Comments for Distance Learning Interest Group

Comment on Lauren is a Superstar! by lauren

lauren — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:06:07 +0000

Thanks for the post, Karen!

Comment on teaching technologies by The dividing line… « Distance Learning Interest Group

The dividing line… « Distance Learning Interest Group — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:38:26 +0000

[...] 14th, 2007 I started to respond to Lauren’s post on teaching technologies and her question of “Where is the dividing line between distance and traditional [...]

Comment on New Sloan-C Report on Distance Education by Karen Wetzel

Karen Wetzel — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:24:05 +0000

Thanks for the link, Bob! Let us know if, in your own writing, you have any suggestions that might help us provide library services for distance learners. What do you think are the main things distance students are looking for from their libraries?

Comment on youtube tutorials by Karen Wetzel

Karen Wetzel — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:21:06 +0000

Before I left GW, I worked to create quick pages for easy help–something that wouldn’t go into all the details of every topic, but would get the students what they needed. Ideally, we wanted to be able to include them into distance courses at point of need, and then to also include them throughout the website and in searching (e.g., add a link in SFX to help with loans for items we didn’t have online, or on the login failure page for login help). I don’t think that happened, but I think that’s key–have it in easy reach, for when they need it.

I also tried to make the pages fun–used some simple, clean graphics, easy links to get them where they would need to go, and bare minimum text that wouldn’t go beyond a page. We also had short videos to show for each one (I think we aimed for a minute long), and a printable version. Here’s an example: http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/service/offcampus/diy/login.html

I see that they’ve added a “Did this help you?” button. I was more interested in tracking use by stats and have added some new topics–it would be interesting to see if they are getting use.

How do we find out if our efforts are making a difference? Especially when we work with distance users (whether in another country or another room)? Has anyone had any success with measurement?

Comment on youtube tutorials by lauren pressley

lauren pressley — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:56:48 +0000

Thanks Paul! Good question and suggestion!

As for students finding the materials… since we’re still in the early set-up phase, we’re not marketing them at all. The webmaster is creating a searchable interface for our site by learning style, topic, etc. We plan on marketing to faculty, too, so they can embed the resources they think are most useful in their Blackboard or web-based courses. Some of them could even be embedded at the most useful place on the page for point-of-us instruction.

Thanks for the Camtasia Studio advice. Though I’ve used Captivate, I’m new to Camtasia. I was using the trial version, but apparently not all the features. I’ll be sure to look into that right away. Always nice to get advice from folks who have used the product!

Comment on youtube tutorials by Paul R. Pival

Paul R. Pival — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:54:51 +0000

These look really good Lauren – one question and one suggestion. Are you embedding these somewhere for the students to find? What’s your strategy to get these in front of their eyes? Not sure what you used to create these, and not to sound like a shill, but you should try the newest version of Camtasia Studio, which has a great new automatic zoom feature that would really work well for the small space you get to show in YouTube. I just watched your “how to renew books” and mentally imagined where Camtasia would’ve automatically zoomed in to show greater detail on the parts of the screen you were working on. It really works well, and you can get a 30-day free trial.

Comment on teaching technologies by youtube tutorials « Distance Learning Interest Group

youtube tutorials « Distance Learning Interest Group — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:45:24 +0000

[...] 6th, 2007 I posted the other day about my new position. I’m still developing the modular tutorial project I mentioned in that post, but the first [...]

Comment on New Sloan-C Report on Distance Education by bob sullivan

bob sullivan — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:27:35 +0000

While I cover online learning mainly from a student viewpoint, I’m recommending your blog to readers. It’s very hard to get much unbiased info on distance learning, and you’re a good source of updates on how the profession views it. FYI – my post recommending you is at: http://www.successdegrees.com/online-education-blog/index.php/93/distance-learning-interest-group-blog/

Comment on teaching technologies by lauren pressley

lauren pressley — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 20:14:39 +0000

Thanks for your comments, Kim. They really resonate with me. It’s an interesting parallel between the idea of what’s good for distance learners can provide benefits for the whole population and that what’s good for Net Gen users can provide benefits for the whole population.

I went to NCSU as an undergrad, and apparently was studying there for a few years while you were working there. I can tell you, as an on-campus student during that time, I appreciated all the distance-type support!

Comment on teaching technologies by Kim Duckett

Kim Duckett — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 19:56:32 +0000

I personally think there is no longer a strong demarcation between “distance learning” librarianship and web-based services for “traditional learning.” The lines are becoming so blurred.

I’ve been working with populations of distance learners since 2001. My position has morphed from one focused primarily on instruction for DE students to one like yours — instructional technologies/instructional design PERIOD, regardless of whether it’s for DE or non-DE populations.

I will say that at my library (North Carolina State) we’ve always felt that thinking about our distance learners and striving to reach them helps to improve services for all users. Now I think you can expand this to say that thinking about how to reach our Net Gen students can similarly provide benefits for all.