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Transcript of 1 Beyond the Library: i-Skills for University Administration © Netskills, Quality Internet...
1
Beyond the Library:i-Skills for University Administration
http://www.netskills.ac.uk/
© Netskills, Quality Internet Training, Newcastle University
Partly funded by the
Helen Conroy [email protected]
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Outline i-Skills programme
Background Research Workshop programme
The self-assessment tool Development Key features
Future plans
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What are i-Skills?
"The ability to identify, assess, retrieve, evaluate, adapt, organise and communicate information within an iterative context of
review and reflection"
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i-Skills for Administration2006 Netskills
Research, workshops and self-evaluation tool
Leeds and Loughborough Universities Exemplifying the i-Skills model in specific job
roles Exploring implications for staff development
2007 Netskills funded to Prepare self-evaluation for online conversion Run a series of workshops for staff development
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Survey & InterviewsLiaison with AUA (Association of University
Administrators)Online survey of information use
Jan/Feb 2006, 290 responses From 75 HE institutions 65% had a management role
20 telephone / face-to-face interviews From junior accounts assistant to a Registrar
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Quotes There's too much of it, and it gets filed 'just in case'. I spend too
much time 'sifting' electronic information. Keeping up with innovation in the light of speed of change and
development. Volume of inappropriate emails, being included on email
circulation which is totally unrelated to my area. Not always knowing the correct terms relating to the information
I am searching for. Some papers- especially academic ones- will use words I am not familiar with.
Over use of complicated language. Colleagues' use of e-mail rather than voice communication Colleagues failing to (a) name and file electronic files
appropriately, (b) put proper filenames on documents, (c) share files fully (by using shared folders) and (d) do regular 'house-keeping' (deleting files no longer needed)
Not enough shared knowledge and expertise
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Key Findings Sources of information used
Most used - internal documentation, statistics, professional literature
Least used – institution's library People a frequently used source of information
Assessment of skills Most confident in summarising information, file formats,
managing electronic files and email Least confident in legal issues, search skills, awareness of
sources, managing paper files
Biggest frustrations Poor quality information Volume of information, email, lack of time "Other people"
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Workshop ProgrammeNeeded to cater for diverse needs of
university 'administrators'"Making Information Work for You:
Skills and Strategies for the Information Age"21 workshops training over 270 people from
over 100 institutions April – July 2006 Free places offered Initial programme doubled due to demand
Self-assessment a core part of the workshop
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How did it go?High level of interest
Workshops well received Especially relating to information overload and
lack of knowledge sharing key issues
Attendees welcomed time for reflection Familiar with thinking about their IT skills Resources for development popular
Terminology Few attendees were familiar with any terms
relating to these skills
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Key Issues for Staff Development Skills gaps
Few staff demonstrate the skills and confidence to use information to best advantage
Defining i-Skills Confusion between IT and information skills Lack of recognition of importance
i-Skills not adequately addressed in staff development Most current activity focuses on the academic needs of
students i-Skills seen as a 'library thing' Lack of strategic framework for i-Skills development
Fragmented provision & poor take-up Needs to be focused on the individual
Leeds / Loughborough projects identified related 'gateways' to enhance i-Skills model
Time management, networking and team building
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The Self-Evaluation ToolInitially to be used as part of the workshop
Then made available to institutions Potential to be tailored by institutions
Individualised, reflective and developmental To be used individually and strategically
Trialling Initial piloting Trialling during workshop programme Volunteers
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Issues for the Self-EvaluationMeeting individual needs
Varied use of information in different roles Needs to be usable, practical and relevant
Priorities Whose priority? For job or for personal
development? Everything is high priority!
Self-rating Difficulty to rate a skill where little is known
Institutional context
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2007 ProjectsDevelopment of online self-evaluation tool
User testing event Netskills enhancing content
Improved profiling / diagnostics Case studies Guides for managers
Dissemination programme for staff development
A series of workshops to help embed i-Skills in staff development processes within institutions
8 workshops around the UK
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What Now? Self-evaluation tool
Available Summer 2007 Future developments?
Further refinement by job role Web 2.0 technologies
AUA Continue to build links Annual conference Article in journal Perspectives
Workshop programme "Staff Information Skills: Are you doing enough?" Ends May 2007 - places still available!
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References Netskills information skills projects
http://www.netskills.ac.uk/infoskills JISC i-Skills publications
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/publications/pub_sissdocs.aspx
AUA Perspectives article: H. Conroy, 2007, "Skills for the Information Age" Vol.11, No.1.
e-Staff Development project case studyhttp://e-staffdev.lboro.ac.uk/ (Select Project Outputs > Case Studies)
Big Blue & Big Blue connecthttp://www.library.mmu.ac.uk/bigblue/