scholarly journals Developing library e-learning courses - how to make a fruitful collaboration?

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Beth Våga ◽  
Mona Henriksen ◽  
Inger Gåsemyr
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Foreign Students ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Academic Culture ◽  
Student Groups ◽  
Subject Specific ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The University

The University Library of Stavanger has made three interactive library courses. Two of the courses are in Norwegian, Vitenskapelige artikler i sykepleiefaget (Scientific articles in nursing), and Kildebruk og litteratursøk (Information literacy: How to search and cite) and one in English, Writing thesis, using sources. The purpose has been to help students developing skills in information literacy, to fulfill the demands required by the Norwegian ministry of education and research. The courses are available at the library's webpage. Their purpose is to be a supplement to ordinary library courses. The courses consist of text, films, interactive tasks and voiceover. We have made subject-specific courses, which cover different faculties at the University. We believe that the students at a university seek to identify themselves with the profession they aim to become a part of through their studies, and hopefully they develop an attachment to the library.   The course Writing thesis, using sources is primarily aiming towards engineering students, but it will also be useful for other student groups. The university has many foreign students in different engineering disciplines and levels. They sometimes have a bachelor's degree from a country with an academic culture that is different from ours. The course is written in a clear and concise language. The students can listen to the text, or read it. The cooperation between the library and the academic staff has varied during the development of the courses. We had close contact with two members of the Department of Health Studies during the whole process of the first course, Vitenskapelige artikler i sykepleiefaget (Scientific articles in nursing).They gave us advice about content and definitions. There has been less cooperation with academic staff during the two other courses. Cooperation with NettOp (The University's department for web-based education) has been outstanding. NettOp has guided us on subjects like software, layout, technical support, interactive objects and pedagogical advice, like how to write for students. We also invited students to give feedback on the courses. The process has been informative, and we have developed new skills. At the same time there have been challenges, such as software issues and lack of collaboration with academic staff. Maintaining the courses is very time consuming. We would like to meet other colleagues in higher education interested in e-learning courses and exchange experiences. Discussions may be about matters such as: Do we really need interactive courses? Should the courses be subject-specific or general in content? How can we include academic staff in a better way? Could students do the job? Could several universities cooperate to make interactive courses? Could we borrow content from each other? How do we know whether the courses are used or not? What about the learning process and outcome for the students? How do we best promote the courses? Experiences with different software and use of devices. Discussions should be conducted in groups consisting of max 8 participants. The results from the discussions could for example be published on UBIS' blog.  

Enculturation of the Utilization of Learning Management System

2010 ◽  
pp. 323-340
Author(s):  
Aida Suraya Md. Yunus ◽  
Hamidah Meseran ◽  
Zaidan Abdul Wahab
Keyword(s):  
Management System ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Learning Management System ◽  
Professional Service ◽  
Knowledge Repository ◽  
Extension Work ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Learning Management ◽  
The University

Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) vision is to become a university with international repute. The Strategic Plan Document 2001- 2010 includes a goal for the university to be fully wired through ICT in enhancing research, extension work, professional service, strengthening teaching and learning environment and enhancing the culture of ICT in supporting teaching and learning. Two strategies were drawn; namely (i) implement the use of one learning management system (LMS) and (ii) enhance competency of academic staff in using the LMS. It has been a practice that each faculty decides on a platform for implementing e-Learning. However, the use of various LMSs had created difficulties in the sharing of integrated database, continuous monitoring of the effectiveness of the e-Learning system, and depository of e-Learning resources in the UPM’s knowledge repository. This paper reports on UPM’s experience in adapting the use of LMS from the early 1990s until today.

Bologna and the Royal Society in the Seventeenth Century

1980 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-123 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Royal Society ◽  
Foreign Students ◽  
Experimental Philosophy ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Economic Decline ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Papal States ◽  
Accademia Del Cimento ◽  
The University ◽  
The City

