Library Instruction for CTW

As you may know from past experience, it is the mission of SCU subject librarians to educate your students with information literacy skills. You can find out more by visiting our guide on SCU Library Teaching and Learning Services (also linked on the left).

Critical Thinking & Writing, AY22-23

This year we created a CTW Library Tutorial that is self-paced (asynchronous) and low-stakes (pass/fail) that we hope all CTW instructors will consider assigning or promoting in their courses. We estimate it will take a student 35 minutes to complete.

We developed this tutorial to:

• Establish a foundation of library skills for all first-year students;
• Supplement the sessions you would usually set-up with a subject librarian, or to potentially take the place of those sessions, or to create space in your class for collaboration with the Library that doesn't require a class period;
• Provide flexibility: the tutorial can be assigned in CTW 1 or CTW 2, wherever it makes the most sense for your learning outcomes and course structure.
• Meet you and your students where you are: we can insert the tutorial in a Camino module for your class or otherwise deliver it as best suits you.

After completing the tutorial, students will be able to:

• Access and navigate the library's website; specifically access and navigate OSCAR, OneSearch, and subject databases through the library's website
• Articulate differences between using Google and the Library's resources for research
• Modify and refine search strategies
• Identify and access an ebook, an academic article, and a recent news source using OneSearch, respectively

There is a module you can pop into your Camino course from the Camino Commons that contains this tutorial and an assignment requiring the PDF certificate of completion.

In support of the teaching mission of the University, the University Library’s Instruction Program offers a variety of services to support faculty in their teaching and to inspire SCU students to develop comprehensive information literacy and critical thinking skills that contribute to their successes as students and as lifelong learners.

SCU librarians and staff can provide course-integrated library instruction both through in-person instruction and/or through the creation of online instructional materials, such as Camino modules, research guides and tutorials. We also provide faculty workshops related to various aspects of information literacy and assignment design.

To get started contact your subject librarian or one of the administrators of the program:

Melanie Sellar
Head of Instruction and Assessment
msellar@scu.edu
408.554.6927

Kelci Baughman McDowell
Instruction Coordinator for CTW; Undergraduate Learning Librarian
kbaughmanmcdowell@scu.edu
408.554.5438