BCIT

That's So Library!

Exceptional resources, services, spaces, technology and people...

Peer Tutor Tuesdays’ with Hoang Gia Minh Le

by Leave a Comment

Name:        Hoang Gia Minh Le

Program:   Mechanical Engineering

 

What attracted you to becoming a Peer tutor?

I am most inspired by my mom as she is a teacher who brought me up with her knowledge and we share that bond together.

How has tutoring helped you?

As I experienced both being a tutor and a tutee, tutoring granted me the opportunity to make new friends while enhancing the quality of my academic life.

If you could give one piece of advice to a BCIT student what would it be?

Having enough sleep and time management is what you need to survive here in BCIT.

Do you have any successful online studying tips to share?

Get ahead of your schedule and ensure every assignment as well as confusing knowledge is well understood by asking your friends, instructors or coming to the tutoring sessions.

What would your dream job be when you leave BCIT?

Getting my own well known brand where I can express my feelings with music, design, thoughts and lessons.

If you had a free day, how would you spend it?

Learning is what excites me. From how to play the guitar to picking up a new language or so, I will always set a new goal to achieve so there will always be stuff to learn.

 

Peer Tutor Tuesdays’ with Tiffany Gu

by Leave a Comment

NAME:            Tiffany Gu

PROGRAM:    Computer Systems Technology

 

What attracted you to becoming a Peer tutor?

I got a lot of help from the peer tutor last year so thought it is a good chance to give back to BCIT.

How has tutoring helped you?

When I was stuck with the lab, I came to them asking for some tips and tricks. They went over the lines of code with me one by one.

If you could give one piece of advice to a BCIT student what would it be?

Do some pre-readings and go to people for help when needed.

Do you have any successful online studying tips to share?

Have a tight schedule because it is hard to maintain the normal schedule in quarantine.

What would your dream job be when you leave BCIT?

To work as a software developer.

If you had a free day, how would you spend it?

Catch up on sleep.

Science Literacy Week, September 21-25, 2020

by Leave a Comment

This year’s theme is biodiversity.

Science Literacy Week showcases the diversity of Canadian science and the culture it’s embedded in. Libraries, museums, science centres, schools and not-for-profits come together to highlight the books, movies, podcasts and events that convey the excitement and influence of science in our everyday lives. It’s about each and everyone’s unique relationship with science and how they live it.

Join us in celebration by entering one or both contests for an amazing prize package valued at over $100.

Plant Press Contest. What plant am I?

Julia Alards-Tomalin has created a plant identification card game.

Every day at 9am during Sci-Lit week we’ll be posting one of Julia’s illustrations from the game on Instagram

Identify the plant with a comment by 8 pm that day for one entry. For an extra entry provide the plants Latin name in a separate comment.

At the end of the week we’ll make a random draw from all the correct entries and the winner will receive a super $100+ Sci-Lit prize pack provided by BCIT Applied Research.

About the Plant Press Game:

Julia Alards-Tomalin works as an instructor in the Renewable Resources department  at BCIT and teaches into both the Forest and Natural Areas Management diploma and the Fish, Wildlife and Recreation diploma programs. She is a double grad from BCIT with both a diploma in Forestry and a degree in Ecological Restoration. Her passion for teaching led her to complete the Provincial Instructors Diploma program and she is currently enrolled in a Masters of Education degree program at Simon Fraser University.

One of the things she enjoys the most about teaching  is coming up with creative and fun ways to interact and engage with the students. She was inspired at a BCIT professional development day, where she attend a session on making card games for learning by Alan Stewart. When she saw that BCIT had funding for creating various learning resources through the Open Education Resources Grant, she applied and was approved to create her own card game. Over several months she researched and brainstormed with colleague Stacey Auld on how to make an ecology themed card game. Julia decided to focus on Plant Identification as it is an area she is very interested in and passionate about. She was inspired by a series of whiteboard drawings created as a review tool for a final exam by FWR student Noah Haave in the Plant Identification course. These drawings helped form the basis of the ideas for the art for the cards, which she hand drew and painted, where each plant is drawn as a pun version of its name.

