Instructional Support

Whether you are new to teaching or have been teaching for decades, your librarians are here to support you and your students throughout the research process. These are some ways we can help, starting right now:

Assignment design: Do you have an idea for a research assignment but aren’t quite sure how to make it come together? Do you have an assignment you need to refresh? Your librarian is happy to discuss research assignment design with you, from simple scaffolding of assignments to having your students use visualization software to create an infographic or an online exhibit. Check out our growing Portal for Research Instruction for more ideas and resources to use in your course this semester.

Research instruction sessions for your course: Your liaison librarian would like to support student learning through course-specific research instruction. We are happy to work with you on the timing of the session (information literacy instruction is often most helpful when it corresponds to an assignment) as well as what kinds of information literacy skills students need to accomplish your assignments. Please contact your librarian directly to schedule a session!

One-on-one research appointments with students: Librarians are available for individual or small group research consultations at any stage of the research process. Please encourage your students to contact their liaison librarian to set up an appointment. Appointments are available in-person, via Zoom, or through online chat. Librarians can help your students work through questions and find solutions to their unique needs. Many faculty add librarian contact information to their syllabi to encourage or require students to consult with a librarian.

Tailored research guides: Your librarian can support your students’ research with a tailored LibGuide for your course when appropriate. Or we can edit an existing LibGuide to highlight course-specific resources. Having a research guide to help your students through the assignment can set them up for success. Who should you contact? Yep, your liaison librarian.

Consider integrating Special Collections and University Archives into your course: The library’s Special Collections and Archives division holds materials covering a wide-range of topics, and supporting curricular needs is one of our passions. Colleen Hoelscher (Special Collections Librarian) and Abra Schnur (University Archivist and Records Manager) are ready to support your course instruction with primary source materials, rare books, and University and non-University archival materials. To have the Special Collections Librarian provide instruction for your course, please contact Colleen Hoelscher at choelsch@trinity.edu. To use Trinity University archival materials in your course, please contact Abra Schnur at aschnur@trinity.edu.