Poster Abstract

1. Screencasting: delivering information literacy sessions online for
distance learning students
Marion Kennedy, Heriot-Watt University, M.L.Kennedy@hw.ac.uk
Catherine Ure, Heriot-Watt University, C.M.Ure@hw.ac.uk
Distance learning students make up a significant proportion of the student body in
Higher Education. At Heriot Watt University, distance learning students (independent
distance learners and those studying with one of the University’s Approved Learning
Partners abroad) represent a larger student body than on-campus students. A key
strategic aim of the University is to increase both the number of distance learning
students and the number of students based on-campus overseas in future years.
While the digital library brings opportunities to support distance learners in allowing
remote access to electronic resources such as ebooks, ejournals and online search
tools, distance learning students may not always have equitable access to Library
services to support their use of these resources. In particular, services delivered on-
campus such as face-to-face help with enquiries, Library workshops or teaching
sessions may be inaccessible to the majority of distance learning students.
Recent and emerging technologies offer great potential to deliver or enhance existing
delivery of campus-based services online to remote learners - while offering more
choice and flexibility to all students.
As part of a wider investigation into how digital technologies might support remote
learners, this paper describes a project exploring screencasts to deliver a series of
existing on-campus Library workshops online.
The paper will present the project background in the Heriot-Watt University Library
workshop programme, the rationale underpinning the move to online delivery and
how this might improve the learning experience of current and future distance
learning students, the methods used to create the online materials and the proposed
methods for gathering student feedback. Pedagogical issues in moving from face-to-
face to online delivery will also be addressed.