After the drawings were created, she approached MediaWorks for help in the creating of the formatting and style for the final version of the cards. She partnered with Amy Miedzwiecki who created the backgrounds, style and layouts to ensure that the cards could be printed on standard sized paper and used by people everywhere. Amy was inspired further to take this card game and modify it to an online version, so that people could play it without having to access a printer or having to touch/share the cards. Stacey Auld, Jace Standish and the students in the Forest and Natural Areas Management and Fish, Wildlife and Recreation programs were crucial in the playtesting and finalization of the rules for the game. Amy and Julia hope that both the physical and digital versions of Plant Press can help future students and others learn how to identify plants and inspire them to create their own games.

Seed Library Photo Contest

If you planted some seeds from the Seed Library last spring or summer and took some photos we’d love to see them and post them to our Seed Library guide!

Email your photos to agriffin11@bcit.ca – don’t be shy, send us the good, the bad and the ugly!

At the end of the week we will make a random draw from everyone who emailed for  a super Sci-Lit $100+ prize pack provided by BCIT Applied Research.

For more info and resources visit: https://libguides.bcit.ca/scilit

 

FREE virtual social events in September for BCIT students

by Leave a Comment

September 21 from 4:30 pm to 6 pm: BCIT Pride Social – Registration Link

Description: Think you’re an expert at Pride trivia? Know the ins-and-outs of Pride history, the Vancouver Pride Parade, famous LGBTQ2S+ activists and more? Then join the BCITSA Wellness team and BCIT Pride for a fun filled evening of trivia and virtual socializing. All LGBTQ2S+ community members and allies are welcome so bring your friends and test your knowledge for a chance to win amazing free PRIZES like e-gift cards and bragging rights as Pride Trivia masters!

 

September 23 from 5 pm to 6 pm: Get Crafty: Learn how to make your own Covid-19 mask – Registration Link

Would you like to learn how to make a face mask? With the update of Covid-19 government guidelines recommending the wearing of face coverings in public spaces where social distancing is challenging, knowing how to make your own reusable personal protective mask is a handy skill to have at your fingertips. In this virtual craft night you will join other BCIT students and learn how to make your own simple hand-sewn cloth face mask. We will share tips and tricks on how you can add fun design & artistic features to your mask to let your personality shine through. All crafting abilities are welcome – this class is great for beginners and craft-aholics alike.

 

September 28 from 5 pm to 6 pm: Get Crafty: Learn the Art of Making Clay Home Decor – Registration Link

Do you like custom-made, one of a kind home decor? Then this class is for you. At this virtual craft night, we will teach you how to make your own marbled polymer clay coasters. We will be sharing some (easy-to-recreate) clay jewelry techniques, plus a step-by-step guide for making your own DIY clay coasters and home-decor on a budget. You will get so many compliments on these, you’ll wonder why you never tried it before! All crafting abilities are welcome – this class is great for beginners and craft-aholics alike.

AskAway Fall Term (Sept-Dec) – Dates and Hours of Service

by Leave a Comment

BCIT AskAway Chat with A Librarian Service

Our Students Can Get Help Online with:

  • research
  • citations
  • using the library
  • finding materials
  • journal databases
  • troubleshooting access to Library materials
  • other library topics

Link to BCIT AskAway Chat: https://www.bcit.ca/library/askalibrarian.shtml

AskAway is especially useful to our remote, off-campus students and is available late evenings and on weekends.

