Transcript Course Views A Scalable Project to Connect Students to Library Resources Kim Duckett and Tito Sierra NCSU Libraries Educause 2007 Conference October 26, 2007

Course Views
A Scalable Project to Connect
Students to Library Resources
Kim Duckett and Tito Sierra
NCSU Libraries
Educause 2007 Conference
October 26, 2007
Outline
• Challenges for Libraries Reaching Out
to Students Online
• Library Content for Courses
• Course Views at NCSU
• Future Work
Challenges
Challenges
• Library websites are overwhelming
Challenges
• Library websites are overwhelming
• Information resources are often
unfamiliar
Challenges
• Library websites are overwhelming
• Information resources are often
unfamiliar
• Librarians tend to focus on:
• Disciplines / subjects
• Resource types
Challenges
• Library websites are overwhelming
• Information resources are often
unfamiliar
• Librarians tend to focus on:
• Disciplines / subjects
• Resource types
• Integration into learning management
systems is difficult
Library Content for Courses
Course Pages / Guides
• Tailored to specific courses
• Student experience is course-centric
• “I’m taking X, Y, Z courses”
• Offers a scaled-down entry to the library
• Can be linked into course websites
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Benefit: Assignment-centric
Problem: Not Holistic
Benefit: Highly Customized
Benefit: Highly Customized
Problem: High Production Costs
Problem: Limited Reach
Problem: Inconsistent Design
Problem: Inconsistent Design
Course Pages Summary
• Course-centric pages have potential
• Scalability is a challenge
• Course pages need to be more
multifaceted
Course Views at NCSU
Project Overview
• Collaborative effort between Research
and Information Services, and Digital
Library Initiatives departments at NCSU
• Homegrown system in development
• Initial release slated for Summer 2008
Course View Definition
“A course-centric portal composed of
student-centric widgets designed to
connect students to library resources”
Project Goals
Project Goals
1. A Course View for every course
Project Goals
1. A Course View for every course
2. A scalable and sustainable system
for library course content delivery
Project Goals
1. A Course View for every course
2. A scalable and sustainable system for
library course content delivery
3. Library content customized as much
as possible to the course
Example Course View 1
Example Course View 1
Widgets
Static
• Ubersearch
• Find Books
• Citation Tools
• Project Tools
• Ask a Librarian
Dynamic
• Course Reserves
• Find Articles
(subject database
recommendations)
• Librarian
Recommended
Widget Selection Process
1. Content inventory of existing library
course pages
Widget Selection Process
1. Content inventory of existing library
course pages
2. Brainstorm new content
Widget Selection Process
1. Content inventory of existing library
course pages
2. Brainstorm new content
3. Fifteen candidate widgets
Widget Selection Process
1. Content inventory of existing library
course pages
2. Brainstorm new content
3. Fifteen candidate widgets
4. Three focus groups with students
Widget Selection Process
1. Content inventory of existing library
course pages
2. Brainstorm new content
3. Fifteen candidate widgets
4. Three focus groups with students
5. Eight finalists for pilot launch
Example Course View 2
Static Widgets
Static Widget Example
Dynamic Widgets
Customized content based on existing
institutional course identifiers.
NC State example: ENG 221
• ‘ENG’ = curriculum code
• ‘221’ = course number
• ‘ENG 221’ = full course identifier
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/course/ENG/221
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/course/ENG/221
Customization Options
Curriculum level
• Customized content
is shared across all
courses in the same
department
• Easier to manage
but less customized
• Approximately 150
curriculums at NC
State
Course level
• Customized content
is tailored to a
specific course
• More customized
but more work to
create and maintain
• Approximately 5000
courses at NC State
Dynamic Widgets - Curriculum
Find Articles 1
Find Articles 2
Find Articles
• Curriculum-level customization
• Specialized article database
recommendations
• Leverages existing mapping between
library subjects and curriculum codes
Librarian Recommended 1
Librarian Recommended 1
Librarian Recommended 1
Librarian Recommended 1
Dynamic Widgets - Course
Librarian Recommended 2
Librarian Recommended 2
Librarian Recommended 2
Access Points
• Learning management system(s)
• Library website
• Other online course environments
• Non-LMS course websites
• Wikis and blogs
Learning Mgmt. System
Learning Mgmt. System
Library Website
Library Website
Library Website
Library Website
Course Wiki
Course Wiki
Course Wiki
Summary of Benefits
• Course Views for all courses =
significantly increased potential reach
Summary of Benefits
• Course Views for all courses =
significantly increased potential reach
• Widget model allows the overall system
to grow and evolve over time
Summary of Benefits
• Course Views for all courses =
significantly increased potential reach
• Widget model allows the overall system
to grow and evolve over time
• Course identifiers provide versatility and
scalability in content customization
Future Work
Short Term
• Continue curriculum content creation
• Finish application programming
• Pilot launch, summer 2008
Medium Term
• Usage statistics analysis
• Most used widgets
• Usage by curricula, college
• Investigate automated LMS linking
Long Term
Facilitate deep integration of library
content outside the library website
Starting Here
Going Here
Going Here
Going Here
More Information
Project Page:
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/dli/projects/courseviews/
Kim Duckett
Principal Librarian for Digital Technologies and Learning
Research and Information Services
NCSU Libraries
[email protected]
Tito Sierra
Assistant Head for Digital Library Development
Digital Library Initiatives
NCSU Libraries
[email protected]