Professional Development and
Lifelong Learning Opportunities for
Library & Information Science
Professionals through E-learning
Portals
S.C. Kumaresan
Head Librarian,
Academic Bridge Program, Qatar Foundation
Objective of the paper
To sensitize professional associations, policy makers of
government, university authorities and the library professionals,
especially in the developing world, on the need to create a
professional development program through e-learning portals.
What is the Need?
Professional development (PD) opportunity for library professional
are very limited in the developing countries.
Mandatory only to certain categories of employment, where career
advancement is linked with professional development.
Professional development through e-learning portals can bridge the
gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’.
Why E-learning Portals?
◦ Portals organize information and courses from various locations
on a single website.
◦ Anywhere – Anytime.
◦ Self-paced learning.
◦ Reduced costs in terms of travel and lodging.
Types of e-learning courses
Text based courses – contents usually are text based with hyperlinks
to glossaries and other materials.
Animation bases courses – contents usually are moving
illustrations or diagrams coupled with audio.
Video based courses – contents usually are full-motion video clips
of a lecture or a dramatized sequence.
Web based courses – contents are combination of all the above.
Human
Factor
Technology Design
Factor Factor
Human Factor – includes trainers/instructors and learners.
Technology Factor – includes technology for preparation & delivery of contents.
Design Factor – includes content management, assessment & evaluation and
feedback.
Factors affecting web-based courses
Government, Academia & Professional
Bodies – What are their stakes? Government
◦ Recognition & accreditation
◦ Capacity building
◦ Building strong regional teams
◦ Publicize
◦ Provide appropriate infrastructure
Academia
◦ Designs and delivers Online Professional Development (OPD) programs
◦ Certification
◦ Work with professional bodies in creating portfolios at all levels
Professional Associations
◦ Promoting and motivating
◦ Needs-assessment of members
◦ Provide feedback and inputs to the academia
Model E-learning Program
Integrated Online Professional Development with face-to-face
meeting
◦ At the beginning as a Kick-starter for the program
Why?
◦ Orient the learners about the online program
◦ Provide hands on experience on the technology & course content
◦ Build a strong rapport with trainers and peer learners
◦ Answer questions from learners
Course Design
Courses Types
◦ Courses to be taken in isolation
◦ Courses to be taken in concert – webinars
◦ Blended courses – face-to-face & online interactions
Course Design & Content Management
- Challenges Course Design
◦ Ability to disseminate & share learning materials, modules
◦ Oversee performance of learners online
◦ Provide interactivity between trainers & learners
Content Management
◦ Pedagogical and technological aspects for content delivery
◦ Ability to provide a wide range of learning tools and resources
◦ Ability to submit assignments and reports online
…challenges
Operations & Administration
◦ Ability to have a control over the technology used for course
delivery
◦ Ability to manage the end-users – learners & trainers
◦ Ability to administer access control rights to learners & trainers
◦ Ability to generate adequate reports, transcripts, certificate of
course completion etc.,
Assessment & Evaluation
◦ Ability to administer formative as well as summative assessments
modules and evaluate learners
◦ Ability of get feedback from the learners and trainers
Design Cycle of E-learning Portals
E-Portals
Course/Content Technology Design
Management Management
Pedagogy
Assessment
Evaluation Feedback
Advantages & Disadvantages of
E-learning PortalsAdvantages
◦ Ability to pursue a PD program from anywhere and anytime.
◦ Self-paced learning and training.
◦ Availability of vast resources through hyperlinks in different formats.
◦ Efficiency and consistency in the delivery of course and content.
◦ Reduced costs in terms of travel and lodging on the part of the trainer and learners.
◦ Quick feedback and evaluation of learner performances.
◦ Use of multimedia-rich resources for teaching and learning.
◦ Generate additional revenues from advertisements in portals.
Disadvantages
◦ Non availability of infrastructure in rural areas of developing countries.
◦ Initial investment in technology and infrastructure.
◦ Authenticity of learner’s work cannot be verified in online assessments.
◦ Technological snags & security threats.
◦ Reduced social and cultural interaction with peers and trainers.
Questions?
Thank You!
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