International Conference on Libraries 2012Kota Bharu

2-4 July 2012

Revamping GXEX1401 Nor Edzan Che Nasir

University of Malaya

In 1998, the University of Malaya made it compulsory for all undergraduates to sign up for the Information Skills Course or the GXEX1401. This is a one-credit hour 14 weeks compulsory university course for all undergraduates and the Library was entrusted to run the course. GXEX 1401 has been running for 13 years and throughout this duration, the course had changed considerably both in contents and delivery method. This paper will look at the development of the course since its inception and how the Library plays a significant role in inculcating lifelong learning to the students.

ABSTRACT

OUTLINEIntroductionThenNowOutcomesWhat then?Conclusion

INTRODUCTIONGXEX 1401 = Information skills courseStudents = OPAC class, Library class etcStarted in 1998Why - Different levels of IL skills: rural-urban,

info rich-info poor, have-have notsCompulsory for undergraduatesMust pass1-credit hour1 hour lecture per week for 14 weeks1st year

INTRODUCTION1st semester = arts-based faculties2nd semester = science-based facultiesSeparate for Law, Medicine and DentistryLibrary responsible for the entire courseDesigned to fulfill

“information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information” ~ ALA, 1989.

INTRODUCTIONLibrary does what a faculty does when offering

a courseCourse proformaCourse informationLecture notesExercisesQuizExam questionsVarious course committeesMeets MQA course accreditation

requirements (COPIA=Code of Practice for Institutional Accreditation)

INTRODUCTIONFacilitators = librarians

Over and above the duty assigned by their division

HonorariumMeet students during or after office hoursMarks exercises and assignments in-between

jobs and after office hoursResponsible for their own class – input marks

into the online system, attendance, mentoringRun courses for facilitators

THENLab with minimal PCs – students shareTaught using powerpoint slidesPrinted guidebooksPrinted exercisesHands-on via PCsNo honorarium

NOWLab with 80 PCs with 1 PC per studentModify course contents

Abundance of electronic resources in the Library

Presence of Web 2.0 applicationsMode of delivery

Blended learningWeb-based learning management system =

SpectrumFacilitators = face-to-face instructor-led

NOWLocal and international students = need to

teach in EnglishSpecial division

Information Skills Division1 Head assisted by 4 librariansManage the GXEX1401 courseManage similar optional information skills

sessions for postgraduates

OUTCOMESEnd of 2010/2011 academic session = 66,155

graduands have gone through the courseAble to apply skills in their day-to-day activitiesLifelong learning

Librarians who are facilitators = acquire teaching and communication skills

Course = benchmarked by other universitiesRun workshopsWrote papers for journals and conferencesLess queries at the Reference Desk

WHAT THEN?Academicians – do they integrate the

information skills in their courses?Undergraduates – do they apply the skills

they have acquired?Librarians – have they studied the

effectiveness of the course?

OUR DIRECTIONWill continue running the courseWill continue to review and improve the

course in terms of DeliveryContents

Will continue training facilitators aka librarians = changing role of librarians

Will continue to position librarians as intermediaries in the information cycle

THANK YOUedzan@um.edu.my