1

MERLOTMERLOT- A Digital Library - A Digital Library of Learning Objects and the of Learning Objects and the Librarians Role Librarians Role

MERLOTMERLOT- A Digital Library - A Digital Library of Learning Objects and the of Learning Objects and the Librarians Role Librarians Role

Terry L. Weech

Graduate School of Library & Information Science.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

Revised 25-5-04

2

Background: E-Learning IssuesE-Learning IssuesBackground: E-Learning IssuesE-Learning Issues

• Economics of E-Learning– Cost Effectiveness (Part-time Teachers)

– Cost Benefit (Students do not have to relocate)

– Profit Center (Full tuition is paid)

• Politics of E-Learning– Increase Diversity of Student Body– Fashionable method of delivery

3

University of Illinois ExperienceUniversity of Illinois Experience• For more than 50 years had Off-Campus

and Correspondence Courses

• Proposed satellite program in Chicago not approved

• Friday’s Only program for commuting students implemented in early 1990s

• Need to meet needs of alternative students (racial and ethnic minorities, single mothers, etc.)

4

University of Illinois ExperienceUniversity of Illinois Experience• In 1995 a Internet Web Based program

was proposed

• The program was originally call called Leep because it was a Library Education Experimental Program

• LEEP was the first web-based degree granting program in the University and one of the first web-based LIS degree program in the U.S.

5

LEEP Distance Education ProgramLEEP Distance Education ProgramLEEP Distance Education ProgramLEEP Distance Education Program

• Background– Masters of Science in Library &

Information Science– Site independent– Primarily Internet-based

• limited on-campus component • synchronous• asynchronous

– Began 1996 - see http://leep.lis.uiuc.edu

6

Teaching & Learning in LEEPTeaching & Learning in LEEPTeaching & Learning in LEEPTeaching & Learning in LEEP

• Students

– 205 students. They have resided in

46 states (from Alaska to Florida),

Washington DC, Virgin Islands, and

13 Countries around the world.

– High retention, graduation, and

placement rates (342 have graduated

since established in 1996)

7

8

Teaching and Learning in Teaching and Learning in LEEPLEEP

Teaching and Learning in Teaching and Learning in LEEPLEEP

• Teachers

– GSLIS full-time faculty (Perhaps 30%

teach Leep)

– Adjuncts (part-time) from 11 locations

• Irvine, California to Bryn Mawr,

Pennsylvania

9

Teaching and Learning in Teaching and Learning in LEEPLEEP

Teaching and Learning in Teaching and Learning in LEEPLEEP

• Courses – 48 different courses

– Examples:• Core - reference, cataloging,

administration, collection development

• Serving special groups - media programs and services for children and young adults, adult public services, community information systems

10

Support of E-Learning FacultySupport of E-Learning FacultySupport of E-Learning FacultySupport of E-Learning Faculty

– Need to Support Faculty Developing e-learning materials

– Need to Evaluate e-learning materials– To Reward Faculty for Developing e-

learning materials (Tenure & Promotion)

– MERLOT has been developed to take steps to meet these needs.

11

What is MERLOT?What is MERLOT? What is MERLOT?What is MERLOT?

–Merlot stands for:• Multimedia

• Educational

• Resource for

• Learning and

• Online

• Teaching

12

What is MERLOT?What is MERLOT?What is MERLOT?What is MERLOT?

• MERLOT is an online repository of links to thousands of learning materials

• MERLOT Provides a mechanism for evaluation of learning material by faculty peers in selected disciplines

• MERLOT publishes sample assignments to demonstrate classroom applications

• MERLOT links people with common interests in a discipline.

13

Vision & MissionVision & MissionVision & MissionVision & Mission

• MERLOT’S VISION is to be the place where faculty from around the world will share teaching-learning materials and pedagogy.

• MERLOT’S MISSION is to improve the effectiveness of teaching & learning by expanding the quantity and quality of peer-reviewed online learning materials that can be easily incorporated into faculty designed courses.

14

Aspects of MERLOTAspects of MERLOTAspects of MERLOTAspects of MERLOT• MERLOT is a COOPERATIVE

• INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS• ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS• INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

• MERLOT is a SET OF PROCESSESPeer review of online teaching-learning materials

and building online, discipline-based communities.

• MERLOT is SOFTWAREA searchable database of online learning materials,

pedagogical support, and people.

