Feeding & Captivating OU students Tim Wales, Learning & Teaching Librarian Team Leader (OUBS & Technology), 29 th June 2007

Feeding...

They’re doing it...

We’re doing it in public (a bit)

Old dog - ROUTES (And in private a lot more)

New tricks – ROUTES RSS feed Moodle VLE RSS feed import

New tricks – ROUTES RSS feed Finance course Moodle VLE website

Library Resources RSS Feed tool ICT course Moodle VLE website

Some RSS Issues Who should use it for what? Is it a real-time feed? Does it actually save us time? Is it comprehensive? Do users want it? Do we still need a Library website? Library branded?

Captivating...

Background Online tutorials for searching OPAC demoed at BBSLG 2004 Conference by Northumbria University produced with TechSmith Camtasia Studio software OU Library pilot project 2004-05 to test screen capture software on a management literature search tutorial for a new capstone MBA course produced with Macromedia Captivate software Library produced ICT version for Technology in 2006-07 Management tutorial now being updated for Nov 2007

Online tutorials for searching OPAC demoed at BBSLG 2004 Conference by Northumbria University

produced with TechSmith Camtasia Studio software

OU Library pilot project 2004-05 to test screen capture software on a management literature search tutorial for a new capstone MBA course

produced with Macromedia Captivate software

Library produced ICT version for Technology in 2006-07

Management tutorial now being updated for Nov 2007

Pilot version demo

Lessons from pilot version Audio commentary time-consuming and tricky to create & modify, annoying to listen to (and superfluous?) Tutorial needs to be produced by librarians not “techies” Detailed storyboarding may help reduce production time Use of templates should reduce “production fiddling” More interactive elements required to engage student Chunking content into discrete sections facilitates reuse from Library perspective Wasn’t really integrated into target course

Audio commentary time-consuming and tricky to create & modify, annoying to listen to (and superfluous?)

Tutorial needs to be produced by librarians not “techies”

Detailed storyboarding may help reduce production time

Use of templates should reduce “production fiddling”

More interactive elements required to engage student

Chunking content into discrete sections facilitates reuse from Library perspective

Wasn’t really integrated into target course

ICT version 2006/07 Library contracted to produce an online literature search tutorial for new courses in Technology ICT Programme Library charged £3500 for the job Produced by members of Business, Law & Technology team in Library with OU advice on accessibility issues Took 6 months to complete working part-time or 100 production hours Includes activities and self-assessment quizzes

Library contracted to produce an online literature search tutorial for new courses in Technology ICT Programme

Library charged £3500 for the job

Produced by members of Business, Law & Technology team in Library with OU advice on accessibility issues

Took 6 months to complete working part-time or 100 production hours

Includes activities and self-assessment quizzes

ICT tutorial production process Outline structure and broad content agreed with course team chairs Storyboards created in Powerpoint for each section Drafts shared with course teams via Wiki & FirstClass Storyboards converted into Captivate outputs Flash outputs tested on various PCs and proof-read Final versions uploaded to Technology Information Search Guide and course VLE website Ongoing feedback from users

Outline structure and broad content agreed with course team chairs

Storyboards created in Powerpoint for each section

Drafts shared with course teams via Wiki & FirstClass

Storyboards converted into Captivate outputs

Flash outputs tested on various PCs and proof-read

Final versions uploaded to Technology Information Search Guide and course VLE website

Ongoing feedback from users

Issues (1) Software not as flexible as anticipated: Powerpoint import limited = copy & paste instead Resizing screen size not automatic = hand-crafting Accessibility limited Unresolved output issues on some user PCs: Tutorial automatically fast-forwards to end Text displays inconsistently Buttons and quiz elements do not always work

Software not as flexible as anticipated:

Powerpoint import limited = copy & paste instead

Resizing screen size not automatic = hand-crafting

Accessibility limited

Unresolved output issues on some user PCs:

Tutorial automatically fast-forwards to end

Text displays inconsistently

Buttons and quiz elements do not always work

Issues (2) What content goes where and where should this be hosted? Information Search Guide v Library websites v course websites v tutorial Difficult to get pacing right and students don’t notice the control buttons Difficult to convey “dry” topics visually

What content goes where and where should this be hosted?

Information Search Guide v Library websites v course websites v tutorial

Difficult to get pacing right and students don’t notice the control buttons

Difficult to convey “dry” topics visually

Positives Good team project, work valued by Technology Powerpoint storyboarding helps conceptualise for screen Forces consideration of how students learn Opportunity to address new technologies and hot topics and also offer additional support to resources Easier to update than pilot version as no commentary Flexible delivery options e.g. zipped offline version More engaging approach to user education (esp. for librarians!) than textual approaches alone

Good team project, work valued by Technology

Powerpoint storyboarding helps conceptualise for screen

Forces consideration of how students learn

Opportunity to address new technologies and hot topics and also offer additional support to resources

Easier to update than pilot version as no commentary

Flexible delivery options e.g. zipped offline version

More engaging approach to user education (esp. for librarians!) than textual approaches alone

ICT tutorial demo

Questions or comments?