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U N I V E R S I T Y O F P I T T S B U R G H |
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Volume XI, Number 1 |
September
2005 |
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U N I V E R S I T Y O F P I T T S B U R G H |
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Volume XI, Number 1 |
September
2005 |
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Digital Library for Learning About Digital Libraries
Conversance with digital libraries is an absolute necessity in the Master of Library and Information Science program. In fact, to complete the foundation course for the digital library track, students are required to identify a real-world problem and design and implement a digital library. Therefore, because of the obvious relevance of digital libraries, the subsequent interest in them, and the demand for courses about them, Daqing He, School of Information Sciences, has been granted funds for his project, Build a Digital Library for Learning Digital Libraries . He points out that the field requires knowledge beyond merely designing information retrieval systems, which is his main research interest. A digital library is a huge collection of materials represented and organized to provide interactive and dynamic content-based search and browsing capabilities. To students from the library and information science community, this should not be viewed as just computer science technology, but rather an extension of traditional library services to the digital domain. A comprehensive learning program about digital libraries, therefore, covers information from both computer science and traditional library science, obviously creating a steep learning curve. He’s solution is to design a digital library that students can use to learn about digital libraries. The outcome will be an interactive, integrated, active learning environment where, from one online location, students can engage with lectures, assignments, and activities. This learning environment will reflect the nature of a digital library—a collection of digital materials organized for easy and dynamic information access. Students can explore topics and literature, work on projects and activities, and make comments for themselves or other students. The project does require a powerful server, and this is included in the ACIE grant. The first phase of the project is underway and involves surveying, reviewing, and cataloging research and practice topics, projects, and other types of achievements in the digital library literature. The second phase, next fall, will involve development of the actual interactive learning environment; and the final phase, which involves evaluation and testing of the environment, is scheduled for next spring. | |||||||||||||||||
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A newsletter devoted to the support of teaching and learning at the University of Pittsburgh |
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