CALL 2004CALL 2004

Academic SIGAcademic SIG

Great Expectations: Are we delivering what they need?Great Expectations: Are we delivering what they need?

Presentation NotesPresentation Notes

Laurie Amiruddin, B.A., M.L.I.S. Robin Dewe Manager, Customer Learning & Support Vice President, Customer Service Carswell LexisNexis Canada Inc.  One Corporate Plaza 275 Sparks Street, Suite 901 2075 Kennedy Road Ottawa, Ontario, K2J 1L1 Toronto, ON M1T 3V4  laurie.amiruddin@thomson.com robin.dewe@lexisnexis.ca 1-800-342-6288 x 5034 or 416-298-5034 (613) 238-3499

Great Expectations: Are We Delivering What Great Expectations: Are We Delivering What They Need?They Need?

1.1. Attracting Students To Training Sessions. What Is WorkingAttracting Students To Training Sessions. What Is Working

Mandatory attendance

Course work or assignment directly related to online research. Pre-training assignments have been helpful.

Having the professor in attendance.

Improved attendance when faculty or librarian assists in promoting sessions. Promotion via Listservs had resulted in better attendance from upper year students.

Having an online signup process operated by the school has improved attendance (however only a few schools do this).

What Is Possibly HelpingWhat Is Possibly Helping

Online provider website announcements

Online provider system messages

Incentives such as giveaways

Challenges Regarding AttendanceChallenges Regarding Attendance

• Reaching second and third year students. There is often no course directly related to Reaching second and third year students. There is often no course directly related to online research as part of the curriculum. Therefore there is no incentive for students to online research as part of the curriculum. Therefore there is no incentive for students to hone their research skills. Third year classes and Advanced Legal Research classes are hone their research skills. Third year classes and Advanced Legal Research classes are better but often only reach committed students. better but often only reach committed students. 

• Students aren’t aware that cost-effective online research skills are required in the “real Students aren’t aware that cost-effective online research skills are required in the “real world”. First year classes have little awareness of the need for research skills and most world”. First year classes have little awareness of the need for research skills and most students learn by necessity when they need to know. Therefore it is hard to motivate students learn by necessity when they need to know. Therefore it is hard to motivate students to learn if it is not relevant at that point in time.students to learn if it is not relevant at that point in time.

• Limited faculty participation. Attending the session themselves (even a few minutes at the Limited faculty participation. Attending the session themselves (even a few minutes at the beginning to advise students of the relevance of the session to the course and the beginning to advise students of the relevance of the session to the course and the students’ legal career). Creating course assignments that require use of online services.students’ legal career). Creating course assignments that require use of online services.

• Personal time constraints for studentsPersonal time constraints for students

• Belief that the web has all the information they need and it is reliableBelief that the web has all the information they need and it is reliable

2. Challenges to effective training (once we have them attending!)2. Challenges to effective training (once we have them attending!)

• Time constraints. Often sessions must be demo format rather than hands on.

• Information overload – training on at least four major systems and perhaps CD ROM and paper products within a short span of time.

• Timing. Occasionally, we train students before they have acquired a basic understanding of legal research in general.

• When printed versions of online reference materials exist, it is helpful for students to learn how to use the print materials before learning them online. Otherwise, they fail to grasp the structure and function of the materials and treat the service like an online search engine, merely searching for keywords. We want to help them understand the structure of legal information in general and how one piece relates to another. By examining the print products, the students understand the importance of the classification schemes and can better incorporate them into their online searching.

• Keeping students’ interest. Students don't take training seriously unless it is related to their assignments. Also, students don't realize how important their online research skills will be until they get into a firm. 

• Online companies are not allowed to train in some schools.

Challenges To Effective Training (Once We Have Them Attending!)Challenges To Effective Training (Once We Have Them Attending!)

What Is WorkingWhat Is Working

Pre-training assignments. We have had success particularly with first-year students in situations where the Legal Research & Writing Instructor provides the student with pre-work assignments before the actual training session(s). Students retain what they learn more readily if their research training is integrated into their classroom work, rather than a one-time event.

