Lydia Pyburn

Using Blackboard Collaborate ULTRA for an Online Workshop

Lydia L. Pyburn, MLS

Online Engagement and Nursing Librarian
Faculty Services and Online Engagement
University of Texas at Arlington Libraries

[email protected]

Online students don’t have the opportunity to come to campus and sit through a library orientation as on-campus students will do. They miss out on getting real-time information literacy instruction on how to use library resources, how to cite materials, and the different services the library offers to them. It is imperative to provide the same services to online student that are offered to on-campus students. The hour and a half online workshop will use flipped learning to promote active learning. Students will watch videos before the session and take a pretest. Blackboard Collaborate ULTRA supports screensharing to demonstrate a search within a database, break out groups to work on an activity of building a search, and polling to see if they can identify a correct reference in APA.

Part of the evaluation includes pretests to assess knowledge before the workshop, and posttests to knowledge gained after watching the videos and attending the workshop. Students will receive immediate feedback on tasks to use for their assignments. Additional measures for success are attendance and a satisfaction survey.

J. T. Dellinger

Very clear description of your project - good job! You mention that students sometimes prefer to talk to their librarian over using detailed subject guides. Is there a particular area that students want to discuss more than others? Are there also any demographic (such as age, gender, or ethnicity) differences between students that tend to prefer in-person resources versus online guides?
- Lydia Pyburn
  
  I think when they want to meet they want to know why they’re having a hard time searching, learning to navigate our resources, and often times just to bounce ideas off of with reassurance. I was thinking about collecting demographic data on the students as well, but that I’ll pursue more for research purposes.
Marcela Gutierrez

Hi Lydia. I love the idea of flipped learning. While I’ve not taught a synchronous course before, it’s great to know how useful Blackboard Collaborate can be and definitely something I plan to use when I have the opportunity.
- Lydia Pyburn
  
  I really enjoy flipped learning because of active learning. I also enjoy breaking them in teams, because with my teaching style I make more connections to students when they’re in smaller groups.
Peggy Semingson

Hi Lydia,
I am glad you are evaluating the Blackboard Ultra virtual learning experience with the students! I love how librarians do such great outreach to online students! The hands-on activities during the webinar look great!