Glasgow08

Tech-know-logy in Moodle-land, or why we still need to be serious about information literacy: a UK Open University Library perspective

Anne HewlingLibrary and Learning Resources CentreThe Open University 10th December 2008

Context

What is the Open University?• Students• Staff• VLE/Moodle

Library and Learning Resources Centre

All change?Students e.g.ELQ

Learning needs

Expectations

IT skills

So, what IS information literacy in our context??

‘making a mark’ and

‘making one’s mark’(Nancy Kaplan, 1995)

What was/is information literacy?A skill set for accessing, reviewing and using

information effectively

includes:• Searching• Evaluating• Choosing

• Manipulating• Keeping-up-to-date etc.

(Why) are we bovvered?http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm

The Internet is the world's largest library.  It's just that all the books are on the floor.  ~John Allen Paulos

Information on the Internet is subject to the same rules and regulations as conversation at a bar.  ~George Lundberg

I calculated the total time that humans have waited for web pages to load.  It cancels out all the productivity gains of the information age.  Sometimes I think the web is a big plot to keep people like me away from normal society.  ~Scott Adams

Wot’s in a wurd?

Revenge of the toolsMoreover, because disability is a growing feature of every country’s population i.e. current running at an estimated to affect 10 percent to 20 percent. Furthermore, disabled student are among the early adopters of personal computes and they needs and acquired knowledge base on communications technology at as a catalyst to enhance accessibility development… At present the stated web-logs are not being used by any student with mild of server disability. (TMA quote, 2007)

Reprise:

What was/is information literacy?A skill set for accessing, reviewing and using information

effectively

“Elapsed” phases: Ongoing phases:

•Finding information•Dealing with information•Evaluating information

•Managing quality and quantity•Keeping up to date in a time of information flood

Leading to – integrating, taming and harnessing inanimate objects…

What are we doing?Safari

Content available from OpenLearn under Creative Commons : http://labspace.open.ac.uk/

What are we doing?

mobileSafari

• Reinforcement – to supplement Safari

and • Revision – to re-focus attention

at critical points e.g. when doing assignment or project work

Online at: http://digilab.open.ac.uk/testarea/mobileSafari/index.php

Mobile Safari - homepage

PROMPT Learning Object

PROMPT - inner page

The model

Entry/exit screen with overall topic content

Main point one Main point two

Sub-points of main point one

Sub-points of main point two

Test 1 of main point one

Test 1 of main point two

Test 2 of main point one

Test 2 of main point two

Test 3 of main point one

Test 3 of main point two

Summary/take forward of main point

one

Summary/take forward of main point

two

Main point three

Sub-points of main point three

Test 1 of main point three

Test 2 of main point three

Test 3 of main point three

Summary/take forward of main point

three

Re-group of main points

Entry/exit screen with overall topic content

Learning Objects …in development

Main menu

Content entry

Learning Objects …in OU Moodle

Uploading

Positioning

Presenting

Developing people

Locally by unit or department – Learning and Teaching Librarians:

Developing people Associate Lecturers - PROWE (JISC project)

Looked at the potential of social networking Web 2.0 tools to support CPD for part time distance tutors at OU and UoL

• Can doesn’t mean will• Can doesn’t mean should• Multiple pathways reassure• Trying turns to doing• Peer practices make a difference

http://www.prowe.ac.uk

Developing people Institution-wide initiatives

Digilab

… a creative space to inspire and support innovation in the development of pedagogically effective learning materials... Digilab is a showcase for tools, technologies and resources illustrating how today's technology can nurture tomorrow's learners …

Used by course teams, faculty, and others involved in the design and delivery of learning

Digilab space and place

Digilab websiteand resources

Digilab Aims:

• raising awareness and confidence in using the technologies to be found in the Digilab

• considering the potential of using new technologies for delivering learning activities

• fostering teambuilding and interaction across development areas

Digilab Starting points

“…PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE THIS WORK

• Digilab is about trying, exploring, taking risks etc.

• Digilab is about shifting the paradigm towards e-learning

• Embed enquiry and “why/how can I?” questions into all that happens in Digilab

• Provide new knowledge and inspiration by means of case studies

• Work/experience in Digilab should generate outputs that can become part of the Digilab resource – e.g. leaving video/audio clip calling cards about the Digilab experience and the change it has invoked

• Quality is important

• Avoid paper

• “Doing” (even if not immediately successful) must be the focus of all resources/activities…

Internal development report 25/1/2007

Digilab Activities Digiquests Digibytes

• Smartphones, learning and you

• Immersive worlds, learning and you

• Games, learning and you

• User generated content, learning and you• Podcasting

• Video production

• Learning object evaluation on handheld devices

• Use of mobile blogging to gather user generated

content in learning contexts

• Introduction to Second Life

Digilab Activities Integration – using tools to learn about tools

Collaborative knowledge sharing to solve problems

A new initiative:

iKnow – information skills in the workplace

Anne HewlingThe Library and Learning Resources CentreThe Open UniversityWalton HallMilton KeynesMK7 6AA

[email protected]

www.open.ac.uk