15

THE SOFTWARETHE SOFTWARETHE SOFTWARETHE SOFTWARE

16

Browse Business Discipline PageBrowse Business Discipline PageBrowse Business Discipline PageBrowse Business Discipline Page

17

Peer Review of “Computer Literacy”Peer Review of “Computer Literacy”Peer Review of “Computer Literacy”Peer Review of “Computer Literacy”

18

Member Comments on “Computer Literacy”Member Comments on “Computer Literacy”Member Comments on “Computer Literacy”Member Comments on “Computer Literacy”

19

Link to “Learning Style Questionnaire”Link to “Learning Style Questionnaire”Link to “Learning Style Questionnaire”Link to “Learning Style Questionnaire”

20

21

22

Member Comments on QuestionnaireMember Comments on QuestionnaireMember Comments on QuestionnaireMember Comments on Questionnaire

23

Add Assignment PageAdd Assignment Page Add Assignment PageAdd Assignment Page

24

25

THE PROCESSESTHE PROCESSESMERLOT PrinciplesMERLOT PrinciplesTHE PROCESSESTHE PROCESSES

MERLOT PrinciplesMERLOT Principles

• Be Faculty Focused– Recognition for Teaching & Learning– Faculty-led Evaluation

• Be Focused on Teaching and Learning– A Teaching Community rather than

Teaching Alone

• Working Together Works• Make Tools EFFECTIVE, EASY, ENJOYABLE

26

MERLOT DISCIPLINE GROUPSMERLOT DISCIPLINE GROUPSMERLOT DISCIPLINE GROUPSMERLOT DISCIPLINE GROUPS

• Biology• Business• Chemistry• Engineering• Faculty

Development• Health Sciences• History

• Information Tech.• Mathematics• Music• Physics• Psychology• Teacher Education• World Languages

27

Peer ReviewsPeer ReviewsPeer ReviewsPeer Reviews

• Faculty Discipline Teams: • Adopt evaluation standards

– quality of content– potential effectiveness for teaching & learning– ease of use

• Develop peer review process• Develop roles and responsibilities as

MERLOT reviewers• Use MERLOT Worksites to sustain

productivity

28

MERLOT’s ValueMERLOT’s ValueMERLOT’s ValueMERLOT’s Value

The solutions to some local, institutional problems requires global strategies.

• MERLOT is: – committed to free access for end users– built upon the principle of open exchange of

ideas– almost 180 faculty working in concert– about 100 faculty development and academic

technology personnel supporting its use– a leveraging of partner resources

29

LIBRARY COLLEGE CONCEPT

LIBRARY COLLEGE CONCEPT

• The “Library College” is not just a College Library. It is a philosophy of delivering education through integration of library resources and services with classroom instruction.

• It began as the development of an undergraduate teaching library that integrates classroom instruction with library resources through the assignment of both teaching faculty and librarians to “team teaching” projects involving the course content from course development through content delivery and student assessment. Essentially librarians are part of the teaching faculty team.

30

MERLOT AND MERLOT AND LIBRARIANSLIBRARIANS

MERLOT AND MERLOT AND LIBRARIANSLIBRARIANS

• MERLOT, as a database of evaluated learning objects in a variety of disciplines, provides an opportunity for librarians and teaching faculty to work together in planning and developing online course materials

• The LIBRARY COLLEGE concept provides the tradition to facilitate this partnership between librarians and teaching faculty as in developing and assessing online learning materials

31

MERLOT AND MERLOT AND LIBRARIANSLIBRARIANS

MERLOT AND MERLOT AND LIBRARIANSLIBRARIANS

• Academic Librarians are impacted by course presentations and assignments given to students

• Faculty are knowledgeable about subject content, but may not be aware of options for presenting content to students

• Collaboration of faculty and librarians can improve outcomes

32

MERLOT Library InitiativeMERLOT Library InitiativeMERLOT Library InitiativeMERLOT Library Initiative

• Development of MERLOT taxonomy through collaboration of faculty, librarians, and publishers

• Librarian Participation in Editorial Board activities– Improving metadata; contributing materials;

• Reach out to librarians to participate in MERLOT

33

Visit: Visit: http://taste.merlot.orghttp://taste.merlot.orgfor more informationfor more information

Thank You!Thank You!

Email: weech@uiuc.eduEmail: weech@uiuc.edu

Visit: Visit: http://taste.merlot.orghttp://taste.merlot.orgfor more informationfor more information

Thank You!Thank You!

Email: weech@uiuc.eduEmail: weech@uiuc.edu

34

Questions?Questions?

Contact: Terry L. Weech Contact: Terry L. Weech Illinois Project Director for Illinois Project Director for MERLOT MERLOT

E-mail: E-mail: weech@uiuc.eduweech@uiuc.edu

Questions?Questions?

Contact: Terry L. Weech Contact: Terry L. Weech Illinois Project Director for Illinois Project Director for MERLOT MERLOT

E-mail: E-mail: weech@uiuc.eduweech@uiuc.edu