Online Learning: The Evolving Role of the Academic Library

Bridget SchumacherAugust 28, 2013

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What is online learning?

Where we’ve been, where we are, where we are going

Mikecogh on Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

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Every student “is entitled to the library services and resources of that institution, including direct

communication with the appropriate library personnel, regardless of where enrolled.”

–ACRL Distance Learning Standards

Source: ACRL Standards for Distance Learning Library Services, 2008.

How do academic libraries support learning?

We do the same things, but in different ways.

In Person• Departmental office hours• Reference desk• Overhearing• Research guides• For-credit courses• Programming• Resources

Online• Office hours in CMS• Chat, text reference• Social media monitoring• How-to videos• Move to eLearning; LIB 100• Online book talk/journal

club, social media games/contests

• eJournals, eBooks, streaming video, etc.

Challenges of online, open courses

Challenges:• Access to scholarly

resources• Copyright issues• Global-scale of participants• Instructional design

Next steps:• Investigate access to content

– OERs (eTextbooks), open access journals, digital respositories

• Identify research skills required and find ways to help students develop those skills

• Prepare for different learning styles and types of users

It’s time to explore new roles and responsibilities.

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How do we prepare for the rapid change in online learning landscapes?

• Read the emerging literature

• ACRL Library Support for MOOCs Discussion Group

• Personal Learning Networks

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Assessment is Key

• Create learning outcomes

• Evaluate student learning

• Set clear goals and outcomes

Source: “Best Practices in Distance Library Instruction.” ACRL Distance Learning Section Instruction Committee. 2/2012.Image Source: dkuropatwa on Flickr,CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Questions? Comments?

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