Academic institutions acquire and use content or learning management systems for online teaching and learning. Faculty and students log into their CMS daily to peruse readings, check schedules, turn in assignments, and connect with content. Integrating library resources, both librarian expertise and materials, into the CMS enables users to connect with the library without leaving the ‘classroom’ the CMS provides. This session will cover different approaches to embedding librarians and library content into the CMS using examples with Sakai, and open source content management system. Use of CMS tools for instruction, reference, and communication will be addressed as well as different options for creating or interacting with course sites will be covered.
5. Why the CMS?
• Faculty and students are already
using it for courses
• Natural way to organize information
in a similar manner to course sites
– Users then understand what information
to expect from the tools used in the site
6. Open Source CMS
Sakai is in use at over 200
Universities, colleges and schools
throughout the world.
•coursework
•collaboration
•portfolios
•libraries
http://sakaiproject.org
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10. Pros, Cons, & Best Practices
• Pros:
– Intensive one on one
– Content tailored to the course
• Cons:
– Time intensive
– Heavy Workload
• Best Practices
– Minimal classes per semester
– Participate only in sections of the course
– Recycle content
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24. Pros, Cons, & Best Practices
• Pros:
– You define your content
• Cons:
– No one is forced to use your stuff
• Best Practices:
– Use as or link to a central repository
– Share content with peers
– Update. Then update again!
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Used a geology definition – “embedded as an integral part of a whole” “integrated into the community”
we have to change. we have to modify how we interact with our users, as they’ve modified how they interact with us.
INVADE THE CMS
Problem – workspace users, both faculty and student, use for information management outside the confines of the library Solution - use the technology they’re using for coursework to embed librarians and library materials where the user is working Users go to what they know, they know google, but we already know they don’t ‘know’ the library properly, but they also know their content management system. It’s a great tool for placing your information, links to your information, or copies of your information Has the ability to replace other systems (reserves, course guides, file sharing)
Work hand in hand with a class or two, following assignments, readings, and participating in discussions Some ideas – new graduate students, emphasize graduate level research skills, first year experience courses, freshmen seminars, senior thesis classes (utilize your subject liaisons)
Enrolled as a student – I participate just as students in the class participate – in discussion forums, posting resources specific to the class, &c Create and grade assignments, polls/surveys/test & quizzes for assessment)
Open, joinable project site – listed in a directory and users find it. Automatic enrollment – the library is a course tab that everyone belongs to Tailor to focus – Faculty, undergraduates, graduates, or by subject (science, art, business, govermnet, &c) Create an open, joinable site enabling users to add it or register for it as they need it
Example course site - All the tools used by faculty to create an online course with learning objects (continuity across formats – users know what to expect from the tools and the structure) Voluntary opt in/out – 253 students/faculty enrolled in the site. Averages about 10 uses a day (object uses, not logins)
Use it for online instruction modules or stand alone instruction objects
Three step assignment process – pre and post assessment Other traditional library assignments - annotated bibilography – wikipedia assignment -
Test and quizzes, in order to gauge pre and post assessment from instruction sessions
Melete tutorial builder – step learners through a process to achieve an objective Add links, images, video files,
Define terms, offer handouts and guides, link to web resources, subject guides, pathfinders, &c
Resources – repository for handouts, maps, guides, pathfinders, links, alternate sites, &c Share – faculty can copy across sites, move into course sites Students can download and ‘take away’ as needed in digital form.
Meebo/chat widget Discussion forums FAQ lists Email lists – people can opt in, or used judiciuously for mass emailing
Announce list – merge with other resources as well – email out (allowing people to opt into email communications if they like) Discussion lists inside a course site – Q&A in a site for a specific class, or a thread discussing research for example.
Communicate open office or reference hours, open classes. Email events to participants enrolled in the site Change permissions to allow users to book appointments with you (class assignment for seniors example)