Talis reading lists
Talis supports these learning types (see definitions):
Talis integrates with Canvas, simplifying the process of accessing course readings. Teachers can categorise readings, enabling students to know what to focus on and when. Access data is also available and provides some indication of student engagement.
Talis also enables the University to meet its financial obligations for provisioning copyright material, thus rewarding the contribution of authors.
Talis is supported by Libraries and Learning Services | Te Tumu Herenga. By using Talis reading lists, you provide Libraries and Learning Services with information to make course readings available to students. This can take time, therefore it is important to publish your Talis reading list early, prior to the start of teaching.
Other benefits are:
- Ensuring the University doesn’t run afoul of copyright.
- Enhancing the student experience by contextualising readings within the Canvas environment.
- Identifying ‘prescribed’ vs ‘optional extra’ readings.
- Enabling teachers to see how students are engaging with course readings.
How-to guides
Access Talis through Canvas
Students access course readings through the Reading Lists menu in Canvas. Teachers will need to associate their Talis reading list with the course.
Access Talis directly
Teachers can access Talis reading lists outside of Canvas. From there they can view lists they might have created in the past, along with those created by their colleagues.
Note: This link is for teachers. Students will access course readings through Canvas.
Instructor guides
From Libraries and Learning Services | Te Tumu Herenga
Copyright considerations
There are certain copyright limitations that the University needs to comply with. These are illustrated in the following document:
Course Materials Copyright Compliance Matrix (PDF)
See also copyright for teaching
Talis support
For help with Talis, please contact Libraries and Learning Services | Te Tumu Herenga
Request Talis support
(for teachers)
FAQs
Please visit the Knowledge Base for frequently asked questions for teachers.
Make the best use of Talis for promoting student engagement
Make readings relevant
Make sure students understand the relevance of the reading lists to their study. Add commentary and annotation to assigned readings to add value and signpost why they are important.
Spend some time orienting students to the list and how you envisage them using it.
Foster active learning
- Consider including provocational material, which fosters an inquiry mindset.
- Use assigned readings for a flipped classroom. Signpost what you want the students to read before they come to a lecture or tutorial and put the information to work during class time.
- Reflective text-based discourse can complement verbal spontaneous discourse in the face-to-face setting.
- To encourage deeper engagement, consider adding a Perusall activity.
Consider your audience
Select material at an appropriate level for audience and stage of study.
Consider how you might scaffold learning with appropriate resources as students build proficiency and understanding of disciplinary content.
Make readings engaging
- Use a variety of materials.
- Include non-print material to encourage interactivity and engagement.
- Incorporate readings into learning activities to encourage engagement.
- Encourage students to note their reading intentions and add notes to readings so you can see how they are engaging with material.
Make readings accessible
Breaking your reading list into key themes or modules and integrating these with modular content in Canvas helps direct students to the appropriate resource, at the time they need it.
If you are working with other list owners, agree on how to structure the list so as not to confuse or overwhelm students.
Give students key readings so as not to overload them, but encourage an inquiry mindset for independent research.
Make the most of analytics
Use analytics to see what your readers are reading and when. As a list owner you can see page views, clicks, annotations, review notes etc. This might indicate how relevant the reading is from a student perspective.
Further resources
Croft, D. (2018) What is a Reading List for? A guide for module leaders on aligning reading with learning outcomes. Oxford Brookes University. http://doi.org/10.24384/000531
Page updated 25/10/2023 (minor edit)