Responding to the e-learning imperative

Achieving change through mutual development: supported online learning and the evolving roles of health and information professionals

“…The key messages emerging from the literature are that the role of the academic librarian is growing closer to that of the academic, and is also closely related to the relatively new role of the learning technologist, 1 particularly in the context of e‐learning where information professionals have developed new approaches to supporting learners in the electronic environment, for example using online tutorials and embedding e‐resources into virtual learning environments (VLEs). With the development of e‐learning, the erosion of boundaries and barriers between different professional groups and moves towards team working are viewed as positives and the key to future professional practice for learner support staff in HE 39–44 . A clear theme in the literature is that support for e‐learning is needed from a range of (often dispersed) services and professional roles—IT, library, educational development