From Theory to Practice: Using UDL to Move Library Instruction and Support Online

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Jenny Dale, Information Literacy Coordinator and Associate Professor (Creator)
Sam Harlow, Online Learning Librarian (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: The declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic in March 2020 had significant and immediate impacts on people and institutions around the world. Many institutions of higher education had days or weeks to completely shift instruction to online formats. Our mid-sized public university was no exception, and the University Libraries followed suit, working quickly to transition library instruction and other forms of support to a fully online format. UNC Greensboro (UNCG) is a public, minority-serving institution with a commitment to student success for low-income and rural students. Our students, like many across the United States, struggled with the shift to online learning, which was sometimes accompanied by increased caretaking responsibilities, changes to income, and reduced access to technology. As the Libraries worked to support students online, we prioritized providing inclusive and accessible remote learning and support options. As UNCG prepared to offer a mix of instructional delivery methods in fall 2020, the Libraries made the decision to offer only online instruction in order to keep students, faculty, and staff as safe as possible. This decision came with challenges of its own, as many library personnel had limited experience providing online instruction and other forms of virtual support and as we were all also dealing with many of the same pandemic-related stressors that students and colleagues across the university faced.

Additional Information

Publication
Dale, J., & Harlow, S. (2024). From theory to practice: Using UDL to move library instruction and support online. In D. Skaggs & R. McMullin (Eds.), Universal Design for Learning in academic libraries: Theory into practice. Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). https://alastore.ala.org/universal-design-learning-academic-libraries-theory-practice-eeditions-pdf-e-book?_zs=Fprvg1&_zl=RLRV9
Language: English
Date: 2024
Keywords
COVID-19, online instruction, library instruction, UNCG, UDL

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