The INFORMS (Information Skills ) Project

Brief Presentation to e-libraries for e-

learning seminar

Jenny Brook, 28 Feb 2003

INFORMS Project

• Builds on the 5/99 DNER INHALE project’s outputs

• Collaboration involving 3 institutions– University of Huddersfield (Lead)– Loughborough University– University of Oxford

INFORMS using Inhale Outputs

• 7 Freely available Information Skills units http://inhale.hud.ac.uk tested initially within Blackboard modules and now generated from:-

• A database http://inhale.hud.ac.uk/cgi-bin/displaymain.pl of information skills/training materials• Audits of student/staff internet information searching

skills• Evaluation instruments and numerous evaluation reports • Various project tools

Database of units

• http://inhale.hud.ac.uk/cgi-bin/displaymain.pl

• Partners at Loughborough and Oxford (plus UCLan & LMU from) Writing to …..Editing….. Customising….within own Institutional Portfolios.

• Additional Subject areas: Engineering, Business; Sport; English; Medicine; Social Sciences…and more as….

IMS/Metadata

• IMS Metadata using current CETIS UK Common Metadata Framework (draft) guidelines

• Plans to implement IMS Content Packaging once Metadata is in place

Testing within VLEs

• Currently being tested within :-• Blackboard; WebCT; Learn; Bodington • See Screen shots at:

http://inhale.hud.ac.uk/ppt/inhscreen.ppt

• Info skills tested at different levels of embedding in different modules

Evaluation

• Testing evaluation methodology at partner sites

• Electronic collection- transfer to SPSS• Use of web logs for triangulation

Benefits to the JISC Community

• Sharing and exchange of information skills objects

• Supporting cultural change within the participating institutions

• Practical experience of collaborating across professional boundaries

• Providing meaningful and innovative methods of accessing electronic materials

• Raising awareness of IE resources and services• Providing opportunities to embed information

literacy into VLE’s & modules

Project Tools

• Evaluation Toolkit• E-book Parser (makes web pages too)• Table of Information Tasks• Start-up Template• …see Project Tools menu on:- http://inhale.hud.ac.uk

Additional Institutions

• Other institutions also on board Chester College, University of Coventry, University of the West of England)

Test Portfolio

To test out editing units within the INFORMS/ (INHALE) database go to:-

• http://inhale.hud.ac.uk/cgi-bin/displayindex.pl?folio=26

• Username testarea• Password testarea