A-LIEP Conference presentation

1. Professional Development and
Lifelong Learning Opportunities for
Library & Information Science
Professionals through E-learning
Portals
S.C. Kumaresan
Head Librarian,
Academic Bridge Program, Qatar Foundation
sckumaresan@yahoo.com

2. Objective of the paper
 To sensitize professional associations, policy makers of
government, university authorities and the library professionals,
especially in the developing world, on the need to create a
professional development program through e-learning portals.

3. What is the Need?
 Professional development (PD) opportunity for library professional
are very limited in the developing countries.
 Mandatory only to certain categories of employment, where career
advancement is linked with professional development.
 Professional development through e-learning portals can bridge the
gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’.

4. Why E-learning Portals?
◦ Portals organize information and courses from various locations
on a single website.
◦ Anywhere – Anytime.
◦ Self-paced learning.
◦ Reduced costs in terms of travel and lodging.

5. Types of e-learning courses
 Text based courses – contents usually are text based with hyperlinks
to glossaries and other materials.
 Animation bases courses – contents usually are moving
illustrations or diagrams coupled with audio.
 Video based courses – contents usually are full-motion video clips
of a lecture or a dramatized sequence.
 Web based courses – contents are combination of all the above.

6. Human
Factor
Technology Design
Factor Factor
Human Factor – includes trainers/instructors and learners.
Technology Factor – includes technology for preparation & delivery of contents.
Design Factor – includes content management, assessment & evaluation and
feedback.
Factors affecting web-based courses

7. Government, Academia & Professional
Bodies – What are their stakes?
 Government
◦ Recognition & accreditation
◦ Capacity building
◦ Building strong regional teams
◦ Publicize
◦ Provide appropriate infrastructure
 Academia
◦ Designs and delivers Online Professional Development (OPD) programs
◦ Certification
◦ Work with professional bodies in creating portfolios at all levels
 Professional Associations
◦ Promoting and motivating
◦ Needs-assessment of members
◦ Provide feedback and inputs to the academia

8. Model E-learning Program
 Integrated Online Professional Development with face-to-face
meeting
◦ At the beginning as a Kick-starter for the program
 Why?
◦ Orient the learners about the online program
◦ Provide hands on experience on the technology & course content
◦ Build a strong rapport with trainers and peer learners
◦ Answer questions from learners

9. Course Design
 Courses Types
◦ Courses to be taken in isolation
◦ Courses to be taken in concert – webinars
◦ Blended courses – face-to-face & online interactions

10. Course Design & Content Management
- Challenges
 Course Design
◦ Ability to disseminate & share learning materials, modules
◦ Oversee performance of learners online
◦ Provide interactivity between trainers & learners
 Content Management
◦ Pedagogical and technological aspects for content delivery
◦ Ability to provide a wide range of learning tools and resources
◦ Ability to submit assignments and reports online

11. …challenges
 Operations & Administration
◦ Ability to have a control over the technology used for course
delivery
◦ Ability to manage the end-users – learners & trainers
◦ Ability to administer access control rights to learners & trainers
◦ Ability to generate adequate reports, transcripts, certificate of
course completion etc.,
 Assessment & Evaluation
◦ Ability to administer formative as well as summative assessments
modules and evaluate learners
◦ Ability of get feedback from the learners and trainers

12. Design Cycle of E-learning Portals
E-Portals
Course/Content Technology Design
Management Management
Pedagogy
Assessment
Evaluation Feedback

13. Advantages & Disadvantages of
E-learning Portals
Advantages
◦ Ability to pursue a PD program from anywhere and anytime.
◦ Self-paced learning and training.
◦ Availability of vast resources through hyperlinks in different formats.
◦ Efficiency and consistency in the delivery of course and content.
◦ Reduced costs in terms of travel and lodging on the part of the trainer and learners.
◦ Quick feedback and evaluation of learner performances.
◦ Use of multimedia-rich resources for teaching and learning.
◦ Generate additional revenues from advertisements in portals.
Disadvantages
◦ Non availability of infrastructure in rural areas of developing countries.
◦ Initial investment in technology and infrastructure.
◦ Authenticity of learner’s work cannot be verified in online assessments.
◦ Technological snags & security threats.
◦ Reduced social and cultural interaction with peers and trainers.

14. Questions?

15. Thank You!