IN the years after 1660 the new experimental philosophy was introduced into the learned circles of Bologna in a self-conscious, deliberate and organized fashion. The city, politically a part of the Papal States, was at that time experiencing a slow but inexorable social and economic decline (1). Its old and famous university obviously suffered from the effects of this decline and no longer attracted large numbers of foreign students (2). A further check on cultural activity in the city was the control of the Inquisition, so cruel and relentless in the first half of the century as to render the city perfectly orthodox by 1660 (3). Yet there was detectable the influence of Galilean thought despite the unfavourable cultural and political environment of the city. This is particularly attributable to the activity of Cesare Marsili, friend and assiduous correspondent of Galileo (4), and of Bonaventura Cavalieri, an early follower of Galileo, who held the chair of mathematics and astronomy at the University of Bologna from 1629 to 1643 ($). (It is no accident that the first collected edition of Galileo’s works (admittedly incomplete) was published in Bologna in 1650). It was this tradition which, some years later, inspired Marcello Malpighi, Geminiano Montanari, and Giandomenico Cassini (among others) to attempt to disseminate in Bologna the aims, methods of work and organization of the Accademia del Cimento, with which all of these had been in close contact while living for longer or shorter periods in Tuscany, and of which they were corresponding members, and to try to emulate the aims and methods, as they saw them, of the Royal Society of London.

E-learning and information literacy at the University of Jos

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 607-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicki Lawal ◽  
Stephen Akintunde
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Learning Platforms ◽  
Information Skills ◽  
The University

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential role of information literacy (IL) within the changing context of the e-learning environment at the University of Jos in recent years. It focuses and emphasises the role of the University library in facilitating teaching and learning through the use of e-learning platforms in teaching information retrieval skills. The paper aims to identify gaps in students’ information skills that could be addressed through IL instruction. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed a case study research design while the methodology involved the administration of structured questionnaires to the two groups of respondents. Findings – Findings from the study provide useful insights to the skills challenges experienced by students and point to a need for effective collaboration between the library, faculty and management in order to promote a better approach to learning at the institution. Originality/value – By emphasising the role of the library, the paper contributes to previous studies on e-learning at the University and provides a basis for further research in this regard.

scholarly journals EFFECTIVENESS OF TEACHING METHODS USED IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A CASE STUDY OF EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY OF MADRID, SPAIN

2015 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-28
Author(s):  
Leila Bardasuc ◽  
Jose Luis Martinez Rubio ◽  
Nicusor Marcel Udrea ◽  
Monica Delia Domnica
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Teaching Methods ◽  
Foreign Students ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Study Program ◽  
Innovative Teaching ◽  
Study Programs ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The University ◽  
European University

The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of various teaching methods used in higher education and the perception of the students regarding these methods. In order to determine the possible ways to obtain strategic advantages and benefit from the strengths, the university has to know what drives foreign students in choosing a certain study program, even if it is outside their country of origin. At the same time, knowing the disadvantages that prevent them from doing so, helps the university include ways to correct the weaknesses or to offer solutions to them. The students, participating in this research, are enrolled at the European University in Madrid, from different study programs and degrees (license, master and doctoral programs) and were asked to answer a questionnaire about the use of teaching methods, about their perceptions upon effective teaching and the reasons that have determined them to choose to follow a study program. The results were in favor of a higher use of projects, group activities and case studies during classes and seminars at the European University of Madrid and of using new technologies in the educational system (e-learning, simulations, use of intranet, and activities in laboratories). As a primer characteristic searched for when choosing a study program, the students mentioned practice, mainly for developing abilities useful for applying for a job as soon as possible. It is, therefore, important to analyze the teaching methods and this research helps us understand how students see the teaching process and which are the methods that help them to better understand and to be more active during classes. Key words: creativity development, innovative teaching, practical activities, teaching methods.

scholarly journals A Blended Learning Module in Statistics for Computer Science and Engineering Students Revisited

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Christina Andersson ◽  
Doina Logofatu
Keyword(s):  
Blended Learning ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Learning Module ◽  
Spare Time ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Learning Development ◽  
The University

Teaching a statistics course for undergraduate computer science students can be very challenging: As statistics teachers we are usually faced with problems ranging from a complete disinterest in the subject to lack of basic knowledge in mathematics and anxiety for failing the exam, since statistics has the reputation of having high failure rates. In our case, we additionally struggle with difficulties in the timing of the lectures as well as often occurring absence of the students due to spare-time jobs or a long traveling time to the university. This paper reveals how these issues can be addressed by the introduction of a blended learning module in statistics. In the following, we describe an e-learning development process used to implement time- and location-independent learning in statistics. The study focuses on a six-step-approach for developing the blended learning module. In addition, the teaching framework for the blended module is presented, including suggestions for increasing the interest in learning the course. Furthermore, the first experimental in-class usage, including evaluation of the students’ expectations, has been completed and the outcome is discussed.

