The Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania: eLearning Course Design for the University Library

Library staff at The Commonwealth University of PA had observed that many students struggled to navigate the library’s database resources and locate authoritative sources for academic work, requiring frequent guidance through the research process. Professors across the university expressed similar concerns, noting that students often submitted papers with limited research quality and few citations from credible sources. This feedback highlighted a critical gap in research skills among students, including both on-campus and remote learners.

In response, library staff identified a need for a targeted training program to strengthen students’ abilities in using library resources, conducting effective research, and citing authoritative sources confidently. I was assigned to this project, along with two other instructional design students, to create eLearning modules aimed at helping students efficiently use library resources and databases for research and assignments. These training modules were launched on the university website for easy access by all users. Additionally, physical posters with QR codes were placed throughout the library, allowing students to access the eLearning resources quickly.

Our team developed and implemented Modules 3 and 4.

 *Work completed in this showcase was a group effort by Abigail Eichner and 2 additional team members. Work is shared rights and property of the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.

The Rationale of the Need Addressed:  

High school students often face challenges in the academic transition to college, and connecting with Bloomsburg University’s library can help bridge this gap by offering multiple forms of academic assistance. One common barrier for incoming students is feeling hesitant or nervous about asking for help. This project aims to normalize library use and highlight how accessible and approachable library resources are for all students. 

By fostering student comfort with library resources, this initiative helps students gain confidence, achieve academic success, and work toward learning independence. Addressing these issues through instructional design will ultimately strengthen students' research skills, leading to higher academic performance and more substantial scholarly work.

Implementation: 

The instructional content for Modules 3 and 4 was created using Adobe Captivate. Before beginning the development process in Adobe Captivate, the team collaborated with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to develop an outline and create a storyboard, ensuring the content aligned with the clients' needs.

These modules incorporate a variety of interactive elements, including knowledge checks, practice-based tasks, video tutorials, and text-based lessons, all designed to enhance learners' research skills. The content focuses on advanced research techniques, such as navigating databases, evaluating sources, and proper citation practices. Each module is structured to guide learners from basic to more complex research tasks, offering opportunities for immediate feedback and hands-on learning.