Chowdhury, G. and Chowdhury, S. (2006) Chowdhury, G. and Chowdhury, S. (2006) e-learning support for LIS e-learning support for LIS education in UK.education in UK. In: 7th Annual Conference of the Subject Centre for In: 7th Annual Conference of the Subject Centre for
Information and Computer Sciences, 29-31 Aug 2006, Dublin, Ireland.Information and Computer Sciences, 29-31 Aug 2006, Dublin, Ireland. http://eprints.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/2384/http://eprints.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/2384/
e-learning support for LIS e-learning support for LIS education in UKeducation in UK
Gobinda G. ChowdhuryGobinda G. Chowdhuryandand
Sudatta ChowdhurySudatta ChowdhuryDept. of Computer and Information SciencesDept. of Computer and Information Sciences
University of Strathclyde, GlasgowUniversity of Strathclyde, Glasgow
The eLLIS ProjectThe eLLIS Project
eLLIS (an investigation of the e-Learning eLLIS (an investigation of the e-Learning environments in the LIS departments in environments in the LIS departments in British universities) is a project, funded by British universities) is a project, funded by the Higher Education Academy Subject the Higher Education Academy Subject Network Development FundNetwork Development Fund
eLLIS: AimseLLIS: Aims
how the LIS departments in UK support e-how the LIS departments in UK support e-learning by providing access to information learning by providing access to information resources and services on the intranet, and resources and services on the intranet, and manage courses through the intranetmanage courses through the intranet
how the university libraries provide support for e-how the university libraries provide support for e-learning of LIS students by making information learning of LIS students by making information resources and services available specifically to resources and services available specifically to the LIS courses, and the LIS courses, and
how the students perceive and use these how the students perceive and use these intranet and library services. intranet and library services.
Data CollectionData Collection
Through Department WebpagesThrough Department Webpages Through the University library webpagesThrough the University library webpages By contacting the departmentBy contacting the department Students surveyStudents survey
General findingsGeneral findings
Fifteen UK departments now offer LIS courses Fifteen UK departments now offer LIS courses Name of the departments offering such courses Name of the departments offering such courses
differs: while some are Information differs: while some are Information Science/Studies/Management departments or Science/Studies/Management departments or schools, others are Computer and Information schools, others are Computer and Information Sciences, Business Schools, and so onSciences, Business Schools, and so on
Title of the courses varies from Information and Title of the courses varies from Information and Library Management to Information and Library Library Management to Information and Library Studies, Information Services Management, Studies, Information Services Management, Information Studies, Librarianship, Library and Information Studies, Librarianship, Library and Information Studies, etc.Information Studies, etc.
General findings (2)General findings (2)
Most of the LIS courses are offered at PG Most of the LIS courses are offered at PG level, though there are some UG (Hons.) level, though there are some UG (Hons.) courses toocourses too
LIS courses are offered in both fulltime and LIS courses are offered in both fulltime and part-time modes in most universities part-time modes in most universities
Some departments also offer courses in the Some departments also offer courses in the distance learning modedistance learning mode
e-learning support from the e-learning support from the DepartmentsDepartments
All the concerned LIS departments have embraced All the concerned LIS departments have embraced ICT for providing e-learning support services in ICT for providing e-learning support services in some form or the othersome form or the other
Some departments use VLEs (like WebCT) used in Some departments use VLEs (like WebCT) used in their university while others use in-house systems their university while others use in-house systems (such as by the department of Computer and (such as by the department of Computer and Information Sciences at the university of Strathclyde Information Sciences at the university of Strathclyde and Department of Information and Communication and Department of Information and Communication at Manchester Metropolitan University) for at Manchester Metropolitan University) for managing online learning environments. managing online learning environments.
e-learning support from the e-learning support from the Departments (2)Departments (2)
The degree of support for online learning varies The degree of support for online learning varies from little (such as in case of the department from little (such as in case of the department (SLAIS) at UCL, to moderate such as at CIS at (SLAIS) at UCL, to moderate such as at CIS at Strathclyde, or IS at City to very high such as at Strathclyde, or IS at City to very high such as at RGU. RGU.
Students usually get information about the course Students usually get information about the course modules, handouts, and other course related modules, handouts, and other course related information including timetables, etc., though in information including timetables, etc., though in some cases access to such services can be some cases access to such services can be obtained through central services (such as through obtained through central services (such as through MUSE at Sheffield). MUSE at Sheffield).
CIS, Strathclyde PageCIS, Strathclyde Page
CoursesCourses
Some universities offer complete courses Some universities offer complete courses online; RGU and Strathclyde are specific online; RGU and Strathclyde are specific examplesexamples
Some departments provide one or more Some departments provide one or more modules online, City University is a typical modules online, City University is a typical exampleexample
Some universities have a centrally managed e-Some universities have a centrally managed e-learning service or portal that is the first port of learning service or portal that is the first port of entry for students, e.g. MUSE at Sheffield entry for students, e.g. MUSE at Sheffield
Assignments and AssessmentAssignments and Assessment
Some departments have gone completely paperless Some departments have gone completely paperless in case of assignment and dissertation submissions, in case of assignment and dissertation submissions, and assessment; IS at City university is an example. and assessment; IS at City university is an example.
Most departments require both an electronic and hard Most departments require both an electronic and hard copy submissions, CIS at Strathclyde is an examplecopy submissions, CIS at Strathclyde is an example
There are also departments that require only hard There are also departments that require only hard copy submission, SLAIS at UCL, and Information copy submission, SLAIS at UCL, and Information Services Management at London Metropolitan Services Management at London Metropolitan University are examples. University are examples.
