1. Information Literacy via Collaborate
Paula Dalziel, Edge Hill University, dalzielp@edgehill.ac.uk
I would like to offer Teachmeet presentations on the value of Blackboard Collaborate
for delivering information literacy sessions. Collaborate offers the opportunity to
reach distance learners, part-time learners, learners on placement and learners who
for whatever reason are unable to attend the university. I am part of a pilot scheme at
Edge Hill University delivering Learning Service Inductions and information literacy
sessions to outreach students using Collaborate. The outreach and distance learners
benefit from the live sessions with the tutor/facilitator. This medium is not a
replacement for face to face sessions but rather complimentary to, and
supplementary to, those sessions.
Collaborate allows the facilitator to deliver a PowerPoint presentation, a live
interactive information literacy session, or any type of combination which would be
used in the university setting. The minimum level of technology support required for
‘setting up’ and delivering the sessions enables both the facilitator and students to
engage with the experience and soon become adept at using the technology.
Collaborate is part of a digital future that needs to be embraced by all sectors of
information professionals as an additional means for delivering information literacy in
the twenty-first century. Therefore I think my experience of using the technology
would be valuable for other professionals to hear about and see being demonstrated
during Teachmeet presentations.