Merlot session notes from the Digital Libraries sessions.
- GSDL
- http://gstl.enc.org
- digital library for K-12 students, teachers, adult learning...
- Web use and textbooks = the 2 most relied upon resources.
- Resources used for background info, not integrated into the classroom
- survey for developers
- http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=32220185416
- http://www.michiganteacher.net
- 17,000+ page views per day
- started in 1998 for Michigan educators
- analysis of search patterns used by students against their collection (google referrals)
- Majority of searches are curriculum- or professional-development-related
- Top search BY FAR was on "Classroom Management"
- "Lesson Plans" also places high in search queries
- Many queries were for items that were presented in the interface, but users habitually search for keywords (even when handy nav links are presented on the "main page")
- Science related topics are BY FAR the most popular curriculum-based searches
- why so many searches on science?
- search for items beyond scope of collection
- seem to be expecting to search site text, not metadata
- perform searches on browsing categories
- TEACHERS DON'T CARE ABOUT METADATA (when they're searching)
- Searches most often occur after school (1:30pm - 4pm), dropping off after 4
- Users search either VERY broad or VERY narrow search criteria
- http://www.mathforum.org
- Math Forum site was ground-up, based on user interests (a community of practice?)
- collections came later, as a need --> digital library for math stuff
- Interactions and collections are both important - a strong community
- A "Gift Economy" - utopian system of generalized reciprocity - users "give" stuff to the Math Forum to help make it better
- Evaluation of the Math Forum to assess possibilities for social interation and resource development
- Community was central to success of the Math Forum
- MF strategy for building resources gave people "buy-in" as well as creating a "rich site"
- Community supported by f2f and online activities (blended community?)
- People need the F2F to get a proper sense of "belonging"
- After F2F builds foundation, a tremendous amount of work can be pushed online
- Easier/faster to determine roles in a team in F2F - takes much longer online (why?)
- Emotional attachment to the community is fostered
- Novice, Intermediate, Expert (duh?)
- Novices contribute questions (Ask Dr. Math) - FAQ-ish resource built by users
- Intermediates contribute some questions, some mentoring/answers, some ideas in discussions
- Experts become leaders. Join projects. Presentations. Mentoring...
- Younger Males & Older Females tend to use MF more often. (why? no real idea)
- Standardized way to enter/set metadata across states and institutions?
- Must have human interaction, with tools to support this.
- How to tie into state/national learning standards
- Teacher Source (pbs.org --> Teacher Source)
- lesson plans etc... tied to learning outcome correlations standardized by states and some national standards