Leabharlann UCD

An Coláiste Ollscoile, Baile

Átha Cliath,

Belfield, Baile Átha Cliath 4,

Eire

UCD Library

University College Dublin,

Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

Teaching Support:

Different Perspectives, Shared

Challenges

Ursula Byrne (ursula.byrne@ucd.ieCathal McCauley (cathal.mccauley@ucd.ie)

Presentation to CONUL Colloquium 5 February 2008

Overview

• Two perspectives on key issue of Teaching Support

• Supporting Learning/Information skills

• Enhancing the user experience using Web 2.0 tools/technologies

• Challenges for CONUL?

What has changed…

• Shifting emphasis from teaching to learning

• New flexible modes of teaching

• Focus on Lifelong learning– Student engagement in the learning process– Different learning styles– Part-time learning

• User profile

Securing “buy in”–

• “What exactly do you do ?”

• Increasingly complex information environment– Library as place

• Research behaviour trends – generational differences - “power browsers”

– “the education resulting from this age of the amateur as 'the University of Google', composed of shallow ideas, superficial surfing and fleeting commitments” Brabazon, 2008

Optimising opportunities…?

• Ad Hoc – (impact of semesterisation)

• In Modules

• Enquiry/Problem Based Learning

• Lunchtime sessions

• Information desks

• Online tutorials

Information literacy as an applied skill

• Workshops vs. lectures

• Training rooms

• Laptop trolleys

• Subject specific & Generic skills

Getting Buy-in

• School of Economics

• Marketing

- Learning objectives/outcomes

• Skills template

• Lesson plans

• Team approach

• => Information skills web-pages

Some UCD Statistics 2006 / 2007

Total attendances at information skills sessions

12,589

• 460 hours / 17 liaison librarians

• Of which 10 librarians delivered up to 30 hrs

• 2 librarians delivered 60+ hours

+ planning, preparation, evaluation , feedback

• Arts & Celtic Studies 21 sessions

• Business & Law 88 Sessions

• Human Sciences 100 sessions

• Life sciences 129 sessions

• Engineering, maths, physical sc. 28 Sessions

IS sessions given within structured modules (1-2 hours)

• School of Business (Quinn) 11

• School of Economics 13

• College of Arts & Celtic Studies 4

• Sch. Information & Library Studies 23

IS sessions given to academic staff and researchers (1-2 hours)

• Academic staff 36 sessions

• Researchers 34 sessions

IS - Look again at the team approach

• Achieving more collaboration – “buy-in”

• How sustainable is this approach?

• Our competition?– University of google– Direct marketing

• Who are the team players?– Educational technologist– Generic skills support– Teaching librarians?

• Team approach increasingly important in many areas e.g. Web 2.0

Web 2.0 and the user experience“There is a big difference between being where our users

are and being USEFUL to our users where they are”

CIBER 2008

• To enhance the user experience Web 2.0 tools must benefit users. Key measure but….

• Day of reckoning for Web 2.0 coming but not homogeneous = not easy!

What do we mean by Web 2.0?

• Web 2.0 tool should meet at least two of the following conditions:1. It allows people to communicate, collaborate, and

build community online.2. It can be syndicated, shared, reused, or remixed,

or it facilitates syndication.3. It lets people learn easily from and capitalize on

the behaviour or knowledge of others(Farakas, 2007)

• Key characteristics – pervasive, interactive, easy and dynamic.

• Where does something like this fit in CONUL libraries?

UCD Library and Web 2.0

• Organic and ad hoc initial development

• Key role of enthusiasts/champions

• Positive attitude to risk

• Staff support

• Senior Management encouragement

• Users’ views, desires and expectations have guided/shaped development

• All things to all users approach

Web 2.0 – “fleet footedness”

Since August 2007 (5 months) UCD IM platform:

Web 2.0 - Challenges

• Digital Nomads and Student attitudes

• Hype cycles – when to get on and … off!

• Ownership issues

• Establishing a baseline

Teaching Support – Shared Challenges

• Technology

• Organisational Culture

• Organisational Structure

• Need for service weeding – sustainability

• Staff training issues

• Library management issues

• Attitude to risk

• Student expectations and attitudes – e.g. the demand for specificity

• Positioning the library strategically within the university- library as place…!!

• Advocacy

• Information Skills as part of programmes

• Develop the teaching role…

Thank You

Questions and Discussion