Make separate library services for distance learners a thing of the past Internet Reference Support for Distance Learners takes a comprehensive look at efforts by librarians and information specialists to provide distance learners with effective services that match those already available on campus. With the development of the World Wide Web and the evolution of Web-based services, reference librarians are adding a human element to the virtual library, blurring the difference between distance learners and traditional users. This unique book examines how they deal with a wide range of related topics, including standards and guidelines, copyright issues, streaming media, and chat and digital references, and presents a historical overview of how reference and instructional services have been delivered to distance users—before and after the creation of the Internet. Internet Reference Support for Distance Learners reveals that librarians do not make a sharp distinction between reference and instruction within the context of distance learning, and that there is no clear boundary between “true” distance learners and more traditional students who might use services designed for nontraditional users. Online capabilities have allowed reference librarians to approximate services advocated by published guidelines and standards, including the ACRL Distance Learning Section’s Guidelines for Distance Learning Library Services, to provide a framework for librarians to plan services for off-campus students. Internet Reference Support for Distance Learners provides practical information on: how librarians can “keep IT simple” when designing methods to access reference support why library Web sites are vital sources of communication between the distance learning student and the reference-based instructional component how to set up a university chat service, including software selection, staff training and assessment how to provide students services beyond traditional provision of resources, including advising, enrollment, and payment of fees how to create an online assistance site that incorporates online versions of traditional print handouts, FAQs, subject guides, course-specific guides, learning modules, and instructional videos in one central location how to work with faculty to create online support for students in Blackboard courses the pros and cons of using open-source software how to create an online library assistance site how to create online information literacy course to teach independent research skills to remote students how to avoid copyright infringement and how to educate library personnel about copyright law how to use Camtasia Studio, a screen capture program to create audio and video for online presentations Internet Reference Support for Distance Learners is an invaluable resource for librarians working in academic, school, special, and public settings, and for library science faculty and students.

In their efforts to provide distance learners with the most effective services possible, librarians and information specialists are working more and more with faculty in academic departments, IT departments, and other librarians at cooperating institutions. Improving Internet Reference Services to Distance Learners chronicles how those efforts have seen librarians become actively involved in online course management and delivery systems, particularly Blackboard, Desire2Learn, and WebCT, or by “embedding” themselves into the online course structure to better learn where students need assistance. This invaluable resource also examines how librarians use Internet resources to support professional and continuing education and to establish university-wide information and referral services to provide quality service to distance learners. Improving Internet Reference Services to Distance Learners encourages librarians to think more broadly about working with “outside” individuals when designing and providing reference and other services to nontraditional users. The book examines why it’s best to consider user needs, funding, staff management, and collaboration development when planning Internet reference services, how to develop and implement a required, credit-bearing online information literacy course, and how to apply effective marketing techniques from the business world to increase awareness of reference support services available to distance learners. It also offers a look at the Walden University Library at Indiana University-Bloomington, which “houses” no print collection—only online databases—and includes case studies that document the design and development of Internet reference services for the University of Illinois’ Fire Service Institute, and the efforts to provide support for doctor of pharmacy students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in their final year of study. Improving Internet Reference Services to Distance Learners provides practical information on: monitoring online discussion threads devoted to library research Web-based interactive tutorials integrating library services in support of coursework integrating library services into online courses offering, promoting, and providing instruction to public users, as well as local and distance students developing a web site that centralizes information about library services and resources the potential of the academic library to be the central provider of information and referral services for an entire university Improving Internet Reference Services to Distance Learners is an invaluable resource for librarians working in academic, school, special, and public settings, and for library science faculty and students.

