Teaching Method Committee’s Selected Resources Bibliography Now Available

Posted on July 7, 2026 by ACRL Instruction

The ACRL Instruction Section Teaching Methods Committee has added new committee-recommended sources from 2025-2026 to their Selected Resources for Teaching Methods and Instructional Design in Library Instruction and their Selected Resources for Assessment in Library Instruction Lists.

The committee updates these lists with new resources and annotations annually. Resources included on this list are chosen for their innovative discussions of teaching methods, instructional design, and/or assessment tools or techniques in library instruction.

Selected Resources for Teaching Methods and Instructional Design in Library Instruction: https://www.zotero.org/teach_bibliography/collections/N2Z3XAK8

Selected Resources for Assessment in Library Instruction Lists: https://www.zotero.org/teach_bibliography/collections/2F4ZJ7KE

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Tips and Trends: Perusing Perusall

Posted on July 3, 2026 by ACRL Instruction

By Josh P. Cohen and Matthew Good
Instructional Technologies Committee
PDF Version of Summer 2026 Tips and Trends

Overview and Definition

Perusall is a social annotation software platform, initially developed at Harvard University for their community. It became available to the general public in 2015 and is now a popular choice among digital annotation tools that can easily be integrated within a learning management system (LMS) like Canvas or Blackboard (Allen and Randall 2023). The software provides instructors and students with the ability to work collaboratively on textual analysis tasks like highlighting, commenting, and asking or answering questions. Up until July 2026, the software was free with institutional licenses for special services and institutional customization. However, beginning in July 2026, Perusall will charge an access fee, either at the institutional level or as a courseware fee for students. Perusall does offer some exemptions as well as alternative options which users can explore on their website.

The software platform offers options to annotate websites, PDFs, audio files, and videos. Instructors can create Perusall assignments with tailored instructions and evaluation criteria, and they have both automated and manual grading options. In addition, instructors can assign OER textbooks available through the Perusall database or can provide shared classroom access to paid textbooks.

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2026 Teaching Methods Committee Virtual Event: Recording Now Available!

Posted on April 20, 2026 by ACRL Instruction

On March 24, 2026, the Teaching Methods Committee hosted its annual virtual event. Ariela McCaffrey (Reference and Instruction Librarian, Connecticut State Community College Three Rivers) presented “Talk to Me: Conjuring Connection in the Classroom,” which provided an overview of various engagement methods based on the works of Robert J. Marzano, Dan Rothstein, Luz Santana, and Dale M. Bauer, as well as studies about student anxiety regarding “negative evaluation” and its impact on class conversation, specifically how it relates to first-generation students and their success in academia.

We invite you to view the recording!

Additionally, the presenter shared the following additional resource for viewers:

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2025 Teaching Methods Virtual Event: Recording Now Available!

Posted on April 20, 2026 by ACRL Instruction

On April 29, 2025, the Teaching Methods Committee hosted its annual virtual event. Jennifer Whelan (Coordinator of Research and Information Literacy, College of Holy Cross) and Laura Wilson (Science Librarian, College of the Holy Cross) presented “From Meta-Analyses to Manuscripts: Teaching Primary Source Research in Scientific and Humanistic Inquiry,” which explores cross-disciplinary approaches and strategies for teaching primary source research to students, developed through their years of practice and interdisciplinary collaboration.

We invite you to view the recording!

Additionally, the presenters shared additional resources for viewers, available below:

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Tips and Trends: Universal Design for Learning

Posted on April 15, 2026 by ACRL Instruction

By Abigail Higgins
Instructional Technologies Committee
PDF Version of Spring 2026 Tips and Trends

Overview and Definition

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach to instructional design positing that learning experiences should be designed from the ground up to be accessible to and inclusive of all learners. It is based on the broader principle of Universal Design (UD), originally tied to product and building design, which suggests that rather than removing barriers after the fact, designs should omit them from the start. In UD, this might mean planning a building entrance with a ramp instead of stairs. In UDL, an example might be creating instructional videos with usable captions, benefiting users with hearing impairments or in distracting environments. The UDL Guidelines, published by educational nonprofit CAST, suggest three categories through which instructors should offer multiple options for diverse learners: engagement, representation, and action and expression. This provides the flexibility in learning styles and interactions enabling students to acquire knowledge in the ways that suit them best.

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