Enhancing the library and information management curriculum through reusable learning objects

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Enhancing the library and information management
curriculum through reusable learning objects

• Margaret Kendall
• Nicola Wakefield
• Rachel Delbridge

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Overview

• Background and context
• Aim and objectives
• Creating the RLOs
• Designing and reviewing the RLOs
• Putting the RLOs into practice
• Conclusions

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Background and context

• pressures on the curriculum and resource
  constraints reduce opportunities for
  specialisation
• but needs for closer links between curriculum and
  professional requirements identified (QAA and
  research evidence)
• Increasing interest in e-learning within the law
  librarianship sector (numbers, e-resources)

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Aim and objectives

• Explore the potential for reusable learning
  objects for LIM educators and legal library
  professionals
• Design, create and evaluate 10 RLOs on law
  librarianship in partnership with practitioners
• Evaluate the use of the RLOs with different
  groups of students
• Repurpose one of the RLOs

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Phase 1 Creating the RLOs

• 1. Level of granularity
• an interactive web-based resource based on a
  single learning objective and comprising a
  stand-alone collection of 4 components
  presentation, activity, assessment and links
• Universities Collaboration in elearning (UCEL)
• http//www.ucel.ac.uk

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Phase 1 Creating the RLOs

• 2. Pedagogic rationale
• target audience new to the field
• emphasis on knowledge and comprehension
• more complex activities
• within a blended learning context
• or a more extensive online course according to
  the students level of study.

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Phase 1 Creating the RLOs

• 3. Topic selection
• Process
• Sharing resources
• Gathering suggestions
• LIMES (Library Information Management
  Employability Skills) survey
• Results
• 100 possible RLOs, grouped under 23 headings, 10
  selected

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Phase 1 Creating the RLOs
RLO1 The English court structure RLO2
Introduction to legislation RLO3 Case law
linked to 4, 5 and 8 RLO4 Law reports RLO5
Finding case citations electronically RLO6
Halsburys Laws of England RLO7 Using
Halsburys statutes RLO8 Using Current Law Case
Citator RLO9 Legal dictionaries repurposing RL01
0 Introduction to Knowledge Management
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Phase 1 Creating the RLOs

• 4. Interoperability
• there is little value in developing granular,
  reusable learning objects if they are tied to a
  single proprietary delivery system.
• Campbell, L.M. Engaging with the learning object
  economy in A.Littlejohn (ed.) Reusing online
  resources a sustainable approach to e-learning.
  London Kogan Page, 2003

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Phase 2 Design and review

• 5 cycles of action research activity
• creation of the 10 RLOs
• review by the team
• feedback survey piloted
• use in teaching at Manchester Metropolitan
  University (undergraduates and postgraduates)
• review by students (University of Northumbria)
  and legal library professionals

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Putting the RLOS into practice

• 41 postgraduate students on the MA Library and
  Information Management and MSc Information
  Management
• 18 undergraduate students in the first year of
  the BA Information and library management

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Conclusions

• The RLOs were well received by the students and
  showed the potential for reuse at different
  levels
• The project improved links with practitioners
• Main benefits likely to be use within a blended
  learning programme, including some face to face
  delivery and hands-on activities of printed
  sources.
• Some of the RLOS are applicable to other subjects