Relevant or humorous search examples.

Pre-training surveys. Having faculty or librarian complete a “needs” survey has assisted us in tailoring training sessions.

Assigning online tutorials as pre-work.

Online certification testing as post-work. Students find this beneficial as they may add it to their resumes.

3. Wish List3. Wish List

☺ Having faculty more involved with explaining the importance of online research skills services in the students’ legal career

☺ Professors remain in session (even for a few minutes) so students pay attention, this would also show students value of session

☺ More time to train students. We need at least two hours to cover one online service. Trying to combine CD and online training into the same small window of time leaves students confused and unable to use either product effectively. Ideally, we would like to provide basic level training, and then follow up at a later date with a more advanced course.

☺ Provide an assignment to students shortly following training.

☺ More tying in of student assignments to the use of the online services.

☺ Mandatory “pre-articling” training for 2nd and 3rd year students including a cost-effective skills assignment

☺ Allow online vendors to do training and to conduct “train-the-trainer” sessions for academic staff or anyone else who conduct training.

☺ Assist in promoting training sessions to students. For example, sending emails, posting and Listservs. Better, more consistent advertising of sessions . .

4. What Can We As Information Providers Do To Better Deliver “What They Need”?4. What Can We As Information Providers Do To Better Deliver “What They Need”?

In a training session, we prefer to focus on how to use the service, but realistically speaking, In a training session, we prefer to focus on how to use the service, but realistically speaking, we also need to provide students with an understanding of how costs will be recovered once we also need to provide students with an understanding of how costs will be recovered once students are working in firms. Students get used to having all of their research tools provided students are working in firms. Students get used to having all of their research tools provided for free, and there is a concern that once they enter firms, they may not be cost-effective for free, and there is a concern that once they enter firms, they may not be cost-effective researchers. We need to know how much, and at what point, law schools and firms want us to researchers. We need to know how much, and at what point, law schools and firms want us to focus on the cost recovery of research. focus on the cost recovery of research.

Question. Question. Would it be more effective to have separate sessions to cover this, so as not Would it be more effective to have separate sessions to cover this, so as not to take away from the regular training on the use of the service?to take away from the regular training on the use of the service?

Work with faculty and librarians to develop “Cost-effective” skills assignment(s). However, Work with faculty and librarians to develop “Cost-effective” skills assignment(s). However, how do we get students to see the relevance?how do we get students to see the relevance?

We would like to have information sessions and/or provide training sessions for teaching We would like to have information sessions and/or provide training sessions for teaching faculty so that they may see the application of online research to their courses.faculty so that they may see the application of online research to their courses.

Developing formal student certification program/courses in conjunction with law school Developing formal student certification program/courses in conjunction with law school librarians and law firms. librarians and law firms.

School and firm librarians would help us by directing students to our online tutorials and School and firm librarians would help us by directing students to our online tutorials and integrating this program into their course assignments in preparation for sessions.integrating this program into their course assignments in preparation for sessions.

Two-part sessions (a few weeks apart)Two-part sessions (a few weeks apart)

5. Difference in training 1st year students and summer students/articling students:5. Difference in training 1st year students and summer students/articling students:

Articling students …Articling students …

• Take their training more seriously (attendance is usually mandatory)Take their training more seriously (attendance is usually mandatory)

• Ask more questions and have a grasp of what legal research is aboutAsk more questions and have a grasp of what legal research is about

• Ask questions related to specific research topicsAsk questions related to specific research topics

• Ask questions about client billing and cost recovery Ask questions about client billing and cost recovery

• Summer Students … Summer Students …

• Same as articling students except they are a bit less secureSame as articling students except they are a bit less secure

• Anxious to learn and do a good job in the hopes of being rehired as an articling student. Anxious to learn and do a good job in the hopes of being rehired as an articling student.

First Year Students …First Year Students …

• Have limited knowledge of real-world application of legal research and client billing and their importanceHave limited knowledge of real-world application of legal research and client billing and their importance

• Ask fewer questions Ask fewer questions