Workshop Calendar
Backpack Compartments
Live Workshops
Madison College librarians and tutors have designed an on-going series of 30-minute workshops for students, parents of our students, staff and members of our community. This workshop series is free and does not require pre-registration or a WebEx account.
NEW! Real Time. Real Tech. Live Drop in Sessions
Drop in during these live sessions to get research and academic technology support from librarians and peers in a respectful space.
NEW! Streaming Workshops
A sampling of our most popular workshops are now available to stream anytime!
NEW! On-Demand By Request
Current students may request additional On Demand workshops by completing the request form.
Digital Backpack Series in the News
More Information
If you have problems joining a workshop, finding information, or would like to recommend a workshop, please chat with us using our On Call button or phone a librarian at 608-246-6640.
To view our list of past workshops, view the Past Workshops page.
To suggest a new workshop topic or request accomodations for upcoming workshops, such as Spanish-language translations or closed captioning, view the Suggestions and Feedback page.
Real Time. Real Tech.
Real Time. Real Tech.
Live Drop In Sessions
Drop in anytime during these sessions to ask questions related to research, student technology, and other Digital Backpack Workshop Series topics. Discuss these topics along with fellow students in a respectful space.
Mondays: 12:00 -12:45 pm Wednesdays: 6:00 - 6:45 pm
Can't make a drop in session? Connect with a librarian and Student Computer Help here
Current Live Workshops
Connecting with Classes Virtually: WebEx, Blackboard Collaborate, and Teams
Video conferencing programs have become essential in our current environment for online learning, social connections, and more. There's a wide variety of tools being used and it can be intimidating for even seasoned online learners. Join us for an introduction to WebEx, Blackboard Collaborate, and Microsoft Teams. We will explore how they are used for online learning and answer any questions you have.
Audience: prospective and current students, parents.
Monday November 16 3:00pm
Don’t Take the Bait! fighting fake news in the global pandemic era
Good information is always of great value, yet when lives are on the line, it’s more important than ever to have the tools to fight disinformation, rumors and exaggeration. We will discuss some strategies for dodging the worst kind of news and how to slow down before you believe or share what you see on social media.
Audience: all audiences.
Tuesday November 17 2:30pm
How Do I Find Peer-Reviewed Sources?
Has your instructor asked to include a couple scholarly, peer-reviewed sources for your paper. You understand their description of what it is, but where can you find them? Join us to find out how library subscription databases can make the process much easier. We'll also take a peek at Google Scholar and other web tools to find open access peer-reviewed sources.
Audience: Current students, community.
Wednesday November 18 2:00pm
Thursday November 19 11:00am
Blackboard Finals Tips and Tricks
This session will cover some best practices while using Blackboard during finals week. We’ll cover the best technical set-up for taking exams as well as various ways students may be asked to submit assignments or projects in Blackboard.
Audience: Current students.
Tuesday December 1 11:30am
Friday December 4 2:00pm
Tuesday December 8 2:30pm
Friday December 11 11:30am
Paper Panic: finding credible sources fast
Is your paper due soon, like really soon, and don’t want it to look like you just grabbed the first sources you saw from Google? Join us to find out how our library databases and resources can help you get to more credible and reliable sources more quickly. Also, find out some simple criteria to use to evaluate the quality of web resources if you do use Google.
Audience: prospective and current students, and parents.
Wednesday December 2 2:00pm
Thursday December 3 11:00am
Friday December 4 11:00am
Blackboard Essentials Tips and Tricks
This session will cover some best practices for using Blackboard including uploading assignments, best practices for taking exams successfully, and more. Bring your questions!
Audience: prospective and current students, parents.
More dates coming soon!
Online Learning Essentials: tools to help you succeed
Taking classes online is a breeze with the tools provided by Madison College. Join us for a brief overview of how to set up your computer to access and install the virtual desktop, creating and saving online files, and accessing Microsoft 365. You will leave with a toolbox to help you succeed after the session.
Audience: prospective and current students, parents.
More dates coming soon!