Library support for teachers

Cathryn Nolan: So, what do I love about reading lists?

Firstly, we spend a lot of time as teachers answering what we shouldn't call stupid questions but are where do I find such-and-such? What do I have to read? What do I have to do? Once reading list is set up, a whole lot of those questions go away.

Secondly, students are spending their time actually doing the reading instead of that time looking for them. Now clearly lots of students need to learn how to do research and that makes sense when they're doing research assignments but for getting their day-to-day reading done, I would much rather that they've spent their really valuable time reading and understanding the materials than looking for them.

Thirdly, once it's in the reading list it's there forever and that means that I don't have to work out whether or not copyright clearance is being sought and given, whether or not we've got permission to share things. It means that there aren't this ragtag bag of readings and excerpts that are sitting in Canvas being rolled over from semester to semester without any care or thought.

So, I have a link to a chapter in a book that wasn't an e-book but I needed that chapter desperately. So, I sent an email to the lovely people at the Library, and in less than 30 minutes I had that link back and it was like lightning to me and it was a wonderful experience because I really needed it. I was under the pump, it was a main issue for RMIT Online in one of my online masters courses and it dug me out of a hole. I just asked the Library to do it as quickly as possible but I'd never thought they'd do it that quickly. So, it was a great relief, and you get into that situation when you're looking for technical advice and technical help and you flummox around like I did and it was really hopeless. But it came back there it was, problem solved.

I'm teaching supply chain management in the College of Business in this course student needs to do assignment which requires them to do research and have research skill. I asked RMIT Library to help me. They did online presentation at my request as we moved to online teaching due to Covid-19. It turns out to be the best thing I did. My student learned the most efficient way to find this information searching for the database and have access to the various resources in the Library. I can't recommend high enough but RMIT librarian not only expert in information retrieval and finding information in the library but they're also very resourceful helpful and very responsive.

The Library team provided us with many services and support such as co-writing weekly content, sourcing and organizing reading resources for our students. By doing so our teachers were able to redesign the courses to include more up-to-date information and content. This whole exercise benefited our students directly and made our students' learning experience more current and relevant. Once again thank you so much.