The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 1 Institute for Learning and Research Technology Grainne Conole and Kate Sharp

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 2 Institute for Learning and Research Technology The RDN Virtual Training Suite Emma Place, Grainne Conole and Kate Sharp

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 3 Institute for Learning and Research Technology VTS RDN Virtual Training Suite Aims to: Offer online subject-based training in “Internet information skills” Enhance the value of the UK Resource Discovery Network (RDN) for the learning and teaching communities

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 4 Institute for Learning and Research Technology Background Project funding –Funded by JISC under their DNER programme –Follows on from the Electronic Libraries Programme - eLib Total of 38 subject-based tutorials –11 tutorials went live in July 2000 –27 more due in May 2001

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 5 Institute for Learning and Research Technology The RDN The Resource Discovery Network –A network of subject-specific information gateways –Part of the JISC DNER –Subject areas are clustered around five ‘hubs’ SOSIG - social science BIOME - biomedical EEVL - engineering PSIgate - psychology HUMBUL - humanities

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 6 Institute for Learning and Research Technology VTS offers... The user education for the RDN: –Teaching materials –Free training –Learning materials

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 7 Institute for Learning and Research Technology Let’s have a look...

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 8 Institute for Learning and Research Technology Standard structure TOUR DISCOVER REVIEW REFLECT

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 9 Institute for Learning and Research Technology Learning objectives: Tour Aim: to offer Internet orientation for the subject area On completion of this section, users will be better able to: Distinguish between different types of resources available over the Internet Identify some key Internet resources for their subject area Compile a list of links to Internet sites of particular relevance to their work

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 10 Institute for Learning and Research Technology Learning Objectives: Discover Aim: to teach Internet information seeking skills for the subject On completion of this section, users will be better able to: -Explain the differences between Internet search tools (search engines, directories and subject gateways) -Identify key Internet search tools for the subject area -Find relevant information on the Internet (using effective search and browse techniques)

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 11 Institute for Learning and Research Technology Learning Objectives: Review Aim: to teach the skills and knowledge needed for critical evaluation of Internet resources On completion of this section, users will be better able to: State why information quality is an issue on the Internet Identify information quality issues of particular relevance to the subject area Critically evaluate the quality of Internet resources

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 12 Institute for Learning and Research Technology Learning Objectives: Reflect Aim: to suggest practical ways of using Internet resources to support working practices On completion of this section, users will be better able to: Summarise the key Internet information skills they need Incorporate Internet resources into their learning, teaching or research

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 13 Institute for Learning and Research Technology Using VTS The resource is designed to be –a flexible framework to support learning –adaptable to customise to the local context The resources can be used as: –part of a presentation in a training session –a set assignments for students –a set of handouts –part of a practical exercise in a workshop –support for independent learning

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 14 Institute for Learning and Research Technology Resources Relevant sites –DNER Distributed Network for Electronic Resources, –e-Lib Electronic Libraries, –JISC Joint Information Systems Committee, –RDN Resource Discover Network, –VTS Virtual Training Suite,

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a centre of excellence in the development and use of Information and Communication Technology to support learning and research 15 Institute for Learning and Research Technology Further information Web site: Project team –Central team University of Bristol - Emma Place, Tracey Hooper, Paul Smith –Hub management The tutorials are linked to the five national RDN hubs –Tutorial authors 38 subject specialists have been commissioned to write the tutorials, based in Universities across the UK