Georgia Southern University

Digital Commons@Georgia Southern Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy Sep 21st, 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM

eLearning Solutions for Information Literacy at a Distance Angela Hamilton University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, Toronto, Canada

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit Part of the Curriculum and Instruction Commons, and the Information Literacy Commons Recommended Citation Angela Hamilton, "eLearning Solutions for Information Literacy at a Distance" (September 21, 2012). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. Paper 5. http://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2012/2012/5

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eLearning solutions for information literacy at a distance Angela Hamilton Life Sciences Liaison Librarian University of Toronto Scarborough Campus

University of Toronto Scarborough Students • 11,142 Undergraduate students, 100 Graduate students • Most commute to campus • Many balance work with a part-time job and/or supporting their family

Information Everywhere

Technology will fix everything!

Not so fast…

• Libguides

Key eLearning Tools

• Instant Messenger

• Screencast/Screen capture Software

• Online Meeting Software

Libguides: What are they? • Content management system to create library content • Typically used for subject research guides and course guides

Libguides: Limitations

Libguides: Better

Instant Messenger: Examples • Allows you to comminute directly with students • Examples: – Zohochat – Gtalk – MSN Messenger – Yahoo Chat – Apple Messages – Many others…

Instant Messenger/Chat Reference Many librarians/libraries combine to offer regular service

Librarians offer their own chat reference when available

• Allows you to offer regular, dependable service with limited resources • Not personalized • Librarian may not be familiar with instructors, assignments, students experience

• Personalized service • Not regular • Can be used to build ongoing rapport • Greater knowledge of instructors, assignments, students experience

Instant Messenger: Better

Screencast Software: What is it? • Software that allows you to capture your screen and mouse movements • Advanced software can also add interactive components, quizzes, track viewing, etc. • Examples: – Jing (Free) – Camtasia ($) – Adobe Captivate ($$)

Screencast Software: Limitations • • • •

Time consuming to make Advanced software requires training Advanced software can be expensive Videos can become dated quickly as webpages and databases are updated

Screencasts: Better • Do not duplicate existing tutorials from other libraries, vendors • Customize and target specific needs, assignments, etc. • Market yourself • Don’t be afraid of quick and dirty videos when they serve a purpose – Quick reference questions – Record reference sessions – Record information literacy sessions

Online Meeting Software: What is it? • Brings together text, voice and/or video chat with screensharing, documents sharing, quizzes and more • Examples – Adobe Connect – Go to meeting – Google Hangout (limitations)

Online Meeting Software: Better • Offer information literacy instruction for distance education students • Enable reference sessions for offsite students – Record sessions for students to review

Take away… • Be creative – What problem do you have that technology can help solve? – Think beyond traditional uses, what everyone else is doing

• Not everything has to be polished and formal – Enhance your in-person instruction and service rather than trying to replace it

• Good luck and have fun!

Thank you! Questions or Comments? Angela Hamilton University of Toronto Scarborough @adhamilton [email protected]