Teaching, Learning & Scholarship
Teaching, Learning & Scholarship
The McGraw-Page Library supports the mission of the college by providing quality resources and innovative services that foster lifelong learning through exploration, discovery and creativity.
We provide these services and resources for faculty:
Canvas and Pedagogical Support
Support for Canvas LMS and Instructional Design
We provide Canvas training prior to the beginning of each semester and workshops on technology and pedagogy during the semester. The workshop schedule is posted on Library Events. Faculty are always welcome to email Lily Zhang to discuss Canvas LMS and instructional design questions. Access our CanvasLMS at https://canvas.rmc.edu; use your R-MC email and password to sign in. Please refer to the details of using Canvas.
We not only provide support on how to use and troubleshoot instructional technology systems, but also how they can be incorporated into course design to enhance learning and student engagement. The Head of Instructional Design & Technology consults with faculty on strategies and practices related to active learning, student collaboration, and universal design for learning. Faculty receive assistance in assignment design and exploring innovative ways for students to express and demonstrate learning.
We have created Teaching Toolkit for faculty, which includes tutorials on technology tools by function and pedagogy, a searchable FAQ database, and current books and articles on teaching and learning.
Faculty are welcome to stop by the Makerspace (located next to the Library Information Desk), or visit the Makerspace website. The MakerSpace provides opportunities and resources for students to explore digital media creation, 3D modeling and virtual reality. We understand the importance of digital literacy in college education and strive to support faculty in incorporating digital literacy into the curriculum. The Makerspace staff will come to the class to introduce to students the design and development of digital projects. Students will receive training and personalized help in completing their projects.
Useful Links:
- Library Teaching Toolkit: tech tutorials, resources on pedagogy and FAQ's
- Instructional Design & Technology Newsletters: Canvas updates & tips on teaching learning
- Articles on teaching with technologies:
Contact Lily Zhang, the Head of Instructional Design & Technology, for questions and suggestions.
Sample books:
Books for Improving Teaching & Learning
Showcasing Student Digital Projects
DIGITAL LITERACY/CREATIVE PROJECT SHOWCASE
"Fairy Tale Beginnings" in 3D 
The “Fairy Tale Beginnings” class was always about building imagery. Students in FREN-273 (taught by Dr. Balguerie) are asked to read several and analyze the common elements found in classic folk and fairy tales, and create 3D books as group projects. The photo shows one of the 3D books made by students.
Mapping Kerouac
Mapping Kerouac, A Digital Humanities Project @ Randolph-Macon College (guided by Dr. Volpicelli).
The Yellow Jacket Experience
A multimedia presentation of the student experience at Randolph-Macon from 1868 to 2019 from a contemporary perspective; research and website collaboratively completed by students in HONR 300 (taught by Professor Preston).
Honors 223: The Female Self in Federico Garcia Lorca’s Theater
In the course “The Female Self in Lorca’s Drama” (taught by Dr. Bordera), students created a 3D scene/character or symbol representing a topic or perspective on a character related to Lorca’s plays and his vision of women in 1930s Spain. Some themes include female’s domesticity, female body entrapment, revisiting the concept of femininity and challenging of social female roles.
Student Information Literacy
Student Information Literacy
Many students get an introduction to research and the library in ENGL 185, but unfortunately not all students take this class. It is possible that students in your class have not yet used the McGraw-Page Library to complete a research project while at R-MC. Library faculty can partner with you to teach your students information literacy and research skills. The subject librarian for your department is your point of contact, and can help in a variety of ways and at different stages of a student's academic progress.
Assignment Design
Your subject librarian can help you:
- Think through an assignment from a library/information resource perspective
- Verify if resources needed to complete the assignment are available through the library
- Determine what library experiences your majors may have had
- Arrange research support for your students (e.g., in-class session(s), workshops, appointments, online material)
In-Class Instruction
- How to research in college (bibliographies, literature reviews and annotations)
- How to find and use resources in your field
- Citation help (with the Communication Center)
Useful Links:
Support Your Courses
Materials for Your Courses
The library purchases physical and digital books, films and media to support your courses. The subject librarian works closely with your department for the purchases. The Library Information Desk provides physical course reserves for courses. Instructors may request library-owned books and DVDs, and faculty personal copies of books and DVDs be put on reserve.
Open education resources (OER) helps to make education affordable and accessible by providing free access to materials. We encourage faculty to contact Laurie Preston (lpreston@rmc.edu), the Head of Reference, for locating and evaluating OER textbooks or materials for your courses. Funding opportunities are available through VIVA (a statewide academic consortium) for faculty interested in creating OER resources. Contact Laurie Preston (lpreston@rmc.edu) for information.
Have you ever wished your students could see a 3D replica of a statue or feel the models of leg bones? 
In the MakerSpace, we have printed 3D models for Arts, Biology, Math and Chemistry classes. We have even created and printed a 3D map with Braille on it for a History course to serve a vision-impaired student. Contact Lily Zhang (email zzhang@rmc.edu) if you are interested in such course materials.
Faculty Scholarship
Faculty Research & Writing
The library provides resources and services to support faculty scholarship.
Resources
Scholarly Communication
- Where to publish
- Copyright & Fair Use
- Open Educational Resources (OER)
- Open Access
Contact Laurie Preston (lpreston@rmc.edu)
Retreat, Writing Room & Research Tools
- One-week Scholar's Retreat, interim week between J-Term and Spring Semester
- Faculty Writing Room during regular library hours
Sample books:
Ebooks for Writing