AskAway Fall Term (Sept-Dec) – Dates and Hours of Service

Fall Term (Sept-Dec) – Dates and Hours of Service

Service Opens: Tue, Sept 8, 2020
Service Closes: Fri, Dec 11, 2020

AskAway Hours of Service

Monday-Thursday: 9am – 9pm
Friday: 9am – 5pm
Saturday: 11am – 5pm
Sunday: 10am – 9pm

BCIT Librarians will be Online

Monday-Friday: 10 – 4pm
Tuesday: 6 – 7pm
Thursday: 5 – 7pm

AskAway will be closed on the following Stat Holidays

Closed: Mon, Oct 12, 2020
Closed: Wed, Nov 11, 2020

About AskAway

  • AskAway is a chat reference service for BC’s post-secondary institutions.
  • AskAway sessions are in real-time, and are staffed by Librarians from post-secondary institutions in B.C.
  • Librarians from post-secondary institutions in B.C.

Learning Opportunities @ the Library

by Leave a Comment

Synchronous and Asynchronous

The BCIT Library’s mission is “to strengthen learning, teaching, and research at BCIT through innovative and effective resources, partnerships and services.”

The Library offers Instruction and Support as listed below:

Information Literacy

Information Literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” (American Library Association, 2016).

Information Literacy courses are 1 to 2 hours and can be booked through your program’s liaison librarian.

 

Digital Literacy

Digital Literacy refers to the ability of individuals using digital technologies to find and manage information (a.k.a. information literacy) and beyond to include communication with others, collaboration and teamwork, social awareness in the digital environment, understanding of e-safety and creation of new information (a.k.a. Digital Citizenship). Digital Literacy is underpinned by critical thinking and evaluation.

The BCIT Digital Literacy suite of self-directed online courses are available for Self-Registration in the Learning Hub. Each module is individually badged when successfully completed.

 

Emerging and Advanced Technologies

MediaWorks is a collaborative production facility offering help to students, faculty, and staff, by offering instruction and support with the following: Video and audio editing, Various Software, PowerPoint, poster creation, Laser cutting, Vacuum Former, Cricut, and much more. Best to book a virtual appointment.

 

Peer tutoring / writing support

The Learning Commons is a collaborative framework of peer-mediated services designed to support students and help them succeed at BCIT. These sessions are virtual drop-ins. The scheduled is posted on the website.

 

BCIT Digital Memories

The BCIT Archives & Special Collections contain the official and unofficial BCIT community created materials, documenting the history of BCIT and its role in local and provincial history.

The Archivist teaches how the full-text data can add to research and how these documents can be used in teaching. Digital content in the online database is added to continually. Sessions are booked with the Archivist.

 

Open Education / Open Access Publishing

Open educational resources are teaching, learning, and research resources that are created with the intention of being freely available to users anywhere. E.g., textbooks, multi-media files, software, etc. Most are covered by licenses that allow for using, re-mixing, and sharing. Find out more about Open Education at BCIT.

BCIT Open Journal Publishing: BCIT Library provides support to open access journals. We provide training and instruction for journals created by a faculty and instructors using the Open Journal Systems (OJS) publishing software.

cIRcuit, BCIT’s Open Access, Institutional Research Repository provides open access to BCIT research output including BCIT theses, applied research papers, student projects and capstone, faculty publications, and research data.

Visit the Digital Scholarship LibGuide for resources and information.

 

Records Management (RM)

The Records Management program helps you to be in full compliance with BCIT privacy protection and records management policies and procedures. The training sessions are on any record related projects that specific departments may be undergoing.  This includes naming conventions and mass clean ups of electronic records.  The training sessions can be 45 minutes to an hour long.

We hope you find what you are looking for.

Your suggestions are always welcome.

Please contact the liaison librarian for your program.

Open Education successful proposals. New dates for fall rolling call.

by Leave a Comment

The following projects have been approved over July and August:

  • Create a series of video tutorials and online assignments that will highlight the basic skills and techniques learned in introductory microbiology, Sabrina Cornish, Sarah McLeod and Supipi Duffy
  • Update and revise Trades Access Common Core Safe Work Practices Line A: 1-5; Trades Common Core Line B Employability Skills: 1-4; and, Trades Access Common Core Tools and Equipment Line C: 1-4, Tamara Pongracz
  • Develop construction training videos for LEEP NZ Wall Systems #1, #2 and #4, along with instructor and learning materials, Mary McWilliam, Vanesa Alzate-Restrepo, Alexandre Hebert
  • Develop an online interactive manual on ecological design, Ron Kato

Congratulations to all!

