Collaboration Between Librarians and Learning Technologists to Enhance the Learning of Health Sciences Students

Abstract

Collaboration between Librarians and Learning Technologists at Bournemouth University (BU) has been stimulated and cemented by Pathfinder funding from the Higher Education Academy. This paper will consider four case studies collected as part of the eRes Project that describe the use of Web 2.0 technologies in the School of Health and Social Care at BU. The project aimed to enhance the student learning experience in an increasingly electronic environment. This was achieved by developing and disseminating innovative pedagogical frameworks, bringing together learning activities and academically led quality e-resources within the unit of study. An e-reading strategy which encompasses models for resource discovery and e-literacy was developed, drawing on the experiences and findings of the case studies. Issues considered in this paper will include accessing academic electronic reading materials and using a social bookmarking tool integrated within BU's virtual learning environment with students studying away from the main campus. Additionally, the paper will consider how technology can be used to motivate students, especially in large groups and how it can be used to engage students with a subject perceived as “dry” or “difficult.” The rich possibilities of health science materials can be exploited more fully using new technologies embedded within the curriculum.

Keywords:

• VLE
• Web 2.0
• resource discovery
• critical skills
• engagement