Library SupportLibrary Support
Libraries provide access to a variety of electronic Libraries provide access to a variety of electronic resourcesresources
Organization of resources vary from one library Organization of resources vary from one library website to anotherwebsite to another
Some libraries have organized web resources to Some libraries have organized web resources to match students’ activities, e.g., London Metropolitan match students’ activities, e.g., London Metropolitan University Library categorises information resources in University Library categorises information resources in the following categories: the following categories: DirectoriesDirectories, , Documents Documents (like CILIP- Framework of qualifications), Gateways (like CILIP- Framework of qualifications), Gateways and Search Engines (and Search Engines (like HERO, SOSIG), like HERO, SOSIG), Information Information Skills (Skills (like LSE guides to using online resources), like LSE guides to using online resources), etc.etc.
LMU library LIM GuideLMU library LIM Guide
Information Skills TutorialInformation Skills Tutorial
Information Skills TutorialInformation Skills Tutorial is a unique feature is a unique feature offered by the university libraries. offered by the university libraries.
However, the nature of training and tutorial However, the nature of training and tutorial facilities vary significantlyfacilities vary significantly
In some libraries the modules have been In some libraries the modules have been contextualized to serve the students in a contextualized to serve the students in a given discipline. See for example, LJMUgiven discipline. See for example, LJMU
University libraries often provide access to University libraries often provide access to digitized collections of the most frequently used digitized collections of the most frequently used resources. For example, at LJMU the resources. For example, at LJMU the Electronic Electronic Key Text Key Text is a digitized collection of mostly is a digitized collection of mostly requested journal articles and book extracts that requested journal articles and book extracts that can be accessed on or off-campus can be accessed on or off-campus
Online information databases and services come Online information databases and services come with their own help files to support the users. with their own help files to support the users. However, in order to maximize electronic access, However, in order to maximize electronic access, and thus e-learning, some university libraries and thus e-learning, some university libraries provide additional help facilities. See for example, provide additional help facilities. See for example, the RGU library websitethe RGU library website
160 responses were received160 responses were receivedTable 1: How do the students get access to Online Course Information?
University (N)University (N)Department Department website (%)website (%)
University VLE University VLE (%)(%)
Either of these Either of these (%)(%)
None of None of these (%)these (%)
The Robert Gordon University (37)The Robert Gordon University (37) 88 8484 88 00
LoughboroughLoughborough
(35)(35)2626 4545 2626 33
Liverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpool John Moores University
(1)(1)00 100100 00 00
MMU (29)MMU (29) 8686 1010 44 00
University of Sheffield (13)University of Sheffield (13) 2323 33 3131 1515
University of Strathclyde (15)University of Strathclyde (15) 9393 00 77 00
University of the West of England (UWE) (4)University of the West of England (UWE) (4) 00 100100 00 00
UCL (26)UCL (26) 8181 00 1919 00
Availability of lecture notes, handouts, etc.
University (N)University (N)Every module (%)Every module (%) Most of the Most of the
modules (%)modules (%)Some of the modules Some of the modules (%)(%)
University of Sheffield University of Sheffield (13)(13)
5454 2323 88 1515
University of Strathclyde University of Strathclyde (15)(15)
7373 1313 1414 00
UCL (26)UCL (26) 1919 3535 3535 1111
LJMU (1)LJMU (1) 100100 00 00
UWE (4)UWE (4) 5050 2525 2525 00
Adequacy of the materials available through the course website
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ConclusionConclusion
Despite these myriad of research and development Despite these myriad of research and development activities in relation to building VLEs, digital libraries, activities in relation to building VLEs, digital libraries, electronic coursepacks, institutional repositories, and so electronic coursepacks, institutional repositories, and so on, there are currently no systems that provide seamless on, there are currently no systems that provide seamless access to scholarly as well as course and module related access to scholarly as well as course and module related information, and a variety of information that are currently information, and a variety of information that are currently hidden under several layers of institutional intranets and hidden under several layers of institutional intranets and web and local databases and files. web and local databases and files.
LIS departments and the corresponding university libraries, LIS departments and the corresponding university libraries, although are trying hard to create an environment of although are trying hard to create an environment of technology-enhanced learning, the current level support for technology-enhanced learning, the current level support for e-learning is far from ideal. e-learning is far from ideal.
Conclusion (2)Conclusion (2) As may be noted from some of the students’ comments, As may be noted from some of the students’ comments,
and the discussions earlier in this report, the current levels and the discussions earlier in this report, the current levels of services are inconsistent, and in many cases, lack of services are inconsistent, and in many cases, lack standards and uniformity.standards and uniformity.
Concerted efforts are to be made by the departments, Concerted efforts are to be made by the departments, university libraries, ICT and learning services to come up university libraries, ICT and learning services to come up with a standard and uniform practice, and guidelines for with a standard and uniform practice, and guidelines for creating a creating a student-centredstudent-centred and and technology-enhanced technology-enhanced learning environmentlearning environment. .
We suggest that in order to build a true managed learning We suggest that in order to build a true managed learning environment, environment, we need to build a student-centred and we need to build a student-centred and integrated technologyintegrated technology. .
A managed learning environment should not only A managed learning environment should not only support support e-learning, bute-learning, but should also enrich the overall ‘student should also enrich the overall ‘student experience’experience’ that includes not only the learning facilities, that includes not only the learning facilities, but the overall life and experience of a student at a but the overall life and experience of a student at a university.university.
