A Student Success Library Orientation is now available on the web
Learning Objects
Madison Area Technical College's HOWLER, Help Online With Library Education & Research, is a series of multimedia tutorials designed to guide you through the research process. It includes tutorials about specific databases or search strategies.
Assistance Using Library Technology
Central Campus Library Testing Center
Students can take some online and make-up tests at the Library Test Center located within the Library at Central Campus . Please complete the form below and print. Please attach the completed form to the test and hand deliver to the library circulation desk.
Testing Center General Guidelines
Testing Center Use Form for Instructors
You will be notified by email when the test has been completed. The test can be picked up at the circulation desk during Central Campus Library hours.
Material Recommendations
BTC staff members are encouraged to use the form below to make suggestions, recommendations and request materials.
Materials Recommendation Form
Curriculum/Course Reserves
Instructors may put items such as books, AV, readings, sample exams, or supplementary materials on reserve in the library to make them readily available to students.
To place items on curriculum reserve:
All campus instructors: Fill out the online Curriculum Reserve Form or contact any member of the library staff
Reserve materials are subject to copyright regulations. For further information see the BTC copyright information page.
Advance Booking Materials (staff only):
Advance Booking is a feature of the library's circulation system that allows someone to make an appointment for a date in the future to check out library materials. Advance booking a library material insures that it is available for you to use in your class when you need it.
Please complete the Advance Booking Request Form or contact the Circulation Desk; 608.757.7671, echristopherson@blackhawk.edu
Rosetta Stone
Language is the source of community. Increasing populations of non-native speakers are driving the language-learning needs in organizations. Rosetta Stone is an ideal language training tool to help you communicate more effectively with constituents and deliver services more effectively.
Register Quick Start Info
For more information contact Tara Kilby
Teaching and Learning Project Links
These are links to exciting teaching and learning projects around the nation and the world that we have posted for your use. We do not maintain the sites that we have linked to or assess their material. The links are posted as a resource for faculty and staff from around the college. If you know of a good link that we should add to our site, send it to Tara Kilby.
- American Association of Community Colleges
Founded in 1920, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has, over four decades, become the leading proponent and the national "voice for community colleges." The association was conceived when a group of presidents representing public and independent junior colleges met in St. Louis, Missouri, for a meeting called by the U.S. commissioner of education. Originally named the American Association of Junior Colleges (AAJC), the association was to function as a forum for the nation's two-year colleges.
- Born to Learn
Rita Smilkstein is Professor Emerita (English), North Seattle Community College, and, an invited lecturer, teaches educational psychology at Western Washington University's Woodring College of Education (Seattle Urban Campus). Her area of expertise is teaching-learning theory based on both classroom/field and brain research and how to teach according to the brain's natural learning process November 1, 2007nationally, her publications include textbooks for teaching study skills and grammar and articles on how to apply the brain's natural learning process to curriculum development and instructional methods across the disciplines
- The Center for Accelerated Learning
An organization that is committed to fostering the growth of accelerated learning methods and philosophies in training and education. To do this, they offer workshops in accelerated learning (public and in-house) and provide tools to help speed and enhance learning in organizations. The Center For Accelerated Learning was founded by Dave Meier in 1980 and since then has prepared more corporate training professionals in accelerated learning than any other organization worldwide.
- The Center for Courage & Renewal (CCR)
An educational non-profit that strengthens individuals, professions, and communities through programs that renew our spirits and reconnect who we are with what we do. The Center prepares Courage & Renewal Facilitators who offer retreats and programs that foster personal renewal, professional integrity, and vocational clarity.
- CIRTL
CIRTL promotes the development of a national faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) committed to implementing and advancing effective teaching practices for diverse student audiences as part of their professional careers.
- The Collaboration for the Advancement of College Teaching & Learning
An alliance of colleges and universities that supports and promotes outstanding college teaching and learning. We provide distinctive cross-disciplinary, multicultural, and practical educational development that draws on cutting-edge knowledge to help colleges and universities excel in educating the students, workforce, citizens, and leaders of the 21st century.
- The Health & Awareness Learning Center
This 70 acre day retreat center offers a variety of holistic learning experiences to empower you. From private walking paths, a deluxe treatment room to an adventure course. Professionals, adults and children of all ages will see a dramatic change in their lives as they release STRESS and balance life with Dennis Grady.
