Distance Learning & Academic LibrariesThe Changing Landscape

Paul MascareñasCoALA Spring Workshop

WSCU 4.26.13

Overview• Identify the distant student• Define distant education• Identify growth/trends• Identify potential obstacles &

opportunities for outreach• Reference• Instruction• Materials• Integration• Resource Sharing• Social Media and technology• Collaborate

Distant Student• Non-traditional• Employed• Family• Geographically disadvantage or

isolated • Military personnel • Tech savvy• Similarities to on-campus students

• Learn & apply skill set• Equal access• Get what they pay for• Diverse Learners

What is Distant Education?

Define: Distant Education• Time & space?• Asynchronous/Synchronous• 100%, 80%-70%, • 50% hybrid/blended (NCES)• 80% online & 30% - 79% are

considered blended/hybrid (Babson survey)

How many institutions teach online?

• Courses: 66% or two-thirds offer distance education courses

• Programs: 32% offer degree/certificate programs

“Survey says…”How many students learn online?

• Surveyed 1,600 with 90% response• Out of 4,200 eligible Title IV

degree granting post-secondary institutions

• 4.3 million students took at least one distant ed. course

“Survey Says…”How many students learn online?

• Surveyed 2,800 colleges & universities

• Data retrieved from chief academic officers

• 6.7 million students took at least one distant ed. course

• 32% percent of higher ed. students took at least one class online

How many institutions teach online?

• 87% offer online programs and coursework

• 38% offer just coursework

Go long…Reasons Institutions choose distance

• Increase student enrollment• Course & degree additions• Students need flexible schedules• Increase access to education• Response to the needs of

employers/business

CMU goes long…Reasons why CMU wants to expand

the distant ed program

• Increase educational access for our region and our state

• Enhance the quality of online program & service delivery

• Contribute to the university’s long-term funding model

Traditional services for the non-traditional student –

Reference • Access point – reference desk• Reference Interview

• IM, phone, email

• LibGuides –• Biol. 105• Math 301

• Adobe Connect• Screen Capture software – Free

• Screencast – o – matic• Jing• Skype

• Handouts – making them available online

• Interlibrary Loan service

Outreach & CollaborationMaking our presence known to on-

campus and off-campus can be a challenge

• Target faculty who teach online• Campus wide emails

• Materials• Services for de students • Syllabus statements• Course Reserves

• “What do Distance Education Faculty want from the Library” (2006) – Schrnehl Hines…• Awareness of library materials &

services available • They can promote to their

students• Influence assignments• Copyright• Visual aids – handouts & tutorials

Outreach & Collaboration • Develop relationships with other

departments on campus• Extended Studies – distance

education dept.

• Target outreach• Match services/materials• Academic Support Services

• Tutorial Learning Center • TRiO• Career Services

• Montrose & WCCC campus

Faculty Access Seminar & Information Literacy

• Faculty Access Seminar - Campus wide invite & introduction – not many takers

• Embedded librarian

• Create research guides

• Information Literacy based assignments

• Open house – live instruction• Adobe connect• Skype

Embedded Librarian• Course design process• Co-instructor rights (micro)• Static links & research guides

(macro)

Research Guides• Topic Development• Search tips & techniques• Search strategies when using

specific library databases• Evaluating materials (popular vs.

scholarly, websites)• Finding books/ebooks• Plagiarism and how to avoid• Annotated Bibliographies• Citation guides

Information Literacy Work with faculty to create research based assignments that can include:

• Meeting with librarian for one-on-one research

• Develop assignments that require use of online library resources

• Created an Information Literacy guide

References• Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. Changing course: Ten years of tracking online education in the United

States. Retrieved from http://sloanconsortium.org/publications/ survey/changing_course_2012. • Association of College & Research Libraries (2008). Standards for distance learning library services.

Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/alamgrps/divs/acrl/standards/guidelinesdistancelearning.cfm• Betty, P., & Garnar, M. (2011). One university, two approaches: The Regis experience with

embedded librarianship. In C. Kvenild & K. Calkins (Eds.), Embedded librarians (139-150). Chicago: Association of College Research Libraries.

• Hines, S.S. (2006). What do distance education faculty want from the library? Journal of Library Administration, 45(1/2), 215-227.

• Johnson, K., & Fabbro, E. (2013). The role of academic libraries. In M.G. Moore (Ed.), Handbook of distant education (231-245). New York: Routledge.

• Mann, B. J., Arnold, J. L., & Rawson, J. (2013). Using LibGuides to promote information literacy in a distance education environment. In A.W. Dobbs, R.L. Sittler, & D. Cook (Eds.), Using LibGuides to Enhance Library Services (221-234). Chicago: American Library Association.

• U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2011). The Condition of Education 2011 (NCES-033), Indicator 43. Washington, DC: Author

• Willis, B. (n.d.). Strategies for learning at a distance. Distance Education at a Glance. Retrieved from http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/eo/dist8.html

The EndThank you

Questions?Comments?

Ideas?Stories?