Learning design for information literacy
Impact of the OU Learning Design Initiative (OULDI)
project on skills integration into OU courses
ALDinHE conference, April 2012
In this session…
• Brief overview of the OU Learning Design (OULDI)
Project, its tools and approaches
• Overview of JISC-funded OULDI Library pilot
– What we did
– What impact it has had so far
• Short activity using Information Literacy Levels
Framework facilitation cards
The Open University Learning Design
Initiative
OULDI project aim
“to develop and implement
a methodology for
learning design composed
of tools, practice and
other innovation that both
builds upon, and
contributes to, existing
academic and practitioner
research.”
OULDI tools and approaches
• Representations – module map, module dimensions,
activity (pedagogy) profiler
• Conceptual tools and frameworks – these include
outcomes view (constructive alignment), pedagogical
features card sort, OU information literacy levels
framework facilitation cards
• Collaboration and design communities - Cloudworks
Representations
Conceptual tools and frameworks
Collaboration and design communities
OULDI Library pilot
• Embedding of library resources and information literacy
skills into OU curriculum is a key Library priority
• Ran a series of workshops to introduce the OULDI tools,
resources and methodology to OU Librarians
• Aimed to evaluate how far use of OULDI tools,
resources and methodology support Librarians in their
work with module teams
Specific questions
Do module teams feel
better supported and
guided in relation to
embedding information
literacy as a result of the
new approach?
Has there been a
change in the way
information literacy has
been embedded as a
result of the learning
design approach?
How are online 3rd party
and library resources
being used by module
teams? Has this
changed as a result of
the learning design
approach?
Have the learning
design tools and
resources supported
this process? In what
ways?
What we did
• Introductory workshops with
Learning & Teaching
Librarians
• Follow-up workshops to
update on project progress
and apply concepts and tools
to own context
• Faculty workshops attended
by some Learning & Teaching
Librarians
Module dimensions map showing Library input
Module design planner
OU Curriculum Business Models Project
Case study 1:
Using constructive alignment
From ‘Effective use of learning design’, ICOPER project,
course no.3,
http://labspace.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=5570
Case study 2:
Using the IL Levels Framework
U214 activity plan
Impact of learning design on OU
Librarians’ work with module teams
• Enables a coherent structure and
approach to skills integration –
framework is useful
• Makes possible a shared language
when talking about module design
• Librarians’ growing expertise in
learning design, together with the
tools, means they are able to
contribute more fully – saves time
for module teams and leads to
more effective team-working
Conclusions
o Our interventions need to happen at the ‘right time’ i.e. early
in the design process
o Flexibility is needed in how tools and approaches are used
o Interventions need to support institutional curriculum
design requirements, not be seen as supplementary to these
o The language used makes a difference to people’s
willingness to buy in – finding a shared language is
important
o Skills and attitudes of individuals makes a big difference to
successful use of learning design tools and approaches
o Librarian can act as a ‘critical friend’ (from outside the
discipline in question) and stimulate innovative thinking in
learning design.
The future
• Learning Design is being embedded into OU systems
and processes via Curriculum Business Models (CBM)
• CBM brings learning design together with cost
effectiveness and module performance – costing tool
being developed
• OU is moving to qualifications-based approach – big
opportunity for skills integration
• Module production process is under review
• Changing role of Librarian? From resource-provider to
educator
Acknowledgements
• OU Learning Design Initiative website:
http://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/OULDI/
• Rebecca Galley, OU Learning Design Project Officer
• Anna Hvass, Learning & Teaching Librarian
• Sam Thomas, Learning & Teaching Librarian
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/unloveable/2395143115/ (accessed
27 March 2012
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/tfrancis/1394316894/ (accessed 27
March 2012)
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_t_in_dc/6168680143/ (accessed
27 March 2012)
Activity: pick a card, any card…
• Pick a card
• Read what it says, front
and back
• Talk to the person sitting
next to you about how you
might teach these skills in
your context
Katharine Reedy
Library Services
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
www.open.ac.uk/library
k.j.reedy@open.ac.uk
http://twitter.com/KathR