- The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
An internationally-recognized pioneering educational institution created by the State of Illinois to develop talent and leadership in mathematics, science and technology. IMSA's advanced residential college preparatory program enrolls 650 academically talented Illinois students in grades 10-12. Nearly 19,000 teachers and 43,000 students in Illinois and beyond have benefited from IMSA's professional development and student enrichment programs.
- League for Innovation
An international organization dedicated to catalyzing the community college movement. They host conferences and institutes, develop Web resources, conduct research, produce publications, provide services, and lead projects and initiatives with our member colleges, corporate partners, and other agencies in our continuing efforts to make a positive difference for students and communities.
- National Great Teachers Movement
The official "Communications Center" for the National Great Teachers Movement worldwide. This web site serves only as a clearinghouse of information and a point of contact for those individuals choosing to use it for that purpose. Currently, this site is funded by David Gottshall, founder of the National Great Teachers Movement.
- NCSPOD
NCSPOD's mission is to increase institutional vitality by providing professional growth opportunities for members, enabling them to establish, enhance, and/or revitalize staff, program, and organizational development in their organizations.
- NISOD
Since 1978, the National Institute for Staff & Organizational Development (NISOD) has been dedicated to the professional development of faculty, administrators, and staff; and to the continued improvement of teaching and learning, with the ultimate goal of student success. More than 700 community colleges around the world are NISOD-members, the majority of urban and technical colleges in the United States and Canada, and more than 200 small, rural colleges around the world. NISOD is the outreach vehicle and service arm to the Community College Leadership Program (CCLP). The CCLP, at the University of Texas at Austin, is a doctoral-level program training community college presidents, vice presidents, and deans for 60 years.
- On Course On
Course strategies appeal to a variety of learning styles, and they motivate students to take greater responsibility for their education and their lives. Not surprisingly, the strategies you'll learn in this workshop have been shown to have a positive impact on student academic success and retention. Want evidence? Click Data to read the compelling results reported by a variety of colleges and universities that are using the On Course text and instructional strategies. If you want innovative strategies for empowering students (and yourself!) to achieve greater success--academic, personal, and professional--this is the workshop for you!
- Pacific Crest
A favored strategic partner of many higher education institutions when it comes to building human and organizational capacity - whether it be in learning, teaching, mentoring, designing instruction, or assessing. Our work in these areas has resulted in the development and articulation of an educational philosophy called Process EducationTM, which focuses on the development of broad, transferable learning skills.
- Problem Based Learning
"How can I get my students to think?" is a question asked by many faculty, regardless of their disciplines. Problem-based learning (PBL) is an instructional method that challenges students to "learn to learn," working cooperatively in groups to seek solutions to real world problems. These problems are used to engage students' curiosity and initiate learning the subject matter. PBL prepares students to think critically and analytically, and to find and use appropriate learning resources.
- RefWorks
An online research management, writing and collaboration tool -- is designed to help researchers easily gather, manage, store and share all types of information, as well as generate citations and bibliographies. If you need to manage information for any reason -- whether it be for writing, research or collaboration -- RefWorks is the perfect tool. Use the tutorials and information resources on this site to work smarter with RefWorks!
- Rubistar Website
A tool to help the teacher who wants to use rubrics but does not have the time to develop them from scratch. RubiStar provides generic rubrics that can simply be printed and used for many typical projects and research assignments. The unique thing about RubiStar, however, is that it provides these generic rubrics in a format that can be customized. The teacher can change almost all suggested text in the rubric to make it fit their own project.
- Teaching & Learning Symposium
An annual symposium brings together faculty, staff, post-docs, and graduate students to share best practices, celebrate accomplishments, discuss new teaching pedagogy, and explore themes of mutual interest.
- Teaching Books
A time-saving portal to thousands of online resources you can use to explore children's and young adult books and their authors.
- Teaching with Blackboard
Northern Illinois University's site that contains training assistance in the use of BlackboardTM, course management system with links to workshops, frequently asked questions, additional resources, etc.
- BTC Tech Prep Website
Contains professional development activities designed to give educators time and/or stipends to further tech prep initiatives, Educator Externships to experience first-hand the knowledge and skills needed by students entering the world of work, and PK16 Professional Development Summer Institute that enables educators to work on projects of their own choosing to develop career and technical education.
- TLC Newsletter May 2008 (PDF)
- WISC Online
Buy name-brand software at reduced prices
- Wisc-Online (Wisconsin Online Resource Center)
This digital library of learning objects has been developed primarily by faculty from the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) and produced by multimedia technicians.
- Wisconsin Technical College System
Official website that includes contact information, employment opportunities, latest news, education resources, reports, etc.
