Peer Review

Information Instruction

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: May 18, 2026 by Library and Information Services

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This course focuses on strategies for library and information professionals. It includes a syllabus and many resources on instructional design and management.
Type of Material:: Online Course.
Recommended Uses:: This was designed for a graduate level course. It could be used in-class or as homework and potentially as a reference for professionals.
Technical Requirements:: Browser. Tested in Google Chrome.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The objectives of the course are plainly laid out in the material: “Regardless of whether you're interested in creating self-instructional tutorials for college students; designing learning experiences for children; developing presentations for adult audiences; or building computer-based educational simulations, games, and apps, this course will help library and information professionals develop the skills necessary to create effective, efficient, and engaging instructional materials.”
Target Student Population:: Graduate School, Professional
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Designed with librarians and those with a background in library science. Other professionals could benefit as well.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The content is comprehensive, focusing on both theory and practical strategies. It is well-researched and covers the key concepts of the subject in depth. Each section is clearly organized with definitions and important terms highlighted for easy understanding. Each section starts with a video that introduces the topic, followed by the text of the video for further detail. The key learning objectives are clearly stated, and each section includes a "Try It" activity that encourages learners to practice what they've just learned.
Concerns:: At the time of the review, the information is dated and many of the links go nowhere. The website is no longer being updated and significant updates would be required in order for the material to be current.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The goals are easily identified. It reinforces concepts progressively with a focus on the core needs of academic librarians to develop this content.

The course highlights several key elements in each section. Under the learning theory section, several treatments are briefly provided with additional learning tools if desired. Other sections introduce instructional design models and later require mock-up designs of the models. As mentioned, the course reinforces concepts, but not in a way that demands each section be used consecutively. Finally, the course allows for easy review and refreshment.

This course would be a great start to learning this field.

Concerns:

The content contains pages of text that could be difficult to go through.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The course is easy to use with instructions laid out, simple and intitutive navigation, and hyperlinks to different sections. Additionally, despite varying lengths, each section follows a consistent layout. With an excellent outline in the left side frame, learners can look ahead and easily refer back to each section. The resources at the end of each section are also helpful and thoughtfully chosen.
Concerns:: The pages of text can be daunting for learners, those sections could be subdivided further. Additionally, the aesthetic design could be unappealing to some and affect their experiences within the course. As mentioned previously, there are many links that do not work.

Other Issues and Comments:: This online course has lots of good information, but it is out of date. The material is copyrighted and not licensed for users to customize (such as under a Creative Commons license). Otherwise, users could use the content and update it for current courses.
Creative Commons: