Partnering in Instruction
The Marian Library invites faculty to collaboratively develop learning opportunities that advance students’ primary source literacy; support experiential learning; and promote course, program and campus learning objectives.
Teaching Approach
All learning opportunities in the Marian Library are outcome-driven, and faculty are encouraged to work with us to integrate Marian Library materials into assignments and develop the lesson plans and visits to support those assignments. Active learning is the foundation of our approach to suit a variety of scales, concepts and skill sets at all levels.
Instructional Opportunities
A single class visit can illustrate concepts from a course, inspire a creative or academic project or develop beginner primary source literacy skills. To discuss possibilities, contact the Marian Library approximately two weeks ahead.
- Reading room: In a hands-on experience with rare materials, students will receive an introduction to the Marian Library and special collections. With advance notice, librarians can select materials relevant to your syllabus and learning outcomes.
- Exhibits: Work with library personnel to identify curricular connections to physical and virtual exhibits of Marian Library materials.
- Sessions taught by you: Librarians work with you to curate materials, digital collections and readings in support of seminar-style discussions and in-person, hybrid and online classroom activities.
Librarians can help you design dynamic course sessions, assignments and major student projects. To discuss possibilities, contact the Marian Library four to six weeks ahead.
- Primary source literacy: Use items like handwritten postcards, newspaper clippings, photographs, and objects used in Catholic practice — rosaries, medals, candles and more — to give dimension to your course subject matter. Topics may include interpretation and historical empathy, course-specific themes or speculative research.
- Traditional research project: Pair primary sources from the collection with instruction in research and information literacy.
- Exhibit development: Students can select and describe Marian Library materials for an in-person or virtual exhibit to link learning objectives to collections information, exhibitionary practices and cultural heritage.
When I swung by the "Mary in Catholic Education" exhibit in the Marian Library Gallery this week, I immediately spied a busy chalkboard, reminiscent of my childhood days at St. Joseph’s School in Buffalo.
Artwork and exhibit materials provide the experience of history in action for political science students.
High school students in the Wayfinders summer program connect artwork from the Marian Library with their group readings.
High school students in the Wayfinders summer program connect artwork from the Marian Library with their group readings.
Students in an English capstone course present, "Curating Rituals of Healing" at the Stander Symposium about a digital exhibit they created from Marian Library collections.
Students in an English capstone course present, "Curating Rituals of Healing" at the Stander Symposium about a digital exhibit they created from Marian Library collections.
Students in the teacher education course Historical Literacy and Historical Thinking view a Marian Library exhibit with guided questions.
Students in the teacher education course Historical Literacy and Historical Thinking view a Marian Library exhibit with guided questions.