The Implementation of a University 2.0 Model

2013 ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domenico Consoli
Keyword(s):  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Learning By Doing ◽  
Teaching And Research ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Interactive Tools ◽  
Product Service ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Learning Platforms ◽  
The University

With the advent of Web 2.0 and with the development of interactive tools that allowed users to express opinions and suggestions on different topics, the way to do business, socialize with other people and also the academic environment, both in terms of teaching and research, is changing. In companies, thanks to interactive tools of Web 2.0, managers are in a close contact with end customers to improve the product/service. In the academic world, this technology can be used exploiting e-learning platforms enriched with interactive virtual channels thus promoting the methodology of learning by doing and the constructivist theory of collective participation of students in the knowledge construction. In this context it is also possible to develop a collaborative research between academics and scientists. The number of websites of the science 2.0, with scientific cooperations and the creation and distribution of quality papers in journals, is growing. Also, the ability to manage complex scientific projects and seek funding sources is increasing. In this chapter, the author analyzes different models of e-learning and designs a University 2.0 framework that supports, by advanced Web 2.0 tools, teaching and research in the university.

Students-Physicists Informative Foreign Language Reading E-Learning

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-37
Author(s):  
Святкина ◽  
E. Svyatkina
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Physics Institute ◽  
Foreign Language Reading ◽  
Education Environment ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The University

The need of introduction the e-learning course “Academic skills” for the third year students-physicists after their having completed a two-years compulsory English course is substantiated in the article. The course contributes to further communicative competence forming. It implies informative foreign language reading skills development. This could allow engineering students to better understand general and complex scientific notions while reading articles on their future speciality. The author considers e-learning to be in demand in our modern society and this form of getting education distantly is regarded as most popular one successfully involved in educational milieu. It is e-learning developed within INFOMEPHIST system based on Moodle and having strong methodical, didactical and technical support that became popular in National Research Nuclear University (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute). The announced e-learning course is expected to be inserted in the unique education environment of the University.

scholarly journals Maturity Levels of Student Support E- Services Within an Open Distance E-learning University

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asteria Nsamba
Keyword(s):  
Course Design ◽  
Deductive Reasoning ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Student Support ◽  
Learning Technologies ◽  
Maturity Model ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The University

The University of South Africa (UNISA) is one of the distance education universities that is shifting from open distance learning (ODL) to open distance e-learning (ODeL). UNISA started as a correspondence institution in the 1950s and it has since evolved into an ODeL university. The aim of this research was to assess and determine the maturity levels of UNISA lecturers’ and tutors’ explorations of various forms of e-learning technologies to support students in an ODeL environment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 academic staff members. A hybrid approach involving inductive and deductive reasoning was used to guide the whole research process. The online course design maturity model (OCDMM) was modified and adapted in order to guide data collection, data analysis, and the interpretation of results. The results of the study indicate that the maturity levels of UNISA’s student support e-learning technologies are at the basic levels of the maturity assessment framework for open distance e-learning. It is hoped that the results of this research will serve as a starting point that the University can use to constantly measure improvements made in advancing e-learning activities.  

Adopting a Strategy for Enhancing Generic Skills in Engineering Education

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelia Krassadaki ◽  
Kleanthi Lakiotaki ◽  
Nikolaos F. Matsatsinis
Keyword(s):  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Skills Development ◽  
Generic Skills ◽  
Team Working ◽  
High Level ◽  
The University ◽  
Academic Year

It is remarkable how often academic staff discover students' weaknesses in expressing their thoughts in written and oral contexts, and in team working. To examine these weaknesses, a study was conducted in 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 of students taking an engineering course. Students self-reported an initial high level of weakness in both communication skills (writing and speaking), while expressing higher levels of confidence in their team working skills. This suggested that there was significant potential for improvement in both forms of communication skills and a lower potential for the improvement of team-working skills. On that basis the Technical University of Crete organized short training workshops based on experiential learning methods, during the academic year 2012–13. Other factors taken into account were the lack of awareness of such skills in traditionally-organized Greek universities; the inability to redesign all courses, currently dependent on a content-based curriculum, on a competency basis; and findings in the international literature, which highlight specific generic skills of engineering students as essential to their studies and future career prospects. The aim was to enhance the three skills of writing, speaking and team working. Participation was voluntary and open to students from all schools in the university. This paper assesses this initiative and analyses the contribution of the workshops to skills development.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document