This past month, Richard Brzustowicz, Instruction and Outreach Librarian, resigned from his role with the CTRL to accept a position as a medical librarian at St. Clair Hospital. While we are sad to see Rich leave, we celebrate his exciting promotion and his opportunity to grow professionally in an area where he truly excels.
Rich's departure will bring changes to the way Grace Library offers research support and information literacy instruction. All services and instruction will now be provided virtually. Appointments with the CTRL staff for library services—research support, information and digital literacy instruction, and content curation—can be scheduled using our Microsoft Bookings links.
Alternatively, you may choose from the asynchronous tutorials available on Niche Academy. For more customized tutorials or instructional materials, we are happy to create content tailored to your specific needs. To discuss these options, please book an appointment with any of the CTRL staff.
Grace Library is partnering with the Mail Room to circulate physical items, including Interlibrary Loans, via the lockers on the ground floor of the University Commons. Once an item is checked out and ready for pickup, you will be notified via email that your items are ready for pickup. Simply scan the barcode from your email at the locker station on the first floor, and the locker holding your item will open. This will allow patrons to pick up items 24/7.
To request an item from the library's physical collection, simply click the "place hold" button next to the item's title in the catalog, fill out your information, and we will notify you when it is processed, checked out, and ready for pickup on the first floor.
All returning items should be placed in the brown Drop Box outside of the University Commons on the ground floor.
As part of our ongoing efforts to reduce costs and manage resources effectively, Grace Library has reduced the journal collection by 30 titles. A complete list of these titles is below. The decision to remove these titles was guided by careful evaluation of usage statistics, availability through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), and cost considerations. As responsible stewards of Carlow's resources, we made these changes to ensure the library's budget is used efficiently while maintaining access to essential materials.
Although these titles will no longer be part of our collection, access can still be arranged through Interlibrary Loan and the Copyright Clearance Center's Get It Now, a subscription service that:
We believe that this service will support our ongoing needs for accessing high-quality, expensive journals that have lower usage.
The CTRL is delving deeper into the transformative power of artificial intelligence through our Lunch & Learn Series and hands-on Learning Labs this coming spring. These sessions will explore how AI can revolutionize education by personalizing the learning experience, identifying at-risk students, and simplifying faculty workflows. We'll share practical insights on using AI to create engaging learning experiences, provide timely interventions, and streamline routine tasks. By leveraging AI-driven tools such as Intelligent Agents in Brightspace and Navigate360, faculty can automate reminders, monitor student progress, and use data to make informed decisions. Additionally, we'll highlight how assistive technologies like Otter.ai can support students by improving accessibility and enhancing learning outcomes.
These efforts aim to enrich teaching, enhance student success and retention, and promote equity—ensuring every learner has the resources they need to thrive. Join us as we explore how AI is shaping the future of education for the better.
We are excited to bring Part 2 of the Lunch & Learn Series devoted to AI and the challenges and opportunities that come with it. Stay tuned for a calendar invitation and an update to the Lunch & Learn event page by the new year.
We are excited to bring Part 2 of the Lunch & Learn Series devoted to AI and the challenges and opportunities that come with it. The sessions are held on Teams every other Wednesday from 12:30–1:30pm starting on January 29, 2025.
January 29, 2025: AI and Student Retention: Follow-up from NACADA (Kate Gold)
Kate will share trends and strategies presented at the NACADA (National Academic Advising Association) Conference, including the use of AI and data analytics in tools like Brightspace and Navigate360 to support student success and retention. These platforms offer powerful AI-driven capabilities that can help academic advisors identify patterns, provide personalized support, and ensure students remain on the path to graduation.
February 12, 2025: AI and Academic Integrity (David Harpine)
David will help take your understanding of AI and academic integrity to the next level. In this advanced session on AI detection and prevention, you will explore effective strategies for identifying AI-generated content, redesigning assessments for resilience, and fostering student accountability. You will also learn how to use AI tools to enhance learning while maintaining academic standards.
February 26, 2025: Using Intelligent Agents in Brightspace to Support Student Success (Alexis Macklin & David Harpine)
In this session, Alexis and David will highlight how Carlow University is using Intelligent Agents in Brightspace to support first-year students in the Compass courses. By automating reminders, providing encouragement, and addressing potential challenges early, this AI-driven tool helps keep students on track in their critical first year. Learn how to set up and customize Intelligent Agents to monitor student progress, foster engagement, and create a more supportive learning environment.
March 26, 2025: Selecting AI Tools for Effective Teaching and Learning (Caroline Silver)
Feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of AI tools available? In this session, Caroline will help you cut through the noise to identify the right tools to enhance your teaching. Learn how to align AI technologies with your goals, evaluate their effectiveness, and see practical examples in action. Leave with a curated shortlist of tools and a clear strategy for integrating AI into your classroom.
April 9, 2025: AI and Data Analytics in Education (TBD)
Curious about how data can improve teaching and student success? This session explores how AI-powered analytics can provide actionable insights into student performance and retention. Discover how to leverage data to personalize learning, identify at-risk students, and drive equity in the classroom. Whether you're a data novice or a seasoned expert, you'll leave with practical strategies and tools to harness the power of analytics in your teaching.
April 23, 2025: Using Otter AI to Help Students Learn (Melanie Nordwall)
Melanie will provide a deep dive into Otter AI, which offers real-time transcription and note-taking services. This tool is especially beneficial for students with learning disabilities, including ADHD, dyslexia, and auditory processing disorders. The transcription feature allows students to revisit important class discussions, key concepts, and explanations at their own pace, helping them quickly locate key points so they can better focus during lectures without the stress of simultaneous notetaking.
To supplement our Lunch & Learn sessions and to support evolving needs around technology, we are also offering the following Learning Labs. These hands-on sessions are offered via Teams once a month on Fridays from 12–1pm. They will be recorded and the recordings will be housed on the CTRL website.
Please note that the Learning Labs will have a different Teams link than the Lunch & Learns.
January 17, 2025: Brightspace Fundamentals (Caroline Silver)
This session will introduce the basics of Brightspace, helping faculty navigate the platform, set up courses, and manage content efficiently. Perfect for those new to Brightspace or needing a refresher on core features.
February 14, 2025: ChatGPT Practical Uses to Support Teaching and Learning (Alexis Macklin)
Learn how to use ChatGPT to create quizzes, assignments, and even draft constructive feedback. Explore practical applications, experiment with prompts tailored to your subject, and discover how ChatGPT can save you time while supporting your students' success.
March 14, 2025: Brightspace Creator+ and LUMI (David Harpine)
Discover how Creator+ simplifies multimedia creation and explore how LUMI—a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered feature designed to help build better content, assessments, and activities—can help you design engaging and interactive course content.
April 11, 2025: Navigate 360 and Brightspace (David Harpine, Alexis Macklin, Caroline Silver, and Kate Gold)
Dive into Navigate360 and Brightspace to see how these platforms can transform your approach to supporting student success. Explore key features for monitoring academic progress, identifying at-risk students, and leveraging data to drive timely interventions.