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Essential information skills for researchers: A collaborative project to develop an online,
open access resource. Chris Bark,
Coventry University
Liz Martin,De Montfort University
Content
Who we are
Project history and methods
Perceptions and needs ‐ our recent findings
Pilot module content
Demo
Taking a collaborative approach ‐ benefits and challenges
Next steps
Who we are...
East Midlands Research Support Group:Loughborough, Nottingham, De Montfort, Leicester, Coventry, Northampton and Warwick
EMRSG Project consortium:Loughborough, Nottingham, Coventry, De Montfort
Information handling skills for researchers project: Why?
Observation of the information handling skills of researchers at all levels
Increasing internal push for online learning objects
Discussions at a regional library event (Emalink)
Desire for re‐usable suite of generic tutorials
Prevent us all reinventing the wheel
Project Timetable
Autumn 2009: First meeting
Jan 2010: Funding & initial planning Spring: Review of current products Summer: Surveys of researchers' attitudes to learning & information skills, plus interviews
Autumn: Design & authoring tool selection
Jan‐May 2011: Construction of content May: Evaluation of pilot units Summer: Editing in response to feedback Autumn: Start of dissemination
2012: Dissemination
Review of current productsLooked at
Pilot
Swim- Denmark
Irish Information literacy programme
Pathway2Information- Nottingham
Open University
I-lit (Cranfield)
Epigeum
Researchers’ survey and Interviews2 surveys conducted:
First survey Conducted at research conference at Loughborough (researchers attitudes towards learning, particularly elearning)
Second larger survey Created by Sarah McNicoll 224 responses from Nottingham, Loughborough
and DMU Followed up with 11 face-to-face interviews
Researchers’ survey and Interviews
Key results
Include element of hands-on
Ability to complete at own pace at a convenient time
Visuals and links to external resources important
Liked learning from peers
Design
Selected Xerte as the authoring tool
Open source
Content can be re-used and repurposed
Designed for non-techies
Technical help
Areas identified for content include
Primary Information, to include ethics, information gathering and archives
Secondary Information, to include effective searching, information beyond academia and information issues for projects such as researching funding bids
Promotion of your research (next slide)
Management, to include reference management and data management
Content of Pilot module
Quick live demo of the final ‘Dissemination of your research’
module
Evaluation of pilot module
Conducted by a ‘neutral’ research associate, Michael Norris
Qualitative methods:Focus groups (Nottingham, Loughborough & DMU)Observations (Coventry)
Recommendations were produced for whole module, plus comments on individual units which have aided editing and revisions.
Taking a collaborative approach
Image by Nicola Corboy, used under a Creative Commons Licence, http://www.flickr.com/photos/n_corboy/4921290518/sizes/m/in/photostream
Mindmap of wider collaboration
Our experience: Benefits to us
More motivation
Increased knowledge of other organisations
Sharing of knowledge of tools
Support
Friendship
Our experience: Benefits to the project
More time
More money
More ideas
More skills
More potential contacts
Our experience ‐ challenges
Different institutional expectations (PGRs or Research staff?)
Editorial control
Politics and diplomacy, especially regarding deadlines
Cross‐institutional file sharing, especially video
The Future
Add to Jorum and Xpert as open access
Promotion and Publicity
Contacts
Coventry UniversityChris [email protected] [email protected]
Loughborough UniversityHelen [email protected] [email protected]
De Montfort UniversityLiz [email protected]
University of NottinghamWendy [email protected] [email protected]
Keep in touch with the project at:
www.emrsg.org.uk
Questions?
