University of Wollongong and University of South Australia: Preliminary Observations on

Learning Management Systems and Libraries

Based on November 2005 Site VisitsChristine Turner

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Program …

Project Background Relevant Bits about Higher Ed. in Australia Relevant Bits about UoW and UniSA Ways the Library is Embedded in the

Learning Management System (LMS) Examples Observations and Q&A

Project Background

Wrote sabbatical proposal in Fall 2003 Digital Services and Instruction Librarian When I was young, back in 1981 … Australia as pioneer in distance education Literature review Contacts at University of Wollongong and

University of South Australia

Australia and Higher Education 20 million people in country size

of continental U.S. 39 gov’t funded universities,

distinct from “colleges” State/territory gov’ts responsible

for university governance Federal government produces

frameworks and mandates audits, e.g. Copyright Australia Ltd. (“CAL”), Quality Assurance Framework, Research Quality Framework

Gov’t allocates funding on the basis of assessment of framework criteria

Access to off-campus Internet is limited by quota allocated to each student

University of Wollongong About 21,000 students at 8 campuses, mostly south

of Sydney, one in Dubai, U.E.A. Graduate Attributes - #7:“A basic understanding of

information literacy ...” Adopted WebCT in 1999; now converting 850

subjects from WebCT CE to VISTA About 40% of subjects use LMS to some degree;

very few are exclusively online, with preference for “blended” e-learning

Academic Services Division: Library, CEDIR (Learning Design), Student Services (Learning Development)

University of South Australia About 30,000 students at 5 campuses in South Australia, with

significant off-campus population. Historically a leader in distance education

About 49% of students come from Equity Groups “Graduate Qualities - #2: “is prepared for lifelong learning” with

information literacy as indicator 1998 developed homegrown LMS, UniSAnet; Version 2 released

in 2001 Assumes as basic tenet “flexible delivery” ie. Elements of face-

to-face, print/correspondence, online Academic Librarians work with FLC/Learning Connection -

professional developers, online advisors, career advisors, study advisors.

Library and Learning Management System (LMS) Templates or Pre-Sets E-Readings Links from LMS to standalone tutorials or

subject/course/assignment guides “Embedded” content and assessment Hybrids

LMS Templates UoW – WebCT Vista “Readings & Library

Resources” E-Readings Catalogue Databases Resources by Faculty Teach Yourself Ask a Librarian What’s New

UniSA – UniSAnet Always E-Readings Different ones for different programs Very flexible

E-Readings 2001 Copyright Act Statute covers digital materials

in educational environment 10% of book/journal or 1 chapter/article with annual

licensing fee based on quantity $18million in licensing fees for university sector

(2004?) Copyright Australia Ltd. (C.A.L.) audits universities

every 2-3 years; monetary penalties and jail sentences for violations

UoW and UniSA scan articles/chapters, create records and maintain in catalogue

Library is central clearinghouse for copyright and e-readings management

Links to Tutorials and Guides Tutorials or sections of them

UoW - Research Edge and Others UniSA – InfoGate and Others

Subjects UoW – Resources by Faculty/Subject UniSA – Subject Resources

Assignments UoW – Resources by Topic UniSA – Virtual Libraries

“Embedded” in LMS Course

UoW Compulsory 1st year law course “Legal Research

& Writing” Nursing Informatics – Good Practice Case Study

UniSA Business core course “Communication & the

Media” for “Writing the First Essay”

Q&A/Discussion

Christine TurnerElectronic Resources Librarian

University of Massachusetts Amherstcturner@library.umass.edu