"LIR Annual Seminar Empowering our users" Michael Nowlan

Personal Technology as an Enabler for Students How students are using and expecting to use technology in the total experience at third level institutions in 2008

Digital Natives & Millenials Students today have never known a world without computers and information technology Students today have never known a world without computers and information technology Internet arrived in 1991 to Irish 3 rd level Internet arrived in 1991 to Irish 3 rd level Expect a service from their College that corresponds to services available elsewhere Expect a service from their College that corresponds to services available elsewhere Embrace Disruptive Technologies Embrace Disruptive Technologies

Digital Immigrants Most of us! Most of us! Most Service Providers Most Service Providers Generally slow to adapt and adopt Generally slow to adapt and adopt Have a wealth of experience as to why to say “no” “forbid”, “block” or “ban” new activities Have a wealth of experience as to why to say “no” “forbid”, “block” or “ban” new activities Shun disruptive innovations Shun disruptive innovations

The Big Catchalls “For Security Reasons” “For Security Reasons” “For Legal Reasons” “For Legal Reasons” About as meaningful as: “Counter closed, back in 10 minutes” “Counter closed, back in 10 minutes”

Disruptive Technology Clayton Cristensen's ”The Innovator's Dilemma” Clayton Cristensen's ”The Innovator's Dilemma” May be lower performance May be lower performance Usually Cheaper Usually Cheaper May be simpler May be simpler May be more convenient May be more convenient May target lateral customers May target lateral customers

Historical Disruptive Technologies Steam Looms, Luddites Steam Looms, Luddites Marconi refused a grant for wireless Marconi refused a grant for wireless Electric Light v Candle Manufacturers Electric Light v Candle Manufacturers Motorcars, farriers, blacksmiths, UK Red Flag Act Motorcars, farriers, blacksmiths, UK Red Flag Act Transistor Radios Transistor Radios Digital Cameras Digital Cameras iPods and the music industry iPods and the music industry Mobile Phones and land line operators Mobile Phones and land line operators

Student Expectations Instant Gratification Instant Gratification “Always On” world “Always On” world Anytime Anywhere Anyhow Anytime Anywhere Anyhow All of life is Self Service All of life is Self Service Expect Student services to be similar Expect Student services to be similar

Student Internet Experience Irish Times recently reported that broadband usage was highest amongst students Irish Times recently reported that broadband usage was highest amongst students If it is not on the internet it doesn’t exist If it is not on the internet it doesn’t exist If it is not in Google it doesn’t exist If it is not in Google it doesn’t exist Is your library catalogue searchable through Google ? Is your library catalogue searchable through Google ?

Student Internet Expectations On a broadband connection, a student can technically do anything On a broadband connection, a student can technically do anything In College a number of restrictions are usually applied to internet services In College a number of restrictions are usually applied to internet services “Corporate” responsibilities and “Acceptable Use” principles apply “Corporate” responsibilities and “Acceptable Use” principles apply ISP covered by Telecom legislation ISP covered by Telecom legislation

Copyright Problems Illegal file sharing Illegal file sharing MP3 and video downloads MP3 and video downloads “Innocent” exposure of copyright material “Innocent” exposure of copyright material “Dangers” of peer-to-peer P2P “Dangers” of peer-to-peer P2P Reaction is to block things like Bittorrent and Skype Reaction is to block things like Bittorrent and Skype

What are Students Carrying Mobile Phone Mobile Phone Smart Phone Smart Phone MP3 player MP3 player Lightweight Laptop Lightweight Laptop

Lightweight Laptops ASUS EEE < 1Kg < €370 – solid state disc ASUS EEE < 1Kg < €370 – solid state disc

Lightweight Laptops Apple MacBook Air – solid state disc Apple MacBook Air – solid state disc

Internet enabled PDA

Apple iPod Touch 32GB Flash Memory 32GB Flash Memory WiFi WiFi Internet Browser Internet Browser on the go on the go

Is it an MP3 player or a phone?

Libraries of the Future Today - Warm, Policed Space Today - Warm, Policed Space Move to “Learning Centres” Move to “Learning Centres” The Saltire Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University The Saltire Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University The “Mezzanine Learning Café” at DCU The “Mezzanine Learning Café” at DCU

Traditional Institutional Response Ban Mobiles Ban Mobiles Ban talking Ban talking Ban Eating, Drinking Ban Eating, Drinking Ban Laptops Ban Laptops Ban MP3, iPod etc Ban MP3, iPod etc

Services If we don’t provide it, it cannot be any good If we don’t provide it, it cannot be any good If we don’t allow it, it cannot be any good If we don’t allow it, it cannot be any good

Services A sliding window view on services A sliding window view on services Why do institutions put very expensive phones on desks Why do institutions put very expensive phones on desks Why do institutions invest heavily in providing student Why do institutions invest heavily in providing student

Institution’s Luddite Attitudes Long after the telephone was invented and reached universal adoption, which 3 rd level institution provides telephone support to students ? Long after the telephone was invented and reached universal adoption, which 3 rd level institution provides telephone support to students ? Some institutions require their students to purchase packs of notes in printed form on paper! Some institutions require their students to purchase packs of notes in printed form on paper!

What Can Services Do Provide leadership in keeping up with demands of users Provide leadership in keeping up with demands of users Look at new technology developments, especially in the consumer space Look at new technology developments, especially in the consumer space Cloud Computing, do you really care where your LMS is hosted Cloud Computing, do you really care where your LMS is hosted

Technology Examples Amazon Kindle Amazon Kindle iPhone and iPod Touch (one is usually banned and the other permitted in a library) iPhone and iPod Touch (one is usually banned and the other permitted in a library) “3” Skype Phone “3” Skype Phone Nokia (and others) WiFi phones Nokia (and others) WiFi phones Mobile Broadband Mobile Broadband

Summary Pace of technology change is accelerating Pace of technology change is accelerating Current wave of technology is consumer led Current wave of technology is consumer led Service providers must be agile in spotting at adapting or adopting new trends Service providers must be agile in spotting at adapting or adopting new trends Look for Disruptive Technologies that may enhance the learning experience Look for Disruptive Technologies that may enhance the learning experience