DIL Report

Digital Information Literacy Project Report

Neal Barber

Throughout this project, I have spent time experimenting with Web 2.0 applications and considering how those applications can be mobilised for Library and/or Theatre Studies purposes. My original aim was to look at the use of on-line tools for both creating and publicising the results of theatre. However, throughout the project I found my focus changing - as is inherent in reflective practice - to have a greater focus on teaching the skills students require for literacy in a digital world.

A major focus of this project was to engage with Web 2.0 applications reflectively. To this end, my blog - Information is Not Knowledge - has charted my progress throughout. To aid in finding information related to this project, I have added the tag "DIL" to each post. However, the reflective nature of this project also feeds into the Theatre Studies Programme's new focus on reflective practice; a blog is an incredibly valuable tool in this process.

Recommendations for the Library:

• Create a teaching session for Postgraduate students that helps orient them to Web 2.0 applications and, particularly, how to apply them to a formal learning situation and how to create research communities on-line.
• Create shot tutorial vod-casts using on-line video editors which library staff can use in face-to-face teaching as well as in virtual reference situations.
• Create a presence in Blip-TV.
• Draft a Web 2.0 Research guide.
• Further explore how we can use Delicious in the Subject Guides. To this end, we can start by creating a list of links to academic blogs.
• Mobilise blogs to improve communication between the library and our patrons and inter-departmentally within the library.
• Create a Creative Commons guide and attendant resource list.
• Support academic departments to mobilise the appropriate tools for their specific situations.

Recommendations for Theatre Studies:

• Staff to set up and maintain personal blogs.
• Staff to maintain a departmental blog.
• That students be encouraged to use Web 2.0 applications for their reflective practice.
• Use an on-line office suite to collaboratively create documents.¹

Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this project and I hope that we can continue to work together to further this project and help our patrons become more fluent in Web 2.0 applications. Should you wish for clarification of anything in this report please do not hesitate to contact me.

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