Andrea Eastman-Mullins, Information & Technology Coordinator, UNC TLTC

Dr. Ray Purdom, Director of the University Teaching and Learning Center, UNC Greensboro

Needs Assessment for a System-Wide Digital Asset Repository at UNC

MERLOT International ConferenceJuly 26, 2005

Slide 2MERLOT, 07/26/05

Overview

1. The UNC TLTC & UNC Content System Committee

2. Needs Assessment Plan & Results3. Key Questions & Next Steps4. Another Perspective: UNC Greensboro

Slide 3MERLOT, 07/26/05

We areA consortial organization within the UNC Office of the President

that provides vision and shared resources in support of teaching and learning with technology programs and initiatives

on the 16 UNC campuses.

VisionThe TLTC will advance collaborative processes that empower

teachers, learners, providers of instructional support, and decision makers to make the best possible use of technology in promoting learning.

About the UNC TLT Collaborative

Slide 4MERLOT, 07/26/05

The University of North Carolina

“How can we do more together?”“How can we do more together?”

Slide 5MERLOT, 07/26/05

UNC Content System Committee

Began with the TLTC Board Considered a system-wide pilot of Blackboard’s

content system. Discussion uncovered need to understand UNC’s

requirements.

Requirements Committee formed (UNC CMS) 15 members from 11 campuses plus UNC-TV and the

Office of the President Includes librarians, administrators, IT staff, faculty

center directors, etc.

Slide 6MERLOT, 07/26/05

UNC CMS: Initial Questions

Different views on “content system” Assumption from Board this would be primarily a

learning object repository. Assumption from others this would be a document

collaboration tool. Librarians’ knowledge about Institutional Repositories

Duplication of other projects? MERLOT UNC Professional Development

Portal

What do we really want?What do we really want?

Slide 7MERLOT, 07/26/05

UNC CMS: Needs Assessment Plan

Before forming requirements, we wanted feedback from UNC campuses.

1) Focus Groups Learn how faculty want to use this kind of repository.

What kind of resources do faculty share? What processes are used now to share and collaborate? Are there technical or other barriers to sharing?

2) Web SurveyIntended to reach a wider audience and ask more specific

questions based on findings from focus groups.

Slide 8MERLOT, 07/26/05

UNC CMS: Needs Assessment

Focus Groups held Spring 2005 Campus-based including a mix of faculty, librarians,

IT staff, etc. Led by campus’ CMS committee representative. Moderator’s guide with open questions on “sharing.”

What content do you want to share or access? How are you sharing now? What barriers are there to sharing? What would help facilitate sharing?

Five focus groups held (NC A&T, UNC-CH, UNCG, UNCW, WSSU)

Slide 9MERLOT, 07/26/05

UNC CMS: Focus Group Results

Common themes: 1. Desire to share both teaching and research material. 2. Reluctance to share actual teaching materials but

openness to sharing best practices and teaching tools.

3. Concern over intellectual property rights.4. Enthusiasm to share multimedia. 5. Storage vs. sharing

“It is more of a future wish that people share than

a current reality.”--focus group participant

“It is more of a future wish that people share than

a current reality.”--focus group participant

Slide 10MERLOT, 07/26/05

Focus Group Results

What content would you like to share or access?

Common Responses (4-5 groups)

Teaching ToolsSharing “Best Practices,” guides for creating learning objects. Assessment tools

Project Work / ResearchSurvey data, grant proposals. “Document exchange” for drafted material

MultimediaStreaming video, MP3 files, images that are copyright free No storage space now to adequately share multimedia.

Slide 11MERLOT, 07/26/05

Focus Group Results

What content would you NOT want to share?

Common Responses (4 groups)

Teaching MaterialOriginal digital material for which you want ownership rightsLecture notes, PowerPoint’s or other course materials.Online Courses – Instead create sample coursesIntellectual Property and Tacit Knowledge.

Sensitive InformationStudent grades, Personal information, Evaluations, Promotions /

Tenure Track Positions

Slide 12MERLOT, 07/26/05

UNC CMS: Questions Raised

Are these results truly representative of the system?

Is the reluctance to share simply the expected first response when learning about learning objects?

Is creating a central storage repository the first step in encouraging sharing?

Should we focus efforts in another direction? What are other institutions experiencing?

Slide 13MERLOT, 07/26/05

UNC CMS: Next Steps

Committee reported to the TLTC Board in May. Will not proceed with a web survey now. Will shift to address intellectual property concerns.

Talking to UNC Faculty Assembly to examine this issue in the Fall.

What is working now within UNC? List of best practices for sharing content.

Slide 14MERLOT, 07/26/05

UNC Greensboro Content Sharing Practices Course Content for Multiple Section, Multiple

Instructor, Courses Shared Materials for Teaching Fellows Program e-Portfolios Common Database for Multiple Researchers at

Different Institutions Collaborative Journal Article Development Teaching with Technology Documents among the 16

UNC Campuses Collaborative Masters of Social Work offered by 2

UNC Campuses

Slide 15MERLOT, 07/26/05

Questions & Discussion

Andrea Eastman-Mullins

andrea@northcarolina.edu

Dr. Ray Purdom

rcpurdom@uncg.edu