Tips and Trends: Articulate

Posted on January 7, 2026 by ACRL Instruction

By Natalia Kapacinskas & Jules Arensdorf
Instructional Technologies Committee
PDF Version of Winter 2026 Tips and Trends

Overview and Definition

Articulate is an e-learning platform with a suite of products used to create virtual teaching and training materials. This article will focus primarily on Articulate’s products Rise (used to assemble online learning modules), Storyline (used to build custom interactive content), and Review (through which creators can solicit and respond to feedback). Marketed primarily to support workplace training, these products are also being used in academic libraries to create asynchronous online learning content. These platforms are ideal for content intended to support information literacy course objectives for asynchronous courses or as homework assignments, or for self-paced independent learning.

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Tips and Trends: AI Text Detectors

Posted on October 15, 2025 by ACRL Instruction

By Mary Kamela
Instructional Technologies Committee
PDF Version of Fall 2025 Tips and Trends

Overview and Definition 

AI text detection tools are designed to identify writing that has been crafted using generative artificial intelligence (AI). Similar to plagiarism checkers like Turnitin.com, these AI detection tools are often employed in academic contexts after students submit assignments to evaluate whether generative AI was used in their writing. Although AI text detection tools may appear beneficial for instructors who are concerned that their students are using generative AI for academic writing, the effectiveness of these tools has not been proven, and their use remains a hot topic in higher education.

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Teaching Method Committee’s Selected Resources Bibliography Now Available

Posted on July 22, 2025 by ACRL Instruction

The ACRL Instruction Section Teaching Methods Committee has added new committee-recommended sources from 2024 to their Selected Resources for Teaching Methods and Instructional Design in Library Instruction and their Selected Resources for Assessment in Library Instruction Lists.

The committee updates these lists with new resources and annotations annually. Resources included on this list are chosen for their innovative discussions of teaching methods, instructional design, and/or assessment tools or techniques in library instruction.

Selected Resources for Teaching Methods and Instructional Design in Library Instruction: https://www.zotero.org/teach_bibliography/collections/N2Z3XAK8

Selected Resources for Assessment in Library Instruction Lists: https://www.zotero.org/teach_bibliography/collections/2F4ZJ7KE

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Tips and Trends: AI and Personalized Learning

Posted on June 24, 2025 by ACRL Instruction

By Jules Arensdorf
Instructional Technologies Committee
PDF version of Summer 2025 Tips and Trends

Overview and Definition

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used to create personalized content, from emails, to summaries of long text passages, to images, video, and other media. It has also been rapidly embraced in higher education as learners and instructors alike seek ways to find shortcuts for work they find tedious. Personalized learning exists at the intersection of education and generative AI: creating tailored content for learners that responds to their level of prior knowledge and learning needs. When in the hands of a skilled educator, AI can be a powerful tool that supports the pedagogical theories and best practices of situated cognition (personalized and authentic practice), distributed cognition (adaptive exercises and breaking down tasks), and experiential learning (learning through immersive experiences) (Fowlin et al. 2025). While there are limitations, AI can be a powerful tool to support personalized and adaptive learning, especially in the context of library instruction.

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Featured Teaching Librarian: Shamika J. Simpson

Posted on May 22, 2025 by ACRL Instruction
Portrait of Shamika J. Simpson

Name: Shamika J. Simpson

Institution: Long Beach City College 

Job Title: Collection Development and Outreach Librarian

Number of Years Teaching: 16

Tell us 1-2 interesting things about yourself.

I love beach walks and hikes. I am a crafter. I enjoy making and teaching others how to make crafts.

Describe a favorite activity that you use with students (this could be for a face-to-face class, online, or hybrid class).

In my online Introduction to Acquisitions course, one of my favorite engaging learning activities challenges students to create an acquisition report of recommendations for a library manager. They select titles from a pre-approved list of topics and carefully curate their choices using industry-standard resources for a specific target demographic. Students must work within a budget, reinforcing the real-world budget constraints faced in libraries. A particularly valuable aspect of the assignment requires students to omit three titles from their selection lists, even if those titles are within budget and meet the criteria. This exercise mirrors the tough decisions professionals make when prioritizing purchases, helping students develop strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. 

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