedding: a librarian/library resources are virtually placed inside the course shell within a college or university’s Course Management Software (CMS). This is what we’ll talk about today.
Why let a Research Coach embed in my course shell? (Isn’t that kinda creepy?)
Not at all! In fact, embedding helps everyone: you, your students, the librarians and the College. In short, by putting us where they are, embedding helps to foster a good rapport between the librarian (aka “Research Coach”) and students and can help to greatly reduce students’ library anxiety.
(And yes, if you and your students want to call us “Coach,” uh, sure, we’ll answer to that.)
What’s so great about it?
Well, the BIG selling point is that students can have many of the research resources they need, for a specific assignment or project, all within that class’ course shell. (This, as opposed to visiting the library’s website, which, yes, has everything your students need to conduct their research, but also has everything else that the entire student body needs to conduct their research.)
And remember, this isn't just for Day Students. If you teach any hybrid or fully online courses, an embedded Research Coach, along with library resources, can be like a life-line for those students!
What are some cool features of embedding?
We offer several different levels of embedding. They can include things like:
- Links to…
- Best Databases to use for a specific assignment
- Full-text articles from library subscription databases
- Instant Chat with a librarian
- Basic Library Resources (Library Homepage, Catalog, relevant handouts, etc.) This may seem mundane, but sometimes just having a resource within ‘easy reach’ makes all the difference for students.
- Videos: short library source-use tutorials
- Forum Discussions
- Librarians can create and participate in online discussions. If your class is information- or research-oriented, you may want to consider this.
And hey, while I’m thinking about it, some interesting topics for discussion might be:
- Evaluation of Students’ Work
- You can have students submit, say, a Bibliography, we can access those documents, and evaluate and provide feedback to your students.
Is a Library Instruction session for my class a pre-requisite for getting this service?
No. While it’s always a good idea to bring your class in for some F2F time in one of our electronic teaching classrooms, we know sometimes that’s just not possible. In fact, having a library Research Coach embedded into your course shell would be even more helpful for you and your students in that case.
Please tell me setting this up will not be as insanely complicated as programming my VCR back in 1993.
Nope. It’s as easy as logging in to KC and accessing your course. That’s it. We can do all the rest.
Of course, you’re more than welcome to complete the 19 steps on your own if you have absolutely nothing else to do…..(waiting for the laughter to die down…..waiting…….okay…..) However, the good folks in IT (through tried-and-true Pavlovian methods and a seemingly infinite amount of patience), have trained the librarians to complete these steps. So all we would need from you is to be able to get together at the same computer for, literally, a minute or two.
Where on the library’s website can I find information quickly about Research Coach Embedding services?
From the library homepage -> in the left-hand margin, rest your cursor over Faculty Help -> select Embedding library resources….
What have others had to say about it so far?
- “I am thrilled with the individualized assistance you have given the students.”
- Christine Hait
- "Students need that connection [with an embedded Research Coach] now more than ever."
- Dr. Ute
- “I knew where to look for information if I needed it and that was helpful.”
- Anonymous student comment from a recent Library ResearchCoach Survey
So, when I’m ready to do it, who do I contact? You guys? IT?
Let one of the librarians know. You can call (x. 3703) or email one of us.
Is there any other information you’ll need?
If you’ve brought your class in for a Library Instruction session, we’ll probably have everything we need. If not, a copy or description of the assignment, project, or whatever your students are researching would help us greatly.
So what would it look like? Will your Research Coach area take up a ton of space in my shell? (Because I’m very possesive about my shells ya’ know.)
Scroll down and you’ll see a couple of samples of what it could look like.
Oh hey, mind if I email myself a copy of this handout?
Go for it!
Click here to open up Webmail. Copy and paste the url of this web page into the body of an email addressed to yourself.
Feel free to Cc: other faculty as well!
And hey, we’d love for you to "Like" us on Facebook! 
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