SPEC Kit 328: Collaborative Teaching and Learning Tools (July 2012)
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SPEC Kit 328: Collaborative Teaching and Learning Tools · 11 Executive Summary Introduction Collaborative teaching and learning tools include a variety of hardware used to view, create, and pres- ent information. This survey specifically focused on equipment, devices, or systems being offered to re- search library users in a self-service environment for individualized, user-initiated, collaborative teaching and learning. Many of these tools have steep learning curves, while others are much more intuitive and are used extensively across research institutions. They may be located at the libraries or elsewhere at the insti- tution. While some tools lend themselves to collabora- tive teaching and learning, others may be associated with individualized teaching and learning scenarios. Although many institutions provide loanable technol- ogy for educational use, there is little documentation of such programs. The survey provides a snapshot of what is or will be offered in 63 libraries at 61 of the 126 ARL member institutions. Equipment Offered The 13 types of tools addressed in the survey range from traditional classroom-based resources (e.g., whiteboards) to more sophisticated technologies re- purposed for educational uses (e.g., videoconferencing systems). Respondents were asked to identify which of the tools are currently offered at their libraries, which technologies they are planning to provide, which they do not plan to provide, and, if the library does not offer the tool, whether it is available elsewhere at the institution. The survey also asked how many of each type of tool is or will be available. Sixty-one of the 63 respondents (97%) currently offer at least one form of collaborative teaching and learning tools to their users. Not surprisingly, non-interactive whiteboards are the most available tools identified in the survey. Fifty- eight institutions (97%) have or plan to have them only two libraries have no plans to offer whiteboards. The number offered ranges from two to 100 per own- ing institution, with an average of approximately 23 units. Laptops are the next most commonly available tool. Forty-one of 62 responding libraries (66%) offer or plan to offer laptops. These libraries offer about 59 laptops, on average. At least one respondent reported that while the institution strives to offer emerging technologies, the laptop loan service continues to be “one of [the] most popular and appreciated services” offered by the libraries. In contrast, another respon- dent noted that they are discontinuing laptop check- out and are instead encouraging students to bring in their own. One institution described the transition from a laptop to netbook loan service as a way to in- crease the number of units available to users, “given the lower price of [them].” Touchscreen tablet comput- ers such as iPads and Android tablets (e.g., Motorola Xoom) are or will be available at 38 institutions (61%), with owning libraries offering an average of 12 units. E-book readers are also offered or will be offered at 24 ARL libraries (39%), with an average of 10 readers at each library. Collaborative devices for multimedia production are widely available. Forty libraries (63%) offer video recording devices such as the FlipVideo tapeless cam- corder. These institutions reported supporting an average of 13 units each. Fifteen libraries (24%) do not plan to offer these devices, and eight (13%) indi- cated the equipment is available elsewhere within the