Teaching on the EdgeEdX Edge as a platform for library instruction

The course: Bio 1B

■ 1800 students per year■ Lower and upper division■ Biology majors and non-majors■ General unfamiliarity with library research

The assignment: Outcomes

■ Developing search terms and strategies■ Refining results ■ Accessing full text■ Citation: when and how

The assignment: Background

■ Paper questionnaire developed in 2006■ Video tutorials added in 2009■ Migrated to online platform in Summer 2013

The platform: EdX Edge

■ EdX’s low-visibility platform■ Not for MOOCs: students must have URL■ EdX and edX Edge logins are separate

EdX Edge features

■ Problem types beyond multiple choice: short free text answer, open response

■ Embed video, HTML and JavaScript■ Robust autograding capabilities■ Scalable

Edx Edge advantages

■ Real-time assessment ■ Contextual help■ Multiple attempts■ Grading consistency and flexibility

EdX Edge challenges

■ Reduces face-to-face interactions■ Instructional design must be rethought■ No collateral GSI education effect■ Coding may be required (Python/RegEx)

Assignment question:

Python/RegEx scripting:

Student comments

■ “Painful and unnecessary”■ “Useful and important”■ “All Berkeley students should take this

assignment”

Lessons learned

■ Give yourself lead time■ Assemble a support team■ Re-examine instructional design■ Test and assess ■ Revise and repeat

Thanks for their help & support:

Koshland Bioscience Library, UC Berkeley:Susan Koskinen, Samantha Teplitzky, Grace Abiko

EdX:Olga Stroilova, Vik Paruchuri, Greg Bruhns

Stanford University:Jane Manning

Questions and comments:

Elliott SmithEmerging Technologies Librarian

Marian Koshland Bioscience & Natural Resources Library

University of California Berkeley

esmith@library.berkeley.edu