Grant Categories

Adoption – up to $250 – review and adopt an open textbook or other open learning resource, this can include minor revisions to customize it

Revision – up to $2K – take an existing OER and make substantial revisions to better suit class learning outcomes

Creation – up to $8K – create a learning resource – this can be in any category or format, eg.: textbook, video series, question or test banks

Key Dates for Fall Rolling Call

There will be a rolling call for grant applications for any of the grant categories over the fall.

Deadline 1: September 28, 2020
Deadline 2: October 26, 2020
Deadline 3: November 30, 2020

Support

The LTC and the Library can provide some support for grant projects. Request for this support should be part of the grant application.

BCIT Library is running an open education publishing program pilot over the next several months. If you have digital learning materials that are suitable for conversion to PressBooks and that you want to license openly, the library will do that conversion for you.

Additional Information

Open BCIT is sponsored by the AVP, Education Support and Innovation, and is supported by the Open Education Working Group, the Library, and the Learning and Teaching Centre. BCIT Open Education Working Group supports and promotes the development and use of OER and OE teaching practices. The Group is under the umbrella of Education Council’s Educational Technology and Learning Design Committee (ETLDC).

Open education grant funds, for the most part, are distributed as part-time studies contracts so are subjected to tax and benefits deductions.

All learning materials developed in whole or part with the support of an open education grant must be licensed openly and deposited in the BCIT Open Institutional Repository.

Learning materials should be developed using platforms and formats that are as open and editable as possible such as PressBooks. When closed formats are used, editable files, such as MP4s for videos, must also be included with the final project for submission to the Open IR.

Grant money cannot be used for travel expenses or to purchase or rent equipment, hardware, or software.

Find our more about Open Education at BCIT

Review BCIT’s Open Education Best Practices and Guidelines

Open Education Grant application form

BCIT Library Services during COVID 19

by Leave a Comment

*Library physical buildings are closed. All virtual services are available and limited materials pick up are listed below.

 

BURNABY CAMPUS – STUDENTS

Materials/Equipment Pick Up

Students please submit requests to libcirc@bcit.ca or place hold online through the Library catalogue (bcit.ca/library)

Email requests should include the following information:

  • Title and call# of the material
  • Your name & A#

You will be notified of pick up date/time when your request is ready.

Due dates for materials including reserves will be 2 weeks.

ID Cards

Students please submit picture online via the online form. Cards will be made for students that require a card for onsite lab/tool access.

https://www.bcit.ca/card/get-one-online/

When your ID card is ready you will be notified of a scheduled date/time for pick up.

MediaWorks Services

Virtual Services are available, please contact BCIT_MEDIAWORKS@bcit.ca.  You can check out the list of services at https://www.bcit.ca/library/mediaworks/

Students will be able to submit 3D and other printing projects virtually.  You will be notified of date/time when the item is ready for pick up in the library lobby.

BMC CAMPUS – STUDENTS

Material/Equipment Pick UP

Students please submit requests to libcirc@bcit.ca or place hold online through the Library catalogue (bcit.ca/library)

Email requests should include the following information:

  • Title and call# of the material
  • Your name & A#

You will be notified of pick up date/time when your request is ready.

Due dates for materials including reserves will be 2 weeks.

ATC CAMPUS – STUDENTS

Material Pick Up

Students please submit requests to libcirc@bcit.ca or place hold online through the Library catalogue (bcit.ca/library)

Email requests should include the following information:

  • Title and call# of the material
  • Your name & A#

You will be notified of pick up date/time when your request is ready.

Due dates for materials including reserves will be 2 weeks

ALL CAMPUSES – INSTRUCTORS

Materials Pick Up for Instructors

Instructors please first contact your liaison librarian for recommendations on eResources that support your programs. If you don’t know the name of the liaison librarian for your program you can refer to this link https://libguides.bcit.ca/?b=s

In the event that librarians are unable to find eResources for your program you can make arrangements to pick up materials from the Library.