Make separate library services for distance learners a thing of the past Internet Reference Support for Distance Learners takes a comprehensive look at efforts by librarians and information specialists to provide distance learners with effective services that match those already available on campus. With the development of the World Wide Web and the evolution of Web-based services, reference librarians are adding a human element to the virtual library, blurring the difference between distance learners and traditional users. This unique book examines how they deal with a wide range of related topics, including standards and guidelines, copyright issues, streaming media, and chat and digital references, and presents a historical overview of how reference and instructional services have been delivered to distance users—before and after the creation of the Internet. Internet Reference Support for Distance Learners reveals that librarians do not make a sharp distinction between reference and instruction within the context of distance learning, and that there is no clear boundary between “true” distance learners and more traditional students who might use services designed for nontraditional users. Online capabilities have allowed reference librarians to approximate services advocated by published guidelines and standards, including the ACRL Distance Learning Section’s Guidelines for Distance Learning Library Services, to provide a framework for librarians to plan services for off-campus students. Internet Reference Support for Distance Learners provides practical information on: how librarians can “keep IT simple” when designing methods to access reference support why library Web sites are vital sources of communication between the distance learning student and the reference-based instructional component how to set up a university chat service, including software selection, staff training and assessment how to provide students services beyond traditional provision of resources, including advising, enrollment, and payment of fees how to create an online assistance site that incorporates online versions of traditional print handouts, FAQs, subject guides, course-specific guides, learning modules, and instructional videos in one central location how to work with faculty to create online support for students in Blackboard courses the pros and cons of using open-source software how to create an online library assistance site how to create online information literacy course to teach independent research skills to remote students how to avoid copyright infringement and how to educate library personnel about copyright law how to use Camtasia Studio, a screen capture program to create audio and video for online presentations Internet Reference Support for Distance Learners is an invaluable resource for librarians working in academic, school, special, and public settings, and for library science faculty and students.

In their efforts to provide distance learners with the most effective services possible, librarians and information specialists are working more and more with faculty in academic departments, IT departments, and other librarians at cooperating institutions. Improving Internet Reference Services to Distance Learners chronicles how those efforts have seen librarians become actively involved in online course management and delivery systems, particularly Blackboard, Desire2Learn, and WebCT, or by “embedding” themselves into the online course structure to better learn where students need assistance. This invaluable resource also examines how librarians use Internet resources to support professional and continuing education and to establish university-wide information and referral services to provide quality service to distance learners. Improving Internet Reference Services to Distance Learners encourages librarians to think more broadly about working with “outside” individuals when designing and providing reference and other services to nontraditional users. The book examines why it’s best to consider user needs, funding, staff management, and collaboration development when planning Internet reference services, how to develop and implement a required, credit-bearing online information literacy course, and how to apply effective marketing techniques from the business world to increase awareness of reference support services available to distance learners. It also offers a look at the Walden University Library at Indiana University-Bloomington, which “houses” no print collection—only online databases—and includes case studies that document the design and development of Internet reference services for the University of Illinois’ Fire Service Institute, and the efforts to provide support for doctor of pharmacy students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in their final year of study. Improving Internet Reference Services to Distance Learners provides practical information on: monitoring online discussion threads devoted to library research Web-based interactive tutorials integrating library services in support of coursework integrating library services into online courses offering, promoting, and providing instruction to public users, as well as local and distance students developing a web site that centralizes information about library services and resources the potential of the academic library to be the central provider of information and referral services for an entire university Improving Internet Reference Services to Distance Learners is an invaluable resource for librarians working in academic, school, special, and public settings, and for library science faculty and students.

This one-stop reference provides everything the distance learner or prospective distance learner needs to be effective in the on-line learning environment. The authors combine the most well-rounded team of distance learning experience available. It will help you determine which distance education provider is right for you, use a computer for distance learning, access library resources from a distance, and secure a wide range of student services without traveling to a campus.From defining distance learning to overcoming personal barriers to success in distance learning, this book deals with each and every issue students of any age, stage or situation are likely to encounter. Once a student's first DL class is over, this book will remain a valuable reference for all other choices and options for the continuing DL student.

