Choosing resources for your unit

Here are some things to consider when choosing or updating teaching resources for your unit reading lists.

• Would you like to explore digital rather than physical copies for your teaching?
  • Finding relevant electronic resources such as e-books, e-journals and open education resources is a speciality of your Librarian.
• Would you like to increase equitable learning for your students?
  • Note that print resources can have equity issues, such as cost and concurrent use.
  • Consider open education resources.
• Do you have an online, open book exam where many of your students require concurrent access to a resource?
  • Consider electronic versions which can improve access. However, availability and access conditions vary. Some titles are not available as institutional ebooks, or may have limits on concurrent users that restrict suitability for exams.
• Do you need the latest information or a historical perspective?
  • Your Librarian can help you find recent research, latest editions, key texts and primary sources.
• Do you have a range of resources? This is a great way to represent different perspectives, evidence sets, formats and mediums.
  • You can work with your Librarian to explore resources with different viewpoints.
  • Consider different mediums such as plans, maps, statistics, images, videos, reports, data, newspapers, websites.
• Would you like to create or update a CloudDeakin embedded Reading list?
  • Explore these Reading list instructions for academics to get started and get in touch with your Librarian if you need additional guidance.
• Do you have an extensive reading list?
  • Ask your Librarian how to flag the importance of the readings (prescribed, recommended or further reading) to guide your students.
• Do you need a certain section of a print resource?
  • The Library can digitise 10% or one chapter, just speak to your Librarian.
• Do you have PDFs of resources uploaded in your unit site?
  • Link to resources rather than using a copy.
  • Chat to your Librarian about alternative options that are copyright friendly
• Have you considered copyright limits in your teaching material?
  • The Library has copyright experts who can assist you.
  • More information is available on the Copyright in Teaching site

Immediate Support Available

The Library offers several practical strategies to reduce student financial barriers while ensuring unit success:

• Curated reading lists: Replace a single prescribed text with targeted weekly or topic-specific readings (journal articles, videos, chapters) available online.
• Open Education Resources (OER): Identify free, openly licensed alternatives that provide equivalent content.
• Strategic digitisation: The Library can digitise up to 10% of a textbook or one full chapter, reducing the need for student purchase.
• Ebook preference: Where available, ebooks are prioritised and shared across users, lowering per-student costs.

Contact the Course Resources and Access team for advice and assistance with your resourcing and access needs.