Instructional Design Projects

It's useful to think about 4 common 'types' of instructional design projects in the library. Here are some examples from the University of Minnesota and our peer institutions.

1. Teaching How To Use A Tool

• "How to Use A Finding Aid", University of Minnesota


• "Introduction to the New Library Website", University of Minnesota


• "Introduction to the Library Course Page System", University of Minnesota


• "Minnesota Reflections: New Metadata Entry Guidelines", by Sara Ring, Minitex


• "Library Toolkit", Wake forest University. Wake Forest's toolkit features many excellent examples of teaching how to use a tool. I'd recommend starting at the "What's Popular" section.

2. Help With A Process

• "Intro to Library Research", University of Minnesota


• "How to Tell If Your Article is Peer Reviewed", by Jon Jeffryes, University of Minnesota


• "Design Elements of An Effective Research Poster", Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota


• "Art of India: Tools For Finding the Information You Need", David Faust.


• "How to Create SFX Links to Library Resources", Kristen Mastel.


• "Plagiarism Tutorial [in process]", Kate Peterson, Production image University of Minnesota


• "Anatomy of a Scholarly Article", North Carolina State University. This example makes excellent use of an authentic context to teach a process by clearing labeling each section of a real research paper with mouse-over regions.

3. Provide More Context

• "Finding Your Way Around Engineering Literature", by Jan Fransen, University of Minnesota


• "Which is More Expensive?", Vanderbilt University. This example cleverly informs players of the larger context surrounding the high price of databases by playing off their incorrect assumptions that database subscriptions are cheaper than most consumer goods like cars.

4. Train Staff

• "Reinventing Reference Collaborative Reference Staff Training [in progress]" [Competencies], [Production photos], University of Minnesota


• "Library Arcade", Carnegie Mellon University. This example engages staff in a fun performance-based assessment.