Member Sharing Session presentation delivered at the 2007 BBSLG Conference hosted by the University of Northampton, 27-29 June

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

2. Feeding...

3. They’re doing it...

4. We’re doing it in public (a bit)

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

6. New tricks – ROUTES RSS feed
Moodle VLE RSS feed import

7. New tricks – ROUTES RSS feed
Finance course Moodle VLE website

8. Library Resources RSS Feed tool
ICT course Moodle VLE website

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

11. Captivating...

12. 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

13. Pilot version demo

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. ICT tutorial demo

21. Questions or comments?