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9 - Re-usable learning objects for information literacy: are they practical?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 June 2018

Nancy Graham
Affiliation:
The University of Birmingham, UK
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Summary

Introduction

This paper will explore the emerging themes from the Eduserv-funded Birmingham Re-Usable Materials (BRUM) project. Particular elements of the project stand out as needing further exploration, including the technology used in the project and design attributes of the re-usable learning objects (RLOs), liaison with academics and students and issues for the future, including use of Web 2.0 to deliver information skills training. The paper will look at how practical it is to create electronic RLOs for information skills training and the key issues to consider.

Background

The BRUM project ran from June 2006 to February 2007 at the University of Birmingham (UK). The project aimed to create electronic RLOs to support students in developing information skills. The project team (consisting of two librarians) worked with a group of four academics to deliver the learning objects within curricula and to gather qualitative feedback from students using questionnaires and a focus group. The findings of the project were published in a project report available from www.is2.bham.ac.uk/blasst/brum.htm.

Fifteen new RLOs were created and hosted on a web page. The RLOs were used in lectures and an institutional virtual learning environment (VLE) (WebCT) and different software was used to create such RLOs as a quiz on referencing and an online demonstration on literature searching. In the focus group students were asked to evaluate the RLOs and to discuss information skills training in general.

Technology and attributes of RLOs

There is a plethora of software to create RLOs and the project team took this as an opportunity to try out different software and evaluate the results. Different software was used to create RLOs on the same topics to appeal to different learning styles. The project team were also aware that the RLOs should reflect the need to support independent learning and so created learning objects that had specific attributes designed to do this.

Use of new and different software

The project team utilized everyday software, including Microsoft PowerPoint, and bought in new software for the creation of some RLOs, including Macromedia Captivate, Camtasia and Turning Technologies’ Turning Point.

Type
Chapter
Information
Libraries Without Walls 7
Exploring ‘anywhere, anytime’ delivery of library services
, pp. 81 - 90
Publisher: Facet
Print publication year: 2008

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