The document summarizes the creation of an online information literacy program called PACE for lifelong learning students at the Institute of Technology Carlow. It describes developing video modules covering topics like using the physical and online library, conducting research for assignments, and citing references. The program was created in collaboration with the Teaching and Learning Centre during the COVID-19 pandemic to support students learning remotely. Feedback has been positive, and the resource is being expanded and updated to support students' evolving needs.

1. Taking Information
Literacy to the
student
Creating a self-directed, blended learning
program for Lifelong Learning off-campus
IT Carlow students
Breda Connell
Lifelong Learning & Research Services Assistant Librarian
Institute of Technology Carlow
February 2022

2. The project
• November 2019 – June 2021
• Focus on IL skills for ITC students
• Collaboration
• National Forum Funding
• Starting point – specific cohort of students
• Broadened to encompass all students
• Impetus for creating the resource

3. A little bit about me
Graduate Trainee
– Manchester
Metropolitan
University
MA Information &
Library Studies -
MMU
BBC – News
Librarian
RTE – Television
Archives
North-West Film
Archive –
Archivist
Griffith College
Dublin – Assistant
Librarian
Laois Library
Service –
Assistant
Librarian

4. Imposter Syndrome
New role at
IT Carlow
Fear of
Teaching
MA in T&L

5. Background to the project –IT Carlow
• Largest of 14 Institutes of Technology
• Founded in1970
• Vocational higher education
• Original focus on science, technology & engineering
• Merging to become Technological University May 2022

6. Background to the project – A bit about
the programmes
Learning off
campus (2019
style)
Outreach
programmes
BA Early
Childhood
Education L7 &
L8
Non-traditional
route to Higher
Education
No one ‘type’ of
student
Many different
needs

7. Some of the issues facing these
students
Time poor
Juggling work,
study & caring
duties
Various routes
to learning
Many non-
traditional
English
Language
Learners
Returning to
education after
many years
Digital literacy
Distance to
place of study

8. The learning environment
• Face to Face classroom
• Two nights per week
• Weekend study
• IT Carlow Associate Lecturers
• LLL office on campus
• Layers of support
Navan
Monaghan
Longford
Tallaght
Ennis
Cork

9. Venues

10. The Library issue

11. Another layer of learning
Learning how to
search
Where to search Finding ebooks
What are
ejournal articles?
What are
databases?
Which
databases are
best for my
topic?
Too many results No results

12. The ‘why’ questions needed
answering
• ‘Why do I need to use the research of others?’
• ‘Why do I need to use academic materials?’
• Evaluating sources
• Articulating my own ideas
• Ethical use of information

13. How to support these
students?
• Connecting with lecturers
• Embedded approach
• Face to Face library workshops
• Current assignment / topics
• Support from a distance
• Personalised screencasts

14. First visit to the
classrooms –
September 2019
• Introduction to the online library
• Databases
• Searching
• eBooks
• How to select keywords
• Managing search results
• Referencing & citations

15. Problems
November visits to venues
Using the online library
Layers of learning
Frustration

16. National Forum for the
Enhancement of Teaching and
Learning in
Higher Education - call for funding

17. Collaboration
TEACHING & LEARNING
CENTRE – LEARNING
TECHNOLOGIST
THE LIBRARY – LIFELONG
LEARNING & RESEARCH
SERVICES LIBRARIAN

18. Here’s what we intended to do
Nov. 2019 – Mar. 2020
Research phase
Mar.–May 2020
Gathering evidence
May–Sep. 2020
Create content
Oct. 2020
Launch on website & use
modules for IL instruction

19. The best laid plans

20. Project set aside
and set back
• Other priorities
• Original timelines became irrelevant
• Structure of the project came in to
question
• NF six month extension
• Relevant to all students
• Refocus

21. Back up and running
• Summer 2020
• One socially distanced on site meeting at ITC
• Brainstormed
• How to structure the modules
• Listing & allocating content to create
• Met remotely using Teams

22. Focusing on all students
Changing
restrictions
Hybrid
model of
learning
Different
First Year
Experience
LLL delivery
fully online
Needed to
think more
broadly

23. Introducing students to the PACE programme

24. Introducing students to the library space
• Created a series of videos
• Student participation
• Friendly welcome & introduction
• How to access library services
• Navigating the space
• Locating material
• Using the self-check machine
• Staying safe in the library

25. Students showing
how to do things

26. Brief videos showing students ‘How To’

27. Easily accessible to everyone

28. Module 1 – Using the library &
online library
• Navigating the physical space
• Becoming self sufficient in the library
• How to look for help from library staff
• Using your library account
• Introduction to the online library
• Searching for ebooks
• Searching for ejournal articles
• How to find LibGuides

29. Module 2 – Your
first assignment
• How to use the online library resources for
researching and writing your first assignment
• Designed for First Year Students
• Useful to all students
• Using specific databases
• Tailoring searches
• Assessing your findings
• Short

30. Module 3 –
Citations &
Referencing

31. Complete quick
reference guide

32. How the PACE programme is being used
• Self-directed learning resource for all students
• Flipped classroom approach with LLL groups
• Introduction to the library for LLL teaching staff
• Undergraduate Induction / First Year Experience library sessions
• Promoted by the IT Carlow Teaching & Learning Centre
• Promoted by the IT Carlow SU
• Open Educational Resource freely available to all

33. Further possibilities
CONSTANTLY
UPDATING THE
RESOURCE
GATHERING
FEEDBACK FROM LLL
STUDENTS
NEXT PHASE
ALREADY HAPPENING
MODULE 4 – WRITING
A LITERATURE
REVIEW
FUTURE MODULES
TO ADDRESS NEXT
LEVEL NEEDS

34. Evaluating the
resource
• Focus Groups with Lifelong Learning Students
• Gathering evidence on how they used the
resource
• What was useful?
• Suggested changes
• Suggested additions

35. Resources
• Institute of Technology Carlow Library
https://www.itcarlow.ie/library/home.htm
• PACE www.itcarlow.ie/library/pace-programme-library.htm
• National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning in
Higher Education www.teachingandlearning.ie/
IT Carlow Image slide 5 © IT Carlow
All other images © Microsoft Powerpoint

36. Breda Connell
Lifelong Learning &
Research Services AL
Institute of Technology
Carlow
Email: breda.Connell@itcarlow.ie
Twitter: @ITC_LibResearch