Presented at the CONUL Colloquium held on January 28th 2008, University College Dublin, Ireland. 2008-01-28.

1. Teaching Support:
Different Perspectives, Shared
Challenges
Ursula Byrne (ursula.byrne@ucd.ie
Cathal McCauley (cathal.mccauley@ucd.ie)
Presentation to CONUL Colloquium 5 February 2008
UCD Library Leabharlann UCD
University College Dublin, An Coláiste Ollscoile, Baile
Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland Átha Cliath,
Belfield, Baile Átha Cliath 4,
Eire

2. Overview
• Two perspectives on key issue of Teaching
Support
• Supporting Learning/Information skills
• Enhancing the user experience using Web 2.0
tools/technologies
• Challenges for CONUL?

3. What has changed…
• Shifting emphasis from teaching to learning
• New flexible modes of teaching
• Focus on Lifelong learning
– Student engagement in the learning process
– Different learning styles
– Part-time learning
• User profile

4. Securing “buy in”–
• “What exactly do you do ?”
• Increasingly complex information environment
– Library as place
• Research behaviour trends – generational
differences - “power browsers”
– “the education resulting from this age of the
amateur as 'the University of Google', composed of
shallow ideas, superficial surfing and fleeting
commitments” Brabazon, 2008

5. Optimising opportunities…?
• Ad Hoc – (impact of semesterisation)
• In Modules
• Enquiry/Problem Based Learning
• Lunchtime sessions
• Information desks
• Online tutorials

6. Information literacy as an applied skill
• Workshops vs. lectures
• Training rooms
• Laptop trolleys
• Subject specific & Generic skills

7. Getting Buy-in
• School of Economics
• Marketing
- Learning objectives/outcomes
• Skills template
• Lesson plans
• Team approach
• => Information skills web-pages

8. Some UCD Statistics 2006 / 2007
Total attendances at information skills sessions
12,589

9. • 460 hours / 17 liaison librarians
• Of which 10 librarians delivered up to 30 hrs
• 2 librarians delivered 60+ hours
+ planning, preparation, evaluation , feedback

10. • Arts & Celtic Studies 21 sessions
• Business & Law 88 Sessions
• Human Sciences 100 sessions
• Life sciences 129 sessions
• Engineering, maths, physical sc. 28 Sessions

11. IS sessions given within structured
modules (1-2 hours)
• School of Business (Quinn) 11
• School of Economics 13
• College of Arts & Celtic Studies 4
• Sch. Information & Library Studies 23

12. IS sessions given to academic staff and
researchers (1-2 hours)
• Academic staff 36 sessions
• Researchers 34 sessions

13. IS - Look again at the team approach
• Achieving more collaboration – “buy-in”
• How sustainable is this approach?
• Our competition?
– University of google
– Direct marketing
• Who are the team players?
– Educational technologist
– Generic skills support
– Teaching librarians?
• Team approach increasingly important in many
areas e.g. Web 2.0

14. Web 2.0 and the user experience
“There is a big difference between being where our users
are and being USEFUL to our users where they are”
CIBER 2008
• To enhance the user experience Web 2.0 tools must
benefit users. Key measure but….
• Day of reckoning for Web 2.0 coming but not
homogeneous => not easy!

15. What do we mean by Web 2.0?
• Web 2.0 tool should meet at least two of the
following conditions:
1. It allows people to communicate, collaborate, and
build community online.
2. It can be syndicated, shared, reused, or remixed,
or it facilitates syndication.
3. It lets people learn easily from and capitalize on
the behaviour or knowledge of others
(Farakas, 2007)
• Key characteristics – pervasive, interactive, easy
and dynamic.
• Where does something like this fit in CONUL
libraries?

16. UCD Library and Web 2.0
• Organic and ad hoc initial
development
• Key role of
enthusiasts/champions
• Positive attitude to risk
• Staff support
• Senior Management
encouragement
• Users’ views, desires and
expectations have
guided/shaped development
• All things to all users
approach

17. Web 2.0 – “fleet footedness”
Since August 2007 (5 months) UCD IM platform:

18. Web 2.0 - Challenges
• Digital Nomads and Student attitudes
• Hype cycles – when to get on and … off!
• Ownership issues
• Establishing a baseline

19. Teaching Support – Shared Challenges
• Technology
• Organisational Culture
• Organisational Structure
• Need for service weeding – sustainability
• Staff training issues
• Library management issues
• Attitude to risk
• Student expectations and attitudes – e.g. the
demand for specificity

20. • Positioning the library strategically within the
university- library as place…!!
• Advocacy
• Information Skills as part of programmes
• Develop the teaching role…

21. Thank You
Questions and Discussion