Using Dimdim to Overcome the Barrier of Distance for

Information Literacy Training

Lucy Collins

Sir Herbert Duthie Library

Distance Learning Service (DLS)

14 Courses

• Medic & PGMDE• Postgraduate• Returning to Study

Library Induction

Library Support

• 8 courses receive face to face induction

• 5 e-learning courses complete online task

• Dedicated enquiry service• Postal loan / article request

service• DLS Blog• DLS Toolkit

DLS Tookit

Linked to from within VLE

Mostly used by students receiving face-to-face induction

Lack of awareness from students receiving no induction

Overcoming the barrier of distance

• How can we better support these students and promote the use of the DLS Toolkit?• Students located around the world• Students do not attend the campus

Web-conferencing

Why Dimdim?

• Free!

• Easy to use

• No software installation

• Reliable

Where to start?

• Set up an account www.dimdim.com

• Set up a web-cam on PC

• Trialled with colleagues off and on-campus

• Settings tweaked

• Four “Library Refresher” tutorials advertised via DLS Blog & Blackboard

• 24th November – first live tutorial

Dimdim Dos & Don’ts

• Advertise sessions two weeks in advance

• Use public chat for questions rather than audio

• No more than ten participants

• Allow ten minutes settling in time

• Ask questions throughout session

• Run Dimdim in Internet Explorer and other windows in Firefox

Free Dimdim vs Pro DimdimFree Pro

20 attendees 50 attendees

N/A Record & embed meetings into websites

4 microphones 7 microphones

1 web cam 2 web cams

Faster and more secure

Custom Branding

Registration Widgets

Contact

• Any questions please contact me

• collinsl2@cf.ac.uk

• 02920 742875