"LIR Annual Seminar 2008 "LIR Annual Seminar 2008 - Empowering our users"- Empowering our users"

Michael NowlanMichael Nowlan

Personal Technology as an Personal Technology as an Enabler for StudentsEnabler for Students

How students are using and How students are using and expecting to use technology in the expecting to use technology in the total experience at third level total experience at third level institutions in 2008institutions in 2008

Digital Natives & MillenialsDigital Natives & Millenials

• Students today have never known a Students today have never known a world without computers and world without computers and information technologyinformation technology

• Internet arrived in 1991 to Irish 3Internet arrived in 1991 to Irish 3rdrd levellevel

• Expect a service from their College Expect a service from their College that corresponds to services available that corresponds to services available elsewhereelsewhere

• Embrace Disruptive TechnologiesEmbrace Disruptive Technologies

Digital ImmigrantsDigital Immigrants

• Most of us!Most of us!

• Most Service ProvidersMost Service Providers

• Generally slow to adapt and adoptGenerally slow to adapt and adopt

• Have a wealth of experience as to Have a wealth of experience as to why to say “no” “forbid”, “block” or why to say “no” “forbid”, “block” or “ban” new activities“ban” new activities

• Shun disruptive innovationsShun disruptive innovations

The Big CatchallsThe Big Catchalls

• ““For Security Reasons”For Security Reasons”

• ““For Legal Reasons”For Legal Reasons”

About as meaningful as:About as meaningful as:

• ““Counter closed, back in 10 minutes”Counter closed, back in 10 minutes”

Disruptive TechnologyDisruptive Technology

• Clayton Cristensen's ”The Innovator's Clayton Cristensen's ”The Innovator's Dilemma”Dilemma”

• May be lower performanceMay be lower performance

• Usually CheaperUsually Cheaper

• May be simplerMay be simpler

• May be more convenientMay be more convenient

• May target lateral customersMay target lateral customers

Historical Disruptive Historical Disruptive TechnologiesTechnologies

• Steam Looms, LudditesSteam Looms, Luddites

• Marconi refused a grant for wirelessMarconi refused a grant for wireless

• Electric Light v Candle ManufacturersElectric Light v Candle Manufacturers

• Motorcars, farriers, blacksmiths, UK Red Flag Motorcars, farriers, blacksmiths, UK Red Flag ActAct

• Transistor RadiosTransistor Radios

• Digital CamerasDigital Cameras

• iPods and the music industryiPods and the music industry

• Mobile Phones and land line operatorsMobile Phones and land line operators

Student ExpectationsStudent Expectations

• Instant GratificationInstant Gratification

• ““Always On” worldAlways On” world

• Anytime Anywhere AnyhowAnytime Anywhere Anyhow

• All of life is Self ServiceAll of life is Self Service

• Expect Student services to be similarExpect Student services to be similar

Student Internet ExperienceStudent Internet Experience

• Irish Times recently reported that Irish Times recently reported that broadband usage was highest broadband usage was highest amongst studentsamongst students

• If it is not on the internet it doesn’t If it is not on the internet it doesn’t existexist

• If it is not in Google it doesn’t existIf it is not in Google it doesn’t exist

• Is your library catalogue searchable Is your library catalogue searchable through Google ?through Google ?

Student Internet Student Internet ExpectationsExpectations

• On a broadband connection, a student On a broadband connection, a student can technically do anythingcan technically do anything

• In College a number of restrictions are In College a number of restrictions are usually applied to internet servicesusually applied to internet services

• ““Corporate” responsibilities and Corporate” responsibilities and “Acceptable Use” principles apply“Acceptable Use” principles apply

• ISP covered by Telecom legislationISP covered by Telecom legislation

Copyright ProblemsCopyright Problems

• Illegal file sharingIllegal file sharing

• MP3 and video downloadsMP3 and video downloads

• ““Innocent” exposure of copyright Innocent” exposure of copyright materialmaterial

• ““Dangers” of peer-to-peer P2PDangers” of peer-to-peer P2P

• Reaction is to block things like Reaction is to block things like Bittorrent and SkypeBittorrent and Skype

What are Students CarryingWhat are Students Carrying

• Mobile PhoneMobile Phone

• Smart PhoneSmart Phone

• MP3 playerMP3 player

• Lightweight LaptopLightweight Laptop

Lightweight LaptopsLightweight Laptops

• ASUS EEE < 1Kg < €370 – solid state ASUS EEE < 1Kg < €370 – solid state discdisc

Lightweight LaptopsLightweight Laptops

• Apple MacBook Air – solid state discApple MacBook Air – solid state disc

Internet enabled PDAInternet enabled PDA

Apple iPod TouchApple iPod Touch

• 32GB Flash Memory32GB Flash Memory

• WiFiWiFi

• Internet BrowserInternet Browser

• Email on the goEmail on the go

Is it an MP3 player or a Is it an MP3 player or a phone?phone?

Libraries of the FutureLibraries of the Future

• Today - Warm, Policed SpaceToday - Warm, Policed Space

• Move to “Learning Centres”Move to “Learning Centres”

• The Saltire Centre at Glasgow The Saltire Centre at Glasgow Caledonian UniversityCaledonian University

• The “Mezzanine Learning Café” at The “Mezzanine Learning Café” at DCUDCU

Traditional Institutional Traditional Institutional ResponseResponse

• Ban MobilesBan Mobiles

• Ban talkingBan talking

• Ban Eating, DrinkingBan Eating, Drinking

• Ban LaptopsBan Laptops

• Ban MP3, iPod etcBan MP3, iPod etc

ServicesServices

• If we don’t provide it, it cannot be If we don’t provide it, it cannot be any goodany good

• If we don’t allow it, it cannot be any If we don’t allow it, it cannot be any goodgood

ServicesServices

• A sliding window view on servicesA sliding window view on services

• Why do institutions put very Why do institutions put very expensive phones on desksexpensive phones on desks

• Why do institutions invest heavily in Why do institutions invest heavily in providing student emailproviding student email

Institution’s Luddite Institution’s Luddite AttitudesAttitudes

• Long after the telephone was Long after the telephone was invented and reached universal invented and reached universal adoption, which 3adoption, which 3rdrd level institution level institution provides telephone support to provides telephone support to students ?students ?

• Some institutions require their Some institutions require their students to purchase packs of notes students to purchase packs of notes in printed form on paper!in printed form on paper!

What Can Services DoWhat Can Services Do

• Provide leadership in keeping up with Provide leadership in keeping up with demands of usersdemands of users

• Look at new technology Look at new technology developments, especially in the developments, especially in the consumer spaceconsumer space

• Cloud Computing, do you really care Cloud Computing, do you really care where your LMS is hostedwhere your LMS is hosted

Technology ExamplesTechnology Examples

• Amazon KindleAmazon Kindle

• iPhone and iPod Touch (one is usually iPhone and iPod Touch (one is usually banned and the other permitted in a banned and the other permitted in a library)library)

• ““3” Skype Phone3” Skype Phone

• Nokia (and others) WiFi phonesNokia (and others) WiFi phones

• Mobile BroadbandMobile Broadband

SummarySummary

• Pace of technology change is acceleratingPace of technology change is accelerating

• Current wave of technology is consumer Current wave of technology is consumer ledled

• Service providers must be agile in Service providers must be agile in spotting at adapting or adopting new spotting at adapting or adopting new trendstrends

• Look for Disruptive Technologies that may Look for Disruptive Technologies that may enhance the learning experienceenhance the learning experience