Biology: For Instructors & TAs

The UC San Diego Library offers customized support for faculty and teaching assistants in research and instruction on locating, evaluating and using information effectively and responsibly. Contact me to learn more about the services described below. 

Instruction Services
Librarians are available to help engage students in the learning process by

• teaching hands-on sessions on how to define a research question, systematically approach research projects, locate and evaluate information sources in all formats, and cite and document sources appropriately.
• conducting individual or small group library research sessions outside of class time, tailored to the subject or course assignment.

      Instruction Planning
Librarians can support faculty and TAs create learning environments that encourage students to use library resources and evaluate information. We are available to:

• work with faculty and TAs to enhance syllabi by creating and adapting assignments and exercises to build student research and information skills and support goals and curricula
• develop course-specific information resources such as web library guides that can be included in your course page in Canvas
• offer individual and/or small group consultations with faculty, TAs, RAs and students
• review students’ research proposals and suggest research strategies and resources
• discuss faculty research projects, new curricula, and grant proposals requiring supporting materials

Tours
Tours of Geisel and/or WongAvery Library can be scheduled for undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty as an introduction to the building and library services. Tours are by appointment only and typically take about 30 minutes.

Course Reserves
Materials assigned as required reading in a class can be placed on reserve at Geisel Library to facilitate access by all students.  Whole books can be placed in our Reserve Room, and chapters, articles, old quizzes etc. can be placed in Electronic Reserves. 

The extensive full-text journal articles available online through databases licensed by the Library provide an effective access point for students. Library staff are available to assist and identify electronic resources for reserve lists. Additionally, links to electronic journal articles and faculty members’ own digitized documents are easily set-up through the online reserves system.