Recognized as the leading book on the subject, Supporting Students in Online, Open and Distance Learning considers the support of students either on or off-campus. Ever-greater numbers of students are studying as part of open, flexible, distance or online courses and, with the rise in numbers and expectations, so the need to offer these often-diverse students effective support is critical. Fully revised and expanded, this new edition reflects current concerns and developments in ODL. It includes increased coverage of tuition in different media, issues of student retention, structures and quality assurance, staff development, online support and computer conferencing. Practical and authoritative, the book tackles the full range of student support issues in ODL, including: *developing the most appropriate tuition techniques *social support *retention *delivering support at a distance and online *face-to-face support *learning-skills and staff development Supporting Students in Online, Open and Distance Learning is essential reading for all those with an interest in recruiting and teaching students in open and distance learning or e-learning situations. It will help lecturers, moderators and tutors to develop a range of skills with a focus on support, retention and student outcomes.

The demand for and technology needed to create effective distance learning programs are increasing at a breakneck pace. Is your institution keeping up? As educators, information professionals are faced with the challenge of providing Web-based library instructional materials in a time of ever-changing technologies. This book will help you address that daunting challenge, examining ways to assess user needs, to develop and offer well-thought-out information literacy courses, to employ appropriate teaching methodologies, and to determine the effectiveness of existing information literacy programs. With Distance Learning: Information Access and Services for Virtual Users, you will examine: the evolution and significance of asynchronous learning networks (ALN) and various issues in ALN, including cost, faculty and technology requirements, the nature of the learning community, social presence, and collaborative environment virtual reference services, including electronic journals, subject directories, the invisible Web, and search engines the criteria for evaluating search results the role played by consortia and cooperative efforts in facilitating user access to library resources a review of selected literature addressing user characteristics and service/staff issues involved in providing information support for distance education the strategies, technologies, and pedagogical issues surrounding the development of Web-based library instruction tools—includes Web page design, copyright issues, Web site maintenance, and usability the award-winning online information literacy course developed at Ulster County Community College in New York—its development, course modules, and administrative challenges the library support services provided to distance learning students in the SUNY Plattsburg Telenursing Program the influence of cultural factors on interactions within and perceptions of distance education

"This comprehensive, six-volume collection addresses all aspects of online and distance learning, including information communication technologies applied to education, virtual classrooms, pedagogical systems, Web-based learning, library information systems, virtual universities, and more. It enables libraries to provide a foundational reference to meet the information needs of researchers, educators, practitioners, administrators, and other stakeholders in online and distance learning"--Provided by publisher.

Supporting Students for Success in Online and Distance Learning, Third Edition, provides a comprehensive overview of student support both on and off campus. While online and distance learning are the world’s fastest growing areas of educational development, they have a fundamental weakness—their graduation rates, which can be lower than 20 percent. In this powerful new edition, Ormond Simpson builds on a rich history of research in distance and e-learning to show how retention rates can be improved through tested support methods, often at a net financial profit to the institutions involved. By comparing the evidence as well as the cost-effectiveness of various support tactics, this book describes how to promote student success and encourage skill-development from a number of different perspectives: definitions and purpose, theory and psychology, ethics, costs and benefits, activities, sources, media, proactive and reactive, assessment and feedback, staff development, writing support into course materials, research, quality assurance and institutional structures. This concise, practical guide is informal and jargon-free, yet its approach to evidence is rigorous, making it invaluable reading for all those interested in recruiting and teaching diverse students for successful online and distance learning.

This authoritative book has supported thousands of distance learners, providing accessible support and friendly advice for their studies. This essential guide provides practical help for anyone who is embarking on a distance learning course. Ideal for those who have not previously studied at a distance or for students returning to study after a break, it covers fundamental issues such as motivation, goal-setting, time management and coping strategies. The fourth edition includes: • How to understand the distance learning experience and what your institution expects of its distance learners • The practicalities of learning at a distance, including how to get support when you need it • Updated information on the use of new technologies in distance learning, including mobile learning • Tips and advice on doing a research project at a distance • Coverage of key study skills including reading and note-making, completing written assignments, developing critical analysis skills and avoiding plagiarism • Support for international students in understanding how to make the most of studying remotely at a UK Higher Education institution Hallmark features of this book are the comments and advice offered by students and tutors sharing their own experiences of distance learning. It also includes comprehensive self-study activities that highlight the element of active learning that is crucial to successful studying at a distance. Studying at a Distance, 4th edition is a key resource for undergraduates and postgraduates in all open and distance learning or e-learning courses.