Q PROJECT 2005-6 Are search skills and file management skills barriers to using e-learning materials? PROJECT BRIEF.

Q PROJECT 2005-6

Are search skills and file management skills barriers to using e-learning materials?

PROJECT BRIEF

`Communities of practice’ E- learning materials can be shared

across a subject area, a curriculum division or across the college

Do we have ‘communities of practice’ for e-learning?

How can they be created?

 Lave and Wenger (1991) cited by Levy (2005) in Levy and Roberts (eds) Developing the new learning environment: the changing role of the academic librarian p.29 London: Facet Publishing

Questions to be answered

Where do staff store materials?

How are materials structured?

How do staff search for materials?

How do staff use these materials?

‘Community’ One Social and

Professional Studies ILC

FdA Early Childhood Studies/BTEC Health & Social Care

Have asked for materials to be uploaded to VLE

VLE VLE 2

SPS AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

‘Community’ Two Construction ILC Carpentry and

Joinery courses Resources stored

on local network or in personal files – fragmented structureCONSTRUCTION AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Common sense?STRUCTURING YOUR STORAGE, YOUR

ENQUIRIES

AND SHARING YOUR GOALS

WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR SUPPORT STAFF TO ASSIST YOU

Why structure your search for e-learning objects?

Any search can benefit from the following questions:

What do I need? What format should it be in? What do I want it to do? How much time do I have?

Examples of current storage

Staff files for carpentry and joinery on our local network

Contents of folder labelled ‘Roof Geometry’ – images

‘screen images’ © 2006 Microsoft Corporation

Moving resources to e-repository

Should mean: Easier searching and updating Learning outcomes can be

described for all users Materials can be packaged to suit

staff and student needs Sharing materials becomes easier

Next step: select your resources to store in e-repository Wherever your resources are to be

found you need to be familiar with the storage structures E-REPOSITORY

For efficient search and retrieval you also need agreement on how the e-resources are described

Questions to be answered What learning outcomes are required

from this material? How complex should it be? – language,

learning styles and activities. Course - agreed title, dates and

administration details – to identify materials for updating

Agreed titles/keywords for describing e-learning objects

SEARCHING FOR E-LEARNING MATERIALS

QUESTIONS----------------------ACCESS------------VLE

How much time do I have? What do I want ? – subject and purpose Who for? Level Activity/ Time needed Learning outcomes

Can I find an e-learning object without help? Does it need to be placed in e-repository? Who needs to be able to use it? Where will I be using this resource? – in or outside college? Where do I go for support – with access, storage and delivery?

STRUCTURE OF WHERE MATERIALS ARE STORED NOW STRUCTURE OF E-REPOSITORY DESCRIBING MATERIALS FOR STORAGE FILE MANAGEMENT FOR STORAGE, RETRIEVAL AND REPACKAGING

HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT TEACHING STAFF, IT SUPPORT STAFF

AND LIBRARY AND INFORMATION

SERVICES STAFF

ARE USING THE SAME ‘LANGUAGE’?

File management skills Agreed folder structures for resource

delivery framework FOLDERS

Agreed authority files for key words used to describe e-learning materials to be stored in e-repository DRAFT FILE

Agreed procedures for storing best materials in e-repository

Agreed protocols for titles and descriptions

Outcomes

Draft authority files for adding resources to e-repository

CPD sessions on file management with staff in Integrated Learning Centre (ILC) FILE MANAGEMENT

Range of resources uploaded to VLE to agree with divisional priorities SPS OUTCOMES

Outcomes Glossary of terms for

Carpentry and Joinery

Draft authority files for adding resources to e-repository

Range of resources uploaded to VLE to agree with divisional prioritiesCONSTRUCTION OUTCOMES

Additional outcomes – added value

Understanding value of structuring ‘formal & informal learning’ in the Integrated Learning Centres (ILC)

ILC team has greater awareness of potential for resource management through the VLE and e-repository

Additional outcomes – added value

• Project outcomes and experience have informed e-learning planning across the college

• Need to plan CPD/inductions on subject focussed search strategies and e-repository file management

• Improved PowerPoint and file management skills!