Skip to Main Content
UMBC
Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery

New Staff Training Manual: Online environment

Online meetings

Online meetings at the Library and UMBC campus take place over a video conferencing platform. UMBC has an institutional license to WebEx, making it the most commonly used platform on campus. Library meetings frequently use either WebEx or Google Meet. As of 2024, Reference Department meetings are held via WebEx.

For information about downloading and using these platforms, please visit the following:

Scheduling online meetings

To schedule an online meeting in Google Calendar (WebEx or Google Meet), you can do the following:

  1. Open your UMBC Google Calendar 
  2. Select a date and time, add a title and invite guests
  3. Under the meeting title, select  “Add video conferencing” 
  4. From the dropdown options, select your platform of choice (GoogleMeet, WebEx, or WebEx personal meeting)
  5. Wait for the calendar event to add the conferencing link and details
  6. Click “Save”

Note: All guests added to the calendar invite will receive the video conferencing join option

Interactive features

In order to promote participation and engagement in online meetings, consider using some of the following interactive features: 

Online instruction: synchronous

The AOK Library Reference department offers library instruction both in person and online. Faculty are able to request the modality (in person, online synchronous, or online asynchronous) on the Library Instruction form. 

Video conferencing software such as WebEx, Blackboard Collaborate, Zoom, or Google Meet allows for online synchronous teaching sessions. For information about downloading and using these platforms, please visit the following information pages:

Student engagement in the online session can be enhanced by the use of interactive features, such as the use of polling, breakout rooms, collaborative Google docs, and/or virtual whiteboards. For more information about some interactive features and software options, see the following: 

Online instruction: asynchronous

Asynchronous online instruction can take a variety of forms, including video tutorials, a LibGuide prepared for a specific course, a module in Blackboard, online quiz, etc. For instructions and more details about a variety of tools, see the resources prepared as part of the internal ILWG Tool Talk series: 

Tool Talk Resources

For examples of asynchronous library instruction, see the following: 

Online instruction: hyflex

In the summer of 2023, the Library Instruction room 259 was updated with hyflex technology capabilities. This hyflex technology provides the option to conduct instruction sessions, workshops, and meetings both in person and online. Several Reference Department workshops have been offered in the hyflex modality as of fall 2023. The decision to offer instruction, meetings, or workshops in the hyflex modality is generally up to the individual Reference Department member. 

For more information about the Library 259 Hyflex capabilities, please reference the Shared Reference 259 Hyflex folder, which includes resources such as: