Information Literacy Guide for Faculty

Digital Learning Objects (DLOs) are ready-to-use, librarian-created or licensed learning materials you can plug into Canvas. They save prep time, ensure accessibility, and align with NWACC’s information literacy outcomes.

• Discipline-specific guides (e.g., History, Allied Health, Business)
• Skill-specific objects (e.g., annotated bibliography, evaluating sources, citation)
• DIY platforms (e.g., Credo InfoLit Core, ProQuest Research Companion, PrepSTEP, Niche Academy)
• Plug-and-play Canvas pages, short videos, and tutorials with built-in checks

Use out-of-the-box or ask us to tailor a DLO to your assignment.

They can be used asynchronously or to reinforce in-person instruction sessions.

NWACC librarian–created DLOs can be used as-is or customized to your course:

• Canvas Content— online, anytime content includes curated links, pages, discussion prompts, quizzes, and complete modules
• Tutorials — guided practice with contextual tips; can include graded questions.
• Videos — general or class-specific
• Research Guides — discipline or skill-specific

Librarian-created content is time-consuming and requires ample lead time.

Bottom line: DLOs give every student a consistent, accessible foundation, so your in-person time can focus on higher-order work.

Credo's Information Literacy Core delivers standards-aligned modules on research and critical thinking, with videos, tutorials, and quizzes your students can complete in Canvas. Preview content or use it in an in-person class with the link below.

• Ideal for flipped, supplemental, or remediation use
• LTI/Canvas integration; graded quizzes can auto-create assignments
• Use any part of the collection from a single element to full modules

ProQuest Research Companion offers self-paced modules on finding, evaluating, using, and citing sources, plus built-in tools students love. Preview content or use in an in-person lecture with the link below. Each video has an embed code that you can paste into a Canvas page or discussion.

• Search Aid — alternative terms/keywords
• Source Evaluation Aid — checks URLs/ISSNs/ISBNs/titles for evaluation tips
• Citation Builder — MLA/APA guidance
• Revision Aid — grammar and sentence-level suggestions

PrepSTEP (LearningExpress) provides practice tests and skill-building modules (reading, writing, math, study skills, career prep) that support foundational academic success. Students can login with their NWACC credentials and download certificates of completion.

• Assign for remediation, early-term refreshers, or targeted support
• Students can work asynchronously and repeat as needed

Niche Academy hosts short, student-friendly tutorials on research tools and library services that are great for point-of-need learning embedded in Canvas. Librarians can search other libraries' content to add to our Academy and create custom tutorials.

• Quick skill boosts (database basics, search strategies, resource types)
• Link out to tutorials
• Easy to embed as a Canvas assignment (requires librarian assistance)

🎬 Request Streaming Video for Your Course

If you need access to a film for your course that the Library does not currently have, you can request streaming rights.

• Read our requirements for purchasing streaming rights (see link below)
• Submit a request to the Library for review
• We’ll work with you to ensure access is licensed and compliant

See link below to review requirements and submit a request.

• Save class time while still covering essential information literacy concepts
• On-demand and repeatable practice for varied learning needs
• Consistent and accessible foundation across sections and modalities
• Easy to measure with built-in checks or brief quizzes

Bottom line: DLOs scale information literacy instruction without sacrificing quality.

Reinforce skills with quick follow-ups in Canvas. Pair live or embedded instruction with one or two of these:

• Announcement + link back to the same DLO(s) students used (video, tutorial, guide).
• Micro-check (3–5 questions) or a short reflection to surface lingering questions.
• Scaffolded steps across weeks: topic refinement → finding evidence → evaluating → citing.
• Q&A thread with your librarian embedded in Canvas for just-in-time help.
• Optional refresher DLO before draft or revision milestones.

Tip: “Assign, remind, and reuse” — repeating the same DLO links boosts access and reduces confusion.

Need a tailor-made object? We can adapt an existing DLO to your prompt or build a quick micro-module for your course.

• Share your assignment, outcomes, and due dates
• Tell us your modality (in-person, online, hybrid) and where it belongs in Canvas
• We’ll provide a plug-and-play page, video, tutorial, or quick check