Author: Clinton Dick

University Libraries Savvy Scholar Workshop series continues with a Discovering Search Engine Bias webinar noon-1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22 via Zoom. This no-cost webinar will explore how algorithmic biases influence search results and provide strategies for minimizing biased results.

University Libraries Savvy Scholar Workshop series continues from 4 to 5 p.m. today at the C-Space (Ablah Library main level) for a Citation Management Drop-in.

EndNote and Zotero are both easy-to-use, powerful tools to help users collect, organize, cite and share research that informs their writing. Drop in to learn how these citation-management systems can make your life easier. Registration for this event is free.

If you are a Wichita State faculty member using open or alternative materials in your course for spring 2022, please fill out this form by Friday, Oct. 15. 

Questions or need more info? Reach out to your OAT Faculty Fellows Maria Sclafani at maria.sclafani@wichita.edu and and Victoria Koger at victoria.koger@wichita.edu.

Faculty, we need your help! 

The Open and Alternative Textbook (OAT) Faculty Fellows are interested in your experiences with and thoughts on Open Educational Resources (OER).

The fellows have created a short anonymous survey that should take five to seven minutes to complete. We would appreciate if you could complete the survey by Nov. 1.Any questions or concerns about the survey, OER, or the OAT initiative can be sent to maria.sclafani@wichita.edu and victoria.koger@wichita.edu.

University Libraries Savvy Scholar Workshop series continues with “Finding Social Data” from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1 via Zoom. This session will cover how to unlock demographic and social data to better understand demographic groups, large populations and pressing social issues.

Registration is free for this virtual workshop, which can be accessed at the link below.

The course designation deadline for the Open and Alternative Textbook (OAT) Initiative for the spring 2022 semester is Sept. 30. Teachers using open or alternative materials in their courses can fill out the OAT Course Designation Application form below.

For more information, contact the OAT faculty fellows at maria.sclafani@wichita.edu and victoria.koger@wichita.edu.

Students and faculty can now view an updated library guide featuring a list of Wichita State e-textbooks available online through University Libraries. The list is also available at the library’s online catalog.

These e-textbooks have been acquired by WSU Libraries so students can access them free of charge. Print copies are also available through the University Bookstore for students who prefer to purchase a physical copy.

Join introductory Geographic Information Systems (GIS) workshop hosted by geographer Dr. Joseph Kerski — a geographer who works for Esri, the global market leader in GIS technology — noon-1 p.m. Friday Sept. 10 via Zoom. Getting Started with GIS is a no-cost, online workshop hosted by University Libraries.

GIS is a framework to gather and analyze geospatial data that uses maps and 3D models, enabling users to visualize geospatial data in fields such as geology, meteorology, political science and history. During the workshop, Kerski will introduce the fundamentals of and tools of GIS including ArcGIS Online.

The Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) will sponsor free workshops for faculty to learn more about the Open Educational Resources initiative (OER) and have an opportunity to engage with OER text. These 90-minute workshops are free, but registration is required. The dates are as follows:

• 8:30-10 a.m. Thursday, Sept.16
• 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21
• Noon-1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct.1 
• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25
• 1:30-3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5
• Noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10

For more information, visit the KBOR website below. You can also view University Libraries’ new guide on Open Educational Resources created by Victoria Koger and Maria Sclafani, Open Alternative Textbook faculty fellows.

The Kansas Board of Regents will be sponsoring free workshops for faculty to learn more about the Open Educational Resources initiative and have an opportunity to engage with OER text.

These are 90-minute workshops that are no-cost, but advanced registration is required. The dates are as follows:

• 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 16
• Noon Friday, Oct. 1
• 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25
• 1:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5
• Noon, Wednesday, Nov. 10

For more information, visit the KBOR website. Also, check out University Libraries’ new guide on Open Educational Resources created by Open Alternative Textbook faculty fellows Victoria Koger and Maria Sclafani.