Why don’t we just google it?

Jade Furness, Education and Liaison Librarian

Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

www.openpolytechnic.ac.nzOnline distance education

What does this mean for students:

Student cohort

Learning Management System - Moodle

Online communities

Gaps in academic literacies at Tertiary entry level

Academic writing – Presenting logical arguments using third person; supported with evidence

Critical thinking and reflection skills - not able to reflect critically about assignments

Digital literacy – online courses necessitate a certain level of fluency that makes it difficult for some students

Difficulties with synthesizing information

Understanding the assignment tasks, doing what is asked

Information/research literacy skills – including how to

critically evaluate information and sources

Referencing – many students have difficulty with the why and how of APA referencing. Is this taught at secondary school?

Bridging the gaps

Facilitate students to become confident learners

Enable students to ask questions in a supportive environment

Convey the value of the research habit, reading widely, and using evidence to support arguments

Enable students to understand how they learn - their own learning preferences, how learning takes place

Support for OP students Creating an online community for students

Faculty support with academic writing

Librarians embedded in online course forums

Academic and information/research literacies embedded in the course content as learning activities - Social Work programme

Online help videos for information and academic literacies

Library and Learning Centre student support

Maori and Pasifika student support