Learning and Teaching Materials
Because of time problems during the day, this session was run as a plenary discussion, rather than break-out groups as originally intended.
The following table was handed out to participants to guide the discussion. It is completed here with replies agreed by the group.
| Items | Yes/No | Comments |
| 1. Service Documentation |
| 1(A) Contents level descriptions of the A&I databases | Yes | Will be done by EDINA staff | |
| 1(B) Online help facilities | Yes | Will be done by EDINA staff
(describes how to use the Xgrain interface) |
| Other suggestions: | None made | |
| 2. Teaching support materials |
| 2(A) Learning objectives addressed by cross-searching and use of A&I databases | Yes | Should be one item |
| 2(B) Assistance in incorporating into teaching (teachers' notes) | Perhaps | This is less important |
| 2(C)Case studies of successful use of A&I databases (and cross-searching?) in L&T | Yes | Important to have a selection from a variety of subject areas
Would be useful if EDINA could provide guidance on word count for each case study |
| Other suggestions: | None made | |
| 3. Learning support materials |
| 3(A) Why cross-search | Yes | 1 item |
| 3(B) Cross-searching concepts, the shallow nature of cross-searching, the accessing of native interfaces for in-depth searches | Yes | 1 (generic) item |
| 3(C) How to cross-search (tutorials) | Yes | These should be subject-specific tutorials and in as many subject areas as possible, as with case studies
Could be generic item then customised to individual subject areas |
| 3(D) How information is structured and made available in the real worl | Possibly | 1 item - could be an opportunity to explain JISC resources and variety of EIS to students. Also could provide opportunity to explain about databases to be found in various professions after they leave university |
| 3(E) Research skills | Possibly | Yes, if this means providing overview of whole information landscape and pointing out to students that it is important to plan their literature search, as it will take longer than they think
Should point to resources already available on the web to support research skills training and not duplicate them |
| Other suggestions made at the meeting |
| 3(F) Advice on how to get review-type articles from the cross-search (so that users are not inundated with research-specific results) | | Agreed |
| 3(G) Evaluation of articles once received - support for conducting critical review of references received | | Agreed |
| Other suggestions made after the meeting (MM comments for further discussion) |
| 3(H) Pathfinders - relevant A&I for specific subject areas, linked to quick guides on how they work | | EDINA could produce these pathfinders. Quick guides on how EDINA services work already exist. Someone from the project team would have to get guides together from other database providers. |
| 3(I) Support material on resolving common problems e.g. too many irrelevant links | | FAQ type guide? |
| 3(J) Handouts on OVID search techniques as different to search engines | | Quick search guide to EDINA's OVID databases already exist. |
| 3(K) What to use when and why guides | | In question and answer format? |
For information, the original Xgrain bid detailed the materials to be produced as follows:
- Contents level descriptions of the A&I databases.
- Tutorial materials that explain such issues as why A&I databases are useful for student learners; how to select them; search techniques; concept of cross searching.
- Basic and advanced tutorials in each of the specialist databases.
- Case studies of the use of A&I databases and cross searching in L&T.
- Links to related web resources.
During the discussion, the following points were also agreed.
- MM reported that issuing a general invitation to the community to author learning units in another project has been very time-consuming.
- All agreed that the L&T Associates will use their contacts and mailing lists to invite people interested in authoring units to contact EDINA.
- MM will provide matrix of learning items discussed for further review, which will state whether academic or LIS staff should be invited to author particular items. L&T Associates can use the matrix to source parties interested in authoring items.
- £250 will be paid per item. A total of 30 items will be commissioned.
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