Get to Know Your Resources – Campus, Publisher, and Free Materials

June 11, 2019

Debbie Towns

As a faculty member, it is essential to have resources to help facilitate your job functions. These resources can include publisher materials, campus resources, departmental resources and (many times free) 3^rd party resources. The primary goal for you as a faculty member is to successfully teach your students in a way in which they can learn but to do so successfully often requires some additional support.

Below are a list of different types of resources and materials that can help support faculty in their roles:

Publisher Resources

Get to know your rep – they can provide many resources including:
Samples of textbooks
Training on new topics and software
Digital solutions – with practice accounts or training
Technical Support
Specialized pricing options
1:1 Training – WebEx and in-person
Professional Development opportunities
Speaker recommendations
Symposiums and/or Conferences
Development opportunities – reviewing/editing textbooks, consulting with other colleges, writing textbooks, etc.

Publishers are a great resource for finding new textbooks, digital solutions, and updates on new technologies. Your publisher can and will work with you on finding a solution that will benefit both you and your students – including customizing resources to fit your class, program, or college.

Campus Resources

Get to know your Campus – what is available already for you and your students?

Each college or university is different and will have a wide variety of resources available. Try exploring your campus further and see which of these types of resources may be available:

Campus Library
Print Shop
Bookstore
IT- Computer Services
Professional Development Center
Staff Assistant
Student Assistants
Tutoring Centers
Learning Commons
Lab Assistants
ADA department
Counseling Center
Academic Advisors
Testing Center
Student Services
Cafeteria – Coffee Bar J

Your department can help you navigate the campus and how to utilize all the resources available. Find your mentor, ask questions, don’t try and recreate the wheel.

Department Resources

Get to know your coworkers – A helping hand when needed is essential to your success:

Faculty Mentors
Program Manager/Coordinator
Staff Assistant
Computer Labs
Lab Assistant
Peer Faculty
Deans
Travel and Conference Expense planning
Mail room
Copy/Fax/Print machines
Templates of Syllabi
Current course outlines
Learning outcomes

Get to know the people you work with. Ask questions when you do not know something. Your department is where you will be working closely with other faculty. They have been where you are now. Use their knowledge to become a better instructor/student mentor.

Free 3^rd Party Resources

Prezi – A presentation program
Yammer – Social networking tool within your college
Skype – Video and voice calls
Polleverywhere.com – Polling application that can use computer or cellphones for response
Gcflearnfree.org – free online educational website focusing on technology, job training, reading, and math skills
Audacity – free audio editor and recorder
Irfanview – free image editor, organizer and converter for Windows
Canva – create presentations, flyers, posters and more
Learning Styles Questionnaire – An online questionnaire to help students understand their learning styles.
How to Geek – Online technology magazine
Symbaloo – personalize your webpages for easy access
Padlet – A virtual wall that can be posted on like a poster
Bubbl.us – concept mapping web-based program
Livebinders – Online digital binders for organizing your digital media
Blogger.com – blogging service for multiple users

Online sites generally have a tutorial on how to use the programs. These are helpful in learning new tools for your classroom. Play around, learn new and exciting tools to help keep your students engaged in learning.