Please submit your requests to libcirc@bcit.ca .

Requests should include the following information:

  • Liaison librarian’s name
  • Title and call# of the materials to pick up
  • Your name & A#

You will be notified of pickup date/time when the item is ready.

  • Burnaby – pick up in the library lobby
  • ATC – materials will be signed out to you and delivered to the instructor’s mailbox
  • BMC – materials will be signed out to you and delivered to your office

Due dates will be for 4 weeks unless otherwise noted.

For more information on services available during COVID 19 visit: https://libguides.bcit.ca/Covid

AskAway service is closed from Aug 15th – Sept 7th, 2020

by Leave a Comment

During the AskAway intersession break, please direct any research assistance requests to :

AskAway reopens on Tuesday, September 8th.

Hours of Service – September 8 to December 11

Monday-Thursday: 9am – 9pm
Friday: 9am – 5pm
Saturday: 11am – 5pm
Sunday: 10am – 9pm

BCIT Librarians will be available on AskAway from 10am-4pm Monday-Friday.
https://www.bcit.ca/library/library-contacts/ask-a-librarian/

July 2020 AskAway Stats for BCIT Reference Service

  • 60 BCIT Students were helped in July
  • We spent 12 hours online helping BCIT Students
  • Average session time per patron was 12 minutes

A little reminder of how AskAway helps our BCIT Students

Excerpts from July 2020 AskAway sessions:

7/8/2020 (4 minute session w a BCIT Graduate Student)

BCIT Student: Hello, I need to submit my applied research project paper for the M.Sc Ecological Restoration Program. How do I do this?

BCIT Librarian: Hi – Let me see what I can find out for you – are you submitting to your instructor or the Institutional Repository?

BCIT Student: The Institutional Repository.

BCIT Librarian: Just one moment –

BCIT Student: Thank you.

BCIT Librarian: Here’s the FAQ on how to submit – https://circuit.bcit.ca/repository/help.

BCIT Student: Perfect.

BCIT Librarian: Did you have any other questions?

BCIT Student: No, thank you!

BCIT Librarian:  Have a great day and thank you for using AskAway. We hope you visit us again.

7/28/2020 8:44pm, Tuesday night 15 minutes before closing. (12 minute session w a BCIT Student)

BCIT Student: Hi, my name is ‘Jane’ and I am looking for information regarding the issue of recent recyclable garbage that are actually not recycled, ending up in the landfills in developing countries. I would like to see how much recyclable garbage is actually ending up in landfills in both the local landfills and in ones in developing countries. Could you help?

Librarian: Hello and welcome to AskAway!

We’re closing in 15 minutes. Hopefully, we can help you get started on your question but you may need to return during open hours https://askaway.org/hours or send your question by email to your home library: ebrarian@bcit.ca

BCIT Student: Oh, sorry.. yes it is almost 9pm. I will be back tomorrow. Thank you!

Librarian:  Recent recyclable garbage that are actually not recycled, ending up in the landfills in developing countries

Oh wait a second…

Are you looking for resources? Sends theglobeandmail.com article

BCIT Student: Thank you! But I cannot use resources from media.

Librarian: This would be the most likely to find, since very recent issue.  ok let’s see

BCIT Student: I need it from either credible scholarly or professional sources…

Librarian: journals.sagepub.com/article  then Link to www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ articles/

BCIT Student: Wow so fast!!

Thank you so much!

OMG! Thank you! I will take a look at them. I will be back if I need more. Thank you so much and have a great evening!

Librarian: Just a moment 🙂 still looking. Link to openknowledge.worldbank.org .pdf

BCIT Student: How can you do that so fast!?

Librarian: 🙂 One more. Link to pdf

Please come back if more questions. hope these help to get you started

BCIT Student: It is great! You are absolutely a huge help! Thank you!

Librarian: Thank you for using AskAway. We hope you visit us again.