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Center of Attention: Librarians Speak Up: How is your library implementing eLearning?

5 Questions
With Louise Klusek, Assistant Professor/Head of Reference, William and Anita Newman Library, Baruch College of the City University of New York, USA, Louise_Klusek@baruch.cuny.edu

1. As a librarian or LIS professor, how have you been involved in eLearning?
I’ve collaborated on the development of three tutorials or eLearning modules including the Beginner’s Guide to Business Research, the Guide to Financial Statements and the Guide to Research for Oral Presentations. I got interested in eLearning because I was working with faculty in business and communication studies courses and found that our students needed tools they could use to reinforce their learning.

2. What led to the ACRL and MERLOT recognition awarded the two Baruch College online tutorials you helped create?
As a librarian or LIS professor, how have you been involved in eLearning? Last year, the Beginner’s Guide to Business Research was selected as ACRL’s “Site of the Month” in February and the Guide to Financial Statements received the 2007 Classic Award from MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching). I think our tutorials were recognized because they were well designed and because they were developed as integral parts of discipline-based courses. They are examples of blended learning, bringing together Web-based or online activities with traditional classroom instruction.

3. What advice can you offer other LIS professionals creating online tutorials?
Spend time planning. Even if you have been teaching a course for many semesters, a needs assessment is valuable. Get input from both student and faculty focus groups. Write clear learning objectives. Most importantly, don’t do it alone. Partner with the faculty. Team up with an instructional designer so that you can focus on your role as the content specialist.

4. What should be the library's role in eLearning at academic institutions?
Successful eLearning should be collaboration among teaching faculty, librarians and IT specialists. Librarians should embrace eLearning as another way we can promote information literacy in the curriculum.

5. What trends are important today for eLearning?
In terms of pedagogy, many faculty are moving away from the lecture format and designing courses that support active learning. They are taking advantage of new technology and are able to do so because course management systems are getting more sophisticated. Also, I would watch developments in the use of mobile devices for teaching.

www.baruch.cuny.edu/tutorials/zicklin/research
www.baruch.cuny.edu/tutorials/statements
www.baruch.cuny.edu/tutorials/weissman/oral_presentations/launch.html