Using Informs at Newcastle University Library

1
Using Informs at Newcastle University Library

• Moira Bent
• Jenny Campbell
• March 2004

2
Background what is Informs?

• Informs Project JISC funded, part of Inhale
  project
• Partner institutions Huddersfield (lead),
  Loughborough, Oxford
• aimed at developing information seeking skills
  of students
• http//informs.hud.ac.uk/
• Web based tutorials

3
How did Newcastle get involved?

• Project widened out MB involved Ncl
• Ncl investigating new methods of delivering info
  skills
• Current model of delivering info skills
  unsustainable increasing student numbers, class
  sizes
• Training at Newcastle summer 2003
• Launched Informs tutorials start of 2003/4
  academic year

4
Benefits of using Informs

• Web based
• Uses Frames instructions in left frame, live
  resource in right frame
• Uses tags can adapt WP docs easily
• Collaboration / Sharing resources
• Easy to use / instant amending
• Can be integrated into VLEs or existing websites
• Can be used in workshops or as self-directed
  study
• No more paper! (Although can be printed)

5
The Newcastle Experience

• Created by each Faculty Librarian to support
  their teaching
• Some general tutorials (e.g. Library catalogue,
  ATHENS, etc)
• Many specific tutorials (e.g. CSA for Marine
  Science, ScienceDirect for Engineers)
• Used in workshop environment
• Self-directed study
• Referred to at Information Desk for new users
• Built into some Blackboard modules
• Linked to from Library web pages (to be improved!)

6
Future direction. What next?

• What is exit strategy of project?
• Tutorials are valuable tool to Newcastle
• Keen to be part of longer-term strategy.

7
Demo of Informs the Newcastle experience

• http//informs.hud.ac.uk/79/
• Informs learning materials University of
  Newcastle Faculty of Science, Agriculture and
  Engineering