Information–Seeking Behavior of Graduate Distance Education Students
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Transcript of Information–Seeking Behavior of Graduate Distance Education Students
Joe C. ClarkKent State University
Midwest MLA Chapter MeetingOctober 11, 2013
Today’s PresentationSurvey Rationale
Setting & background
Methodology
Demographics
Findings
Discussion
Conclusions
Survey Rationale Preparing to revamp services and
webpages
Getting to know the needs of our “virtual” patrons
How are we doing?
Opportunities for further collaboration/integration into MMME curriculum
SettingKent State is a public research university located
in NE Ohio, and has over 28,000 studentsThe Performing Arts Library (formerly the Music
Library) is a branch librarySchool of Music offers bachelor and graduate
degrees; concentrations include music education, theory, composition, and performance
Music Education has residential bachelors and doctoral degree programs; Master of Music is only offered online
Program BackgroundBegan in 2010Degree is Master of Music in Music Education
Online (MMME)Geared towards practicing professionals30 credits, 10 or 11 classesStudents take two seven-week classes a
semester; six classes per yearGenerally takes 20-24 months to completeKS faculty create syllabi; instructors are adjuncts About 160 students are in the program
Methodology Twenty-four questions in Qualtrics, two with
“display logic”Approved by the Institutional Review BoardAdministered in June 2013An optional drawing for ten $50 amazon gift
cards and possibility of participating in further study; 62 of 82 entered the drawing
All survey participants were MMME students82 surveys were completed
Demographics by Course Completion
Demographics by Age
In-person Visitation?
Website Visitation: Frequency?
But which website?
Use and awareness of services Library Resource Aware ofHave used ILL/Document delivery 65% 32%Books mailed to me 41% 15%Article DBs & full-text articles (JSTOR, Ebsco) 100% 100%Online reference databases 83% 72%Online audio DBS (Naxos, CML) 74% 67%Course reserves through the library 32% 15%
Use of Non-Library Web Sites
External Websites CitedEthnomusicology.orgMAfME journals, Choral Wiki, other
independent web articlesAmazon.com, websites related to textbooksWebsites related to capstone, specifically
music therapyMENC websiteNAfME.org,Harvard Music LibraryLibrary of CongressWeb pages about historical figures or places
Comfort with E-Resources
89% are somewhat or very comfortable with e-books.
96% are somewhat or very comfortable with electronic resources.
Getting Assistance with Library Resources
Library Help/TutorialsLibrary Source Aware of Have used Email a librarian 56% 15%Chat w/ a librarian 43% 15%Phone a librarian 43% 14%Library video tutorials 38% 14%Online reference guides 37% 19%Database tutorials 24% 7%Private consultation 20% 2%
Preferred Means of Getting Help
How Help was Received:
Borrowing from Other Libraries48% use other libraries
Items Used from Other Libraries
Blackboard Presence
Adequate Instruction?
How we can better help you?Just fine/helpful 10 Easier website navigation 7 Better/more tutorials 7 n/a 6 "Starter" library assignment 6 Specific links for all assignments 4 More ebooks 3 Better info about services 3 Eliminate VPN 2 ILL gripe, Refworks type item, free textbooks, and program gripe 1 each
The Dangerous Question…Few respondents (32 out of 82)19 of the 32 offered neutral answers with no requestsFour wanted UL to provide electronic versions of their
textbooksThree requested easier website navigationOne request for each of the following:
Streaming videosMore info on APAAccess to all library resources after graduationChat helpOne-on-one help for their capstone projectConductor scores not available elsewhere
Most Important Services
Most Important Offerings
Surprises & TakeawaysNot all the gift cards were claimed!!!Most library help venues were known by less than half Students think we are doing okCollaboration & communication are paramount Few localsOnly half are coming to library websites a couple times a
week or moreThe Main Library website is visited more frequently than
the Performing Arts Library siteGoogle.com used twice as frequently as Google Scholar
Actions, Further Study, and Conclusion Continue to purchase targeted e-books in music
education Further collaboration with faculty & curriculum revampConsidering a “focus group” with MMME studentsFurther study to determine additional needsDetermine how to make resources easier to access;
study websiteAlready looking forward to doing the study again in two
years
Thank you! Questions? Discussion?