Digital LibrariansExploring technologies to support students

Catherine SherwoodFaculty Liaison Librarian (Education) Canterbury Christ Church University

Digital explorations…

•Why do it?•What have we done?•What could we do in the future?

Why become more digital?

“Drawing on a survey of 1658 undergraduate students, the paper identifies 11 distinct digital ‘benefits' – ranging from flexibilities of time and place, ease of organizing and managing study tasks through to the ability to replay and revisit teaching materials, and learn in more visual forms”

Henderson, M., Selywyn, N. and Aston, R. (Feb 2015) “What works and why? Student perceptions of “useful” digital technology in university teaching and learning” Studies in Higher Education, Feb pp.1-13(Faculty of Education, Monash University, Australia)

Key motives for Library Services•Reach our learners at a distance/off-campus•Flexibility of new ways of working•Using the technology that students use

Academic Services team

…the digital explorers!

Technologies we have tried•VLE (Blackboard)•Videos•Online tutorials: Captivate, Screenr, Kaltura•Webinars•Web conferencing•Skype•Classroom polling•Twitter•Presentation software

Using the VLEA platform for library information/guides/ videos/tutorials….

https://youtu.be/Ata1914rL8QScreen demo saved to YouTube:

Webinars (web+seminar)

•To deliver library sessions remotely in real-time

•Enables interaction with students•Recorded and can be watched later

The Librarian…

The students…

Web conference reading group

Skype

•Used for 1-2-1 tutorials with remote students•Benefits of visual demonstrations combined

with interaction and personalised help

Twitter@ccculibrary@EduLib_cccu@HealthLib_cccu

Challenges

• Our knowledge and expertise

• Being part of an institution: rules/regulations/permissions

• Work environment

• Making time!

Positive outcomes

• Developing our skills

• Working with others and sharing our learning

• Satisfied students“The general consensus was that the reading group in the library was a great experience that really enhanced our learning”.

What we would like to do…

•Online chat – a virtual “Just Ask” service• Library blog•Online inductions•More online tutorials•Expand webinars•More videos: library experiences of 2nd/3rd years•Develop the CCCU app with library content

Keep horizon-scanning!

And finally…

•Free software: http://www.powtoon.com

catherine.sherwood@canterbury.ac.uk @EduLib_cccu

Introducing… your hologram librarian?!

Image/reference acknowledgements:

Slide 1: http://cdt.nd.edu/Slide 2: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zsoolt/15184528727/Slide 3: Henderson, M., Selwyn, N and Aston, R (2015) “What works and why? Student perceptions of ‘useful’ digital technology in university teaching and learning’ p.1-13Slide 4: Ross, L. and Sennyey, P. (2008) “The library is dead. Long live the library! The practice of academic librarianship and the digital revolution” Journal of Academic Librarianship. 34(2), pp.145-152 Slide 14: https://www.flickr.com/photos/shutter_b_/16422708836/Slide 16: https://www.flickr.com/photos/laughingsquid/8260843599 Scott Beale/Laughing Squid http://laughingsquid.com/