Changing Role of Digital Libraries in Higher Education

Indo US DL Conference, Washington DC June 23-25, 2003

S Sadagopan, IIITB

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Outline

Evolution of Digital Libraries in Higher Education Evolution of teaching content Evolution of e-learning Synergy between teacher-produced content,

student-produced content and supportive content Q & A

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Evolution of DL in Higher Education

Journal-dominated (IEEE) Challenges –

– Digitizing immediate content, archival content – effort, standards – Hosting, delivery– Pricing – individual, library, “free” movements– Copyright issues, rights management– Content management is the key

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Evolution of DL in Higher Education (contd.)

Digital Books Challenges

– Production– Delivery– Pricing– Rights management– Self publishing, Professional bodies– Content Management is the key

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Evolution of Teaching Content

Blackboard, OHP foils, PowerPoint presentations Lecture notes, Notes of lectures Exams, Quizzes, Projects, Solutions, Demonstrations, Literature Survey,

position Papers, Comprehensive / Prelims Exams archives, Course Packs, Textbook chapters, Reading Materials (part assembly, part production, past consumption, past production) “free” exchange among generation of students, colleagues, similar thinking departments, Schools

Continuing Education / Distance Learning programs thrive on this – audio, video

Practically ALL of them are DIGITAL (outside many DL) Content is the key

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Evolution of e-learning

Electronic Course Files Multimedia content creation (authoring, publishing tools)

BlackBoard, WebCT.. Automate classroom processes – GradeBook,

Registration, Material Distribution, Homework Submission, Grade Distribution, e-mail, chat management - Instructor, student, administrator needs – eCollege.. Content takes a backseat to processes

Process is the key

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Synergy between DL & e-learning

Balance between content & process “Library” getting into the “classroom” Teacher as “producer” and “Consumer” At least in Graduate Schools teacher “includes”

student

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Challenges

Can every course material be a book? – can it be licensed? To University, publisher, student?

Can student work be “licensed”? To whom? How to “enrich” Libraries with class room

content? Role of University Bookstores / Libraries Vs

Secretaries to Professors

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Conclusions

DL should get into the classroom Need to start articulating the challenges Best practices can be shared Any questions?