Q PROJECT Are search skills and file management skills barriers to using e-learning materials? PROJECT BRIEF

`Communities of practice’  E- learning materials can be shared across a subject area, a curriculum division or across the college  Do we have ‘communities of practice’ for e-learning?  How can they be created? Lave and Wenger (1991) cited by Levy (2005) in Levy and Roberts (eds) Developing the new learning environment: the changing role of the academic librarian p.29 London: Facet Publishing

Questions to be answered  Where do staff store materials?  How are materials structured?  How do staff search for materials?  How do staff use these materials?

‘Community’ One  Social and Professional Studies ILC  FdA Early Childhood Studies/BTEC Health & Social Care  Have asked for materials to be uploaded to VLE  VLEVLE 2 VLEVLE 2 SPS AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

‘Community’ Two  Construction ILC  Carpentry and Joinery courses  Resources stored on local network or in personal files – fragmented structure CONSTRUCTION AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Common sense?

Why structure your search for e- learning objects?  Any search can benefit from the following questions:  What do I need?  What format should it be in?  What do I want it to do?  How much time do I have?

Examples of current storage  Staff files for carpentry and joinery on our local network  Contents of folder labelled ‘Roof Geometry’ – images ‘screen images’ © 2006 Microsoft Corporation

Moving resources to e-repository  Should mean:  Easier searching and updating  Learning outcomes can be described for all users  Materials can be packaged to suit staff and student needs  Sharing materials becomes easier

Next step: select your resources to store in e-repository  Wherever your resources are to be found you need to be familiar with the storage structures E-REPOSITORY E-REPOSITORY  For efficient search and retrieval you also need agreement on how the e-resources are described

Questions to be answered  What learning outcomes are required from this material?  How complex should it be? – language, learning styles and activities.  Course - agreed title, dates and administration details – to identify materials for updating  Agreed titles/keywords for describing e- learning objects

File management skills  Agreed folder structures for resource delivery framework FOLDERS FOLDERS  Agreed authority files for key words used to describe e-learning materials to be stored in e-repository DRAFT FILE DRAFT FILE  Agreed procedures for storing best materials in e-repository  Agreed protocols for titles and descriptions

Outcomes  Draft authority files for adding resources to e-repository  CPD sessions on file management with staff in Integrated Learning Centre (ILC) FILE MANAGEMENT FILE MANAGEMENT  Range of resources uploaded to VLE to agree with divisional priorities SPS OUTCOMES SPS OUTCOMES

Outcomes  Glossary of terms for Carpentry and Joinery  Draft authority files for adding resources to e-repository  Range of resources uploaded to VLE to agree with divisional priorities CONSTRUCTION OUTCOMES

Additional outcomes – added value  Understanding value of structuring ‘formal & informal learning’ in the Integrated Learning Centres (ILC)  ILC team has greater awareness of potential for resource management through the VLE and e-repository

Additional outcomes – added value Project outcomes and experience have informed e-learning planning across the college Need to plan CPD/inductions on subject focussed search strategies and e-repository file management Improved PowerPoint and file management skills!