Utilium

Who is Utilium for?

Utilium is for undergraduate- and graduate-level instructors who feel that traditional course materials are no longer resonating with their students.

How much does Utilium cost?

The Utilium platform is free for instructors and students.

If you adopt and deliver a ready-made Study Pack to your students, there is a cost for your students to access these Utilium materials. Please note that students can access ready-made Study Packs for free for the summer and fall 2008 semesters.

How long do students have access to the Utilium Study Pack once they have paid?

Students have access to the Study Pack indefinitely so they can continue to use the materials even after they have completed your course. If you update the Study Pack over time with new materials, students will have access to these updates as well.

Are there computer system requirements to use Utilium?

Since Utilium is hosted on our servers, there are no special system requirements. All you need is a modern web browser and an Internet connection.*

*Internet Explorer 6 or later on the PC, and Firefox and Safari on the PC or Mac.

How is Utilium different than a course management tool, such as Blackboard and Moodle?

Utilium is a platform for delivering learning materials to replace (or supplement) a traditional textbook or course pack, while Blackboard and Moodle are course management tools. Because of our distinct focus on content rather than course management, we include unique and valuable tools that make organizing and delivering online learning materials a snap. For instance, Utilium includes a growing library of learning resources and ready-made Study Packs, technology that verifies links are always active and up-to-date, and system integration with your library’s databases.

Can I use Utilium in conjunction with a course management tool, such as Blackboard or Moodle?

Utilium seamlessly integrates with Blackboard and Moodle, and most other course management tools. Just add a link in Blackboard or Moodle to your Utilium Study Pack. It’s that simple.

Does Utilium have any advertising?

No, we do not believe in mixing advertising with educational content and therefore we do not include advertising anywhere on the Utilium website. If you link to other websites that are not associated with Utilium, you may encounter some advertising.

Are the resources and ready-made Study Packs on Utilium vetted for quality?

All resources and ready-made Study Packs have been reviewed by at least one qualified scholar with expertise in the respective discipline. If a resource or Study Pack does not meet our standard of quality, it is not included in the library.

Can I include Harvard Business cases in my Utilium Study Pack?

To include Harvard Business cases, visit Harvard Business Online, sign in as an instructor, and select the “Create a Course” option. Once you have created a course you can simply provide the course link to your students in your Utilium Study Pack. Please note that students may be required to pay additional fees for any cases accessed via the Harvard Business Online website.

Can I include book chapters in my Utilium Study Pack?

If a book is available for free online (e.g., Creative Commons license or off copyright), then you can simply link to the book in your Utilium Study Pack. If the book you require is not available online, then we suggest setting aside a reserve copy at your university’s library. You can also include a hardcopy of select chapters in a custom course pack via your university bookstore.

How can I direct students to materials that are only available offline (i.e., not electronically)?

To reference an “offline” resource in your Study Pack, click the “link” button in the action bar and then under media type select “offline resource.” A special icon will denote that this resource is not available electronically.

Why are certain resources marked with “Library Database”?

The Utilium platform integrates with your library’s databases. When you create a new account, our staff must setup your university in the Utilium system so that the links to articles in your library’s databases function properly. This setup process usually takes between 24-48 hours.

How can I include articles from my library’s databases?

Almost any article from your library’s databases can be included in your Study Pack. Just make sure to use the permanent/persistent link or DOI link. By using a permanent/persistent link or a DOI link you will ensure that the article can be accessed by any student that has library privileges.

How do I find the persistent link to an article in an EBSCOhost database such as Business Source?

Step 1: Login to the EBSCOhost database.
Step 2: Find the full text article of interest.
Step 3: Click on the article title to retrieve the complete record.
Step 4: Scroll down and find the “Persistent link to this record.”
Step 5: Copy this URL and paste the URL into the Utilium submit a resource form.

I have additional questions about Utilium…

If you have any additional questions about Utilium, please email us. We promise to get back to you as soon as possible!