Download - Social software and libraries
Lessons from Lassie: supporting library users
at a distance
Dr Jane SeckerCentre for Learning Technology, LSE
CDE Seminar: 6th July 2010
Overview of talk
• The LASSIE Project overview and key outcomes:– Literature review– Case studies– The project blog– Developing an information skills course: IRIS
• What does it tell us about distance learners and libraries?
• Where are we going from here?
LASSIE
• Libraries and social software in education
• Nine month project funded by University of London’s Centre for Distance Education
• University of London project partners (+ OU)
• Literature review to provide a snapshot of activity
• Five case studies to explore different technologies
Lassie filming on location in Florida. Photo courtesy State Archive of Florida
LASSIE Resources
• LASSIE literature review (Jan 2008)• Case studies on:
– Reading lists and social software– Resource sharing and social software– Citing and referencing podcast– Blogging and libraries– Facebook and libraries
• LASSIE blog – still running• Project website
Habib’s model of Library 2.0
Habib’s revised model
LASSIE – what worked?
• Literature review widely used & cited by library community
• Many publications and conferences• Case studies showed the value of tools
such as blogs, social bookmarking, podcasting, Facebook to enhance library services
• Strength of project team• Value of the blog as a research tool
What went less well?
• Getting real distance learning students involved in the project
• Limited feedback from students• Getting agreement at a senior
level that web 2.0 tools are useful in libraries
• Fast pace of change – so results date very quickly
Libraries and web 2.0
• A lot of enthusiasm for new technology in some parts the library community: blogs, wikis, social bookmarking etc.
• New technology can: – Reach new audiences– Engage with users more effectively– Enhance services by allowing greater
interaction and feedback• Many issues including: privacy / data
protection / copyright / staff development
Libraries & web 2.0 – 3 years on
• Web 2.0 has been a slow burn• Many libraries reaching conclusions
about which tools they want to use after a period of experimentation
• Starting to see new training courses offered to staff and students
• Still a lot to learn• No real consideration of web 3.0 /
semantic web as yet
Web 2.0 is good for:
• Community building
• Sharing• Conversations
• All help support and motivate distance learners
Supporting distance learners’ use of libraries
• LASSIE found many similarities between distance and full time students
• Students experience of libraries is increasingly via the web
• Physical libraries becoming increasingly social – should virtual libraries mirror this trend?
• Echoed recent research that shows students lack information literacy skills (CIBER report; RIN report and others)
• New technologies provide new opportunities for supporting distance learners
Developing IRIS
• IRIS (Improving your Reading and Information Skills) is a course for EMFSS (LSE) students on University of London external programme
• Available in Moodle• Four modules on: reading and libraries, using
the Online Library, improving search skills, advanced use of the internet
• Also developed material on citing, referencing and plagiarism to go elsewhere
• Over 400 students have accessed IRIS since launch in September 2008
Screenshot from IRIS
The challenge..
• Embedding information skills into the curriculum for full time students is challenging
• Distance learners are more likely to need help, but less likely to receive it
• Face to face training often not an option so we need to deliver this online
• We shouldn’t assume they are the same as our full time students
• Need to understand the needs of our distance learners
• Need to work collaboratively in libraries
Free information literacy resources
• OpenLearn (OU) have various skills resources including Safari
• JORUM Open have numerous information literacy resources
• Nancy Graham from Birmingham has compiled a list of reusable IL content on a wiki
• IL website lists many resources
What next?
• Evaluation of IRIS– Need to gather feedback from students – Need to update course following changes to
Online Library – now using Summon• Potential to roll out IRIS to other parts of
the External Programme – many of the modules are generic
• Potential to share these resources and build on other projects that release open education resources on information literacy
Discussion
• In pairs discuss:– What special library services do you offer
your distance learners / non campus based students?
– What web 2.0 initiatives are you using in your library to enhance services?
– What have you tried and works?– What have you tried and rejected?– Are you training users on any aspects of
web 2.0?
• Report back
Jane Secker. (2010) Copyright and E-learning: a
guide for practitioners.
Facet Publishing: London.
Chapter Five
LASSIE
For more information contact:[email protected]
Project website:http://clt.lse.ac.uk/Projects/LASSIE.php
Project blog:http://
elearning.lse.ac.uk/blogs/socialsoftware
/
Delicious account: http://delicious.com/lse_lassie/