Integrating Library Resources into Blackboard...

By integrating library resources into Blackboard, you can enhance your courses by linking to relevant websites, online journals, digital articles and electronic databases.

You can also provide students with an opportunity to make contact with a librarian when a research question or need for help arises.

Each UST department is assigned a liaison from within the libraries. This professional can help choose appropriate library resources and can assist with the integration of research into courses as well as particular assignments.

Each UST department is also assigned an academic support technician. By working with both the librarian liaison and the academic support tech, you will be able to utilize Blackboard's potential to the fullest.

 View our list of UST librarian liaisons.

Using "External Links" in Your Blackboard Course

The library can help add links to:

• A Library web page.
• The database you prefer students use when they conduct research for your class.
• A library e-reserve item Call OSF Reserves (2-5402) or Keffer Reserves (2-4642) for questions about e-reserves.
• A journal article that is required reading. Linking directly to an article may be difficult or it may be easy, depending on the source. The Libraries recommend you start by contacting either OSF Reserves (2-5402) or Keffer Reserves (2-4642) or your Academic Support Tech.
• An e-journal related to your course. Many journals are now on the web. Some articles are free, 
  http://www.aera.net/publications/Default.aspx?menu_id=32&id=308
• Others are accesible via UST subscribed resources .
  http://www.stthomas.edu/libraries/databases/
  Many of these articles can be linked through Blackboard for your students to access without much difficulty -- but again the Libraries recommend you start by contacting either OSF Reserves (2-5402) or Keffer Reserves (2-4642) or your Academic Support Tech.
• Credible websites pertaining to your particular topic or assignment.

Using "Assignments" in Your Blackboard Course

• Follow up the research assignment guidelines with a link to a predetermined library resource that will offer the best information.
• Have students compare two differing opinions on a topic, expressed in two separate journal articles Link directly to each article in the outline of the assignment.
• Make a "Course Articles" folder where students will link directly to journal articles that are required reading.
• Make a "Live Chat Topics" folder where students will link directly to journal articles. These required readings will be the springboard for live chats at scheduled times.
• Ask your librarian to post Library instruction handouts for easy access after class.

Using "Course Tools" in the Blackboard Control Panel

• Schedule library instruction to coincide with an assignment that requires research.
  Place the timetable of library instruction on the course calendar.
• Directly after a library instruction session, it may help to have the liaison involved in Discussion Boards.
• Involve the library in the Create Collaborative Session option.

Copyright Issues

If you have questions regarding copyright issues and the appropriate use of online journals and other materials in your course, please visit our Copyright at UST pages for help and guidelines.