IL Symposium Apr . 3/09 Information Literacy and eLearning: NAIT Initiatives Isobel Rancier

1. IL Symposium Apr. 3/09 Information Literacy and eLearning: NAIT Initiatives Isobel Rancier

2. eLearning • “Set in the context of information literacy, what becomes innovative about e-learning is not the ‘e’ but the ‘learning’.” • Andretta, S. (2005). Information literacy: A practitioner's guide. Oxford: Chandos.

3. Overview • NAIT Libraries’ participation in eLearning: • CoordiNAITing Your Information Research course • Best Practices in eLearning Facilitation course • Embedded Librarian • Degree course development • Goal: “Reach out to students to engage them where the learning takes place.”

4. eLearning @ NAIT • Demand for eLearning opportunities is increasing • Emphasis on student-centered learning • Multidisciplinary team approach to new course development • Breakdown of barriers between librarians & faculty • IL competencies for eLearning students should be comparable to those for ‘on campus’ students. (From: ALA-ACRL “Standards for Distance Learning Library Services”)

5. CoordiNAITing Your Information Research • 8 module, self-paced online course • To guide students through the research process • Modules designed around NAIT IL Standards • Short experiential activities & quizzes for self-assessment • Videos, interactive tutorials • Wiki created during writing process to track progress

6. CoordiNAITing Your Information Research • Your Information Needs • Getting Started: NAIT Libraries’ Website • NAITCat • Searching for Articles in the Databases • Web Searching Techniques • Evaluating Information Resources • Presenting Your Information • Creating Citations & Avoiding Plagiarism

7. CoordiNAITing Your Information Research: For students • Promotion on student portal: • Facebook ad (NAIT network) • Promotion on library webpage • Promotion to instructors & consultants

8. CoordiNAITing Your Information Research : For Faculty • Content can be used in blended, online & f2f courses • Cut, customized & embedded in any program • Instructional videos created for research topics • IL activities can be modified

9. CoordiNAITing Your Information Research : Future Plans • Need student feedback • Tweak content & activities based on feedback • Build IM widget into the course • Increased promotion: webpage

10. NELI • NELI (NAIT eLearning Initiative) 2005-06 • 2-year pilot project (chaired by our Dean) • Library participated in sub-committees • To develop 5 fully online bus. admin. diploma courses • Best Practices Training Course for NAIT instructors

11. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in Arial, Uppercase, flush left/ragged right. Body text in ARIAL font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Insert new slide by selecting ‘Insert from menu and select ‘Duplicate slide’. Best Practices in eLearning Facilitation • Faculty should: • Experience quality online learning as students • Learn to facilitate in a fully online environment • Learn to model best practices in student-centered learning environment • Be active members of the eLearning community • Develop & enhance their IL skills • Learn how/where to embed relevant IL activities

12. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in ARIAL BOLD font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Body text in ARIAL REGULAR font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Best Practices in eLearning Facilitation • New instruction methods in eLearning • Synchronous: Elluminate (web conferencing), Chat, Second Life, Virtual office hours • Asynchronous: Discussion Boards, Email • Monitor a learning community • Embed IL components & activities

13. Best Practices in eLearning Facilitation Course Outline • “Information Literacy, a critical component of any course, has been embedded throughout the learning activities.” • Learning Outcome: Faculty will be able to… • Discuss the benefits and challenges involved in adapting course activities to include information literacy activities appropriate to the topic and to the eLearning environment.

14. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in Arial, Uppercase, flush left/ragged right. Body text in ARIAL font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Insert new slide by selecting ‘Insert from menu and select ‘Duplicate slide’. Best Practices in eLearning Facilitation • How do faculty experience IL as online students? • Conduct a web search for “eLearning icebreakers” • Evaluate web results • Search for an online video (title not provided) • Select relevant LHCADL databases for group research topic • Explore scholarly literature in LHCADL databases • Create an annotated bibliography • Evaluate journal articles & cite them • Post questions/comments to IL discussion forum • Use Meebo to contact library for help

15. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in Arial, Uppercase, flush left/ragged right. Body text in ARIAL font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Insert new slide by selecting ‘Insert from menu and select ‘Duplicate slide’. Best Practices in eLearning Facilitation • Promote IL resources • NAIT IL Standards • IL Matrix (diploma & baccalaureate) • IL Activities (elementary & advanced) • Program Resource Guides (program specific) • Quick Tips e.g. CRAAP Test, Database Tips etc. • Video tutorials & interactive tutorials

16. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in ARIAL BOLD font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Body text in ARIAL REGULAR font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Embedded Librarian in Best Practices • Co-facilitate course daily (evenings & weekends) • Post to Introductions discussionforum • Manage & guide the Library Questions & Tips discussion forum • IL Module • Manage & guide the Information Literacy discussion forum • Engage in every discussion forum • Participate in learning community • Offer quick intervention & feedback

17. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in ARIAL BOLD font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Body text in ARIAL REGULAR font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Embedded Librarian in Best Practices • Provide weekly tips for research • Generate discussion – post questions • Provide instruction (if needed) via Chat • Direct students to resources & services on library website • Assist individuals via course email (private) • Foster an awareness of IL topics • Participate in Second Life & Elluminate sessions

18. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in ARIAL BOLD font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Body text in ARIAL REGULAR font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Embedded Librarian in Best Practices Feedback from Faculty • “The addition of the information literacy component was certainly helpful in terms of integrating research and IL components into our own online courses.” • “The embedded librarian model … provides continuing support to students rather than the occasional ‘guest appearance’.” • “An embedded librarian … the ultimate outreach!”

19. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in ARIAL BOLD font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Body text in ARIAL REGULAR font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Embedded Librarian in Best Practices Future Plans • Expand EL Guidelines • Write an EL training handbook • Train more Embedded Librarians • Identify more research-based courses for ELs • Embed in Bachelor of Business Admin courses & Bachelor of Technology (Health stream) courses • Promote the service (but not too much!)

20. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in ARIAL BOLD font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Body text in ARIAL REGULAR font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Baccalaureate Course Development • Collaborative approach • Content Experts • Curriculum Consultants • Instructional Designers • Librarians (Resources & IL) • Web designers

21. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in ARIAL BOLD font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Body text in ARIAL REGULAR font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Baccalaureate Course Development Librarians’ Role • Partner with content expert at various stages • Read course outcomes & objectives • Review assignments & make IL recommendations • Recommend appropriate resources & formats • Create & embed small bits of focused instruction: videos, instructions, tutorials, research guides • Recommend IL activities where appropriate • Provide access to online collection, services & virtual help • Foster awareness of Embedded Librarians

22. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in ARIAL BOLD font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Body text in ARIAL REGULAR font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Baccalaureate Course Development Benefits to Librarians • Networking with faculty • Instruction beyond f2f classes • Promotion of online library resources & services • Promotion & integration of IL content & activities • Increased use of IM chat & virtual reference • Baccalaureate Library Services Committee • Participating in CDC meetings

23. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in ARIAL BOLD font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Body text in ARIAL REGULAR font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Embedded Librarian in BTech classes • Two BTech online courses • Provided course-specific IL content (screenshots, instructions, videos, tutorials, activities etc.) • Library Questions & Tips discussion forum • Actively involved in learning community on a daily basis • Not co-facilitating

24. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in ARIAL BOLD font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Body text in ARIAL REGULAR font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. NAIT eLearning Initiatives • Small scale results so far • Successful and growing • “Actions of small groups of interested staff” • No overarching, cohesive strategy to IL skills development (yet) • Process will undoubtedly change (again)

25. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in ARIAL BOLD font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Body text in ARIAL REGULAR font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. What’s Next? • Library & IL website redesign • Assessment of IL instruction (f2f and online) • Use of new instructional technologies – podcasts? • Move to Moodle CMS for online delivery • IL Module being developed for BMI; online version? • Need to address IL needs of larger NAIT population • Work with other institutions?

26. TEXT PAGE: Background pattern in top band. Title text set in ARIAL BOLD font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Body text in ARIAL REGULAR font, flush left/ragged right, upper & lowercase. Contact me Isobel Rancier Associate Coordinator, Instruction NAIT Libraries ph: 780.471.7853 isobelr@nait.ca