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Distance Education and Libraries

Brigitte Kühne

Växjö University Library

Sweden

E-mail: Brigitte.Kuhne@bib.vxu.se

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Points today

• Changing patterns within student groups

• Definition of distance education

• Student support in distance education

• The need of support from libraries in distance education

• The DERAL project

• Summary

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Changing Patterns within Student Groups:

• Less young students

• More middle-aged and older students

• More variation in previous knowledge

• Combination of work and studies

• Cultural multiplicity

• Better knowledge about IT

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Definition of Distance Education

• Teaching and learning where educator and learner are separated in time and space

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Student Support in Distance Education:

• Cognitive

• Affective

• Systemic(A. Tait, 2000)

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The Need of Support from Libraries in Distance Learning

• Internet technology and distance education

• Bangemann Report 1994

• Life-long learning (EU initiative 1996)

• Swedish “Kunskapslyft”

• Virtual universities/highschools etc• Learning resource centers

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The DERAL project:Distance Education in Rural

Areas via Libraries

• A Telematics for Libraries Project

• Programme/Action Line: FP 4/C

• Start: May 1998

• End: December 2000

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Participants:

• Kalmar Läns Bibliotek, Växjö University Library, Sweden, coordinator

• Büchereiverband Österreichs, AT

• Ayuntamiento de Huesca, ES

• University of Ulster, UK

• Dublin Corporation Public Libraries, IE

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Aims:

• To provide public librarians with guidelines concerning distance learning via Internet

• To develop a gateway for Web based distance learning resources for adult distance learners

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Main Results

• Experiences from different library systems

• Experiences from distance education via libraries

• Guide-lines (coming soon)

• Gateway to distance courses at http://deral.infc.ulst.ac.uk

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What is Needed in the Library?

• Sufficient localities

• Open localities, accessibility

• Well equipped computers in local network

• Other technical equipment

• Video-conference equipment

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What is Needed in the Library? (cont)

• Administrative student service

• Personnel resources

• Reference ant other supplying material

• Examination possibilities

(See also NITUS, www.nitus.org)

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What is Needed from a Librarian?

• a new focus on librarians´ education in order to:– become a tutor– be a specialist and supporter– give special advice and guidance to students

with special needs– give active support at all kinds of literature and

information seeking

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What is Needed from a Librarian? (cont)

• a new focus on librarians´ education in order to:– have good knowledge in security and copyright

issues– have good knowledge in new teaching methods– have good knowledge about special pedagogy

for adults– work as a teacher and information provider– make evaluations of different kinds

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In Other Words:

• The future librarian will turn from an information expert to an active partner in educational work

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Summary Five roles for librarians:

• Facilities provider

• Honest broker

• Information provider

• Educator

• Marketer

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How to find the gateway:

At the homepage of the DERAL-project:

http://deral.infc.ulst.ac.uk

Click on your prefered language and you will find links to courses in all those languages

plus much more

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For more information

Brigitte Kühne, Ph.D.,

Library Director

Växjö University

SE-351 95 Växjö

SWEDEN

E-mail: Brigitte.Kuhne@bib.vxu.se

www.vxu.se