Course Support
The Gordon Library works with faculty to support your teaching and student learning activities through our Instruction Services, Course Reserves and Open Educational Resources. To request instruction please visit the Library Instruction Request Form, and the instruction librarians will respond promptly. If you have any questions, please email us.
Instruction Services
The Gordon Library instruction program is committed to collaborating with faculty to teach the research skills and information literacy concepts necessary to provide a foundation for lifelong learning and ensure the success of learners in the 21st century.
These instruction services include in-class instruction, research consultations, and outreach program services, all in support of the university’s campus-wide learning outcomes.
Requesting Instruction
If you would like to request some form of library instruction for a course (in-person, online, or both), please use the Library Instruction Request Form, and the instruction librarians will respond promptly. If you have any questions, please email us.
Instruction services include:
- In-class library instruction customized for your course requirements.
- Research consultations with individual students and project teams
- A research guide created for your course, with customized resources and information.
- Collaboration on class assignments to help integrate information literacy and library research skills into the class curriculum.
- Library assistance and feedback on student work on the Canvas course page.
Learning Outcomes
The goal of the Gordon Library’s instruction program is to foster critical thinking and effective research skills in students in support of the university’s campus-wide learning outcomes. As such, the instruction librarians have developed learning outcomes for students that will inform our instruction. We have also mapped our learning outcomes to university-level learning outcomes. Follow this link to view our learning outcomes and see how they connect to specific university-level learning outcomes.
Course Reserves
Faculty can use library resources in their classes by placing books and media on reserve in the Gordon Library for limited check out times, or by linking to electronic resources through their Canvas site. Find out more about how to place items on reserve for your class or create Canvas eReadings.
Add a Note about Library Support to Your Syllabus
Consider adding a note about Gordon Library to your syllabus. Here is some suggested language you might wish to adopt:
The research and instruction librarians at Gordon Library can assist you with a variety of research questions, including how to develop and refine a research topic, how to find and evaluate sources, developing search strategies, and how to write citations. Their walk-in office hours are Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm. They work in rooms 202A-C and 208 (entrance floor). You may also schedule a research consultation with a librarian by visiting http://wpi.libcal.com/appointments/. Research librarians are also available by email (reslib@wpi.edu) and chat (click the Contact Us button on the library homepage: https://wpi.edu/library
Open Educational Resources (OER)
The Gordon Library can help you find open or affordable educational resources for your courses, or assist you in making your self-authored course content open and accessible to a global audience. For more information, visit the Open Educational Resources guide.