Using online video to promote database searching skills:

Abstract

In recent years, online tutorials have become well-established tools for the delivery of information literacy training as information professionals continue to seek new and more effective ways to reach audiences. However, the rapid transience of technologies, and the ongoing need to maximise the efficiency of services, mean that the question of how best to exploit the online medium needs further exploration. This paper focuses on a project at the University of Surrey Library to develop a new approach to online instruction. The goals of the project were to explore how the addition of video might create a more engaging user experience, and how the online video tutorial might therefore both improve existing information literacy training as well as offering a ‘just in time’ point of support. This paper examines the practical challenges involved in creating useful and accessible content and compares different software solutions for producing and editing video, audio, screencasts and subtitles. Further, it also examines the specific issues encountered when using external content, including database modifications and e-copyright issues. Finally, it touches upon the feedback collected so far in order to begin the evaluation of the resource. Using video can maximise the impact of e-learning tools, helping online tutorials to deliver information in a more personal and immediate way. However, when allowing for the time investment in creating and managing such resources, both their role alongside alternative information literacy approaches and their lasting value must be carefully considered.

Use of screencasting to facilitate engineering course delivery

“…The process of evaluating and assessing TEL interventions can be a challenging task. 8 It is important to use a mixed method approach to gather both quantitative and qualitative feedback which can be typically collected using techniques such as surveys and focus groups. ‘Use a variety of methods so that findings from one source can substantiate others’.…”

“…In Gravett and Gill’s 8 analysis of their online video tutorial, they report that an anonymous comment form did not generate much feedback and that ‘ Student time constraints and reluctance to critique staff and/or resources ’, 8 could perhaps be considered as possible reason for low feedback volume. They therefore intended to use focus groups to supplement the data.…”

“…5 The overall conclusion from the paper states that the use of screencast was positively received both by staff and students, although from the lecturer’s perspective, a significant amount of time was required to produce the online material. The time required to produce a video tutorial which included captioning was also discussed in the work of Gravett and Gill, 8 where they state it was a lengthy process which required support from another member of staff. Despite this, once created, the screencast can minimise the need for the lecturer to give repetitive explanations and the material can remain valid for several years.…”

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Tools for Online Database Instruction

“…This may be due in part to the fact that more interactive tutorials require a larger time commitment (Alyse, Ergood, Padron, & Reber, 2012;Xiao, Pietraszewski, & Goodwin, 2004;Sherwill-Navarro & Layton, 2006). After spending six months developing one video tutorial, Gravett (2010) concluded that the project was "significantly more timeconsuming than expected" (p. 70), and expressed uncertainty over the project's future.…”

Effects of Screencasting on the Turkish Undergraduate Students’ Achievement and Knowledge Acquisitions in Spreadsheet Applications

“…Screencasts have been used extensively in information literacy and computer science; for example, reference librarians use screencasts to show steps in how to find information in databases, searching tools, and writing citations (Betty, 2008;Carr & Ly, 2009;Gravett & Gill, 2010;Williams, 2010). Moreover, screencasts have been used in mathematics, material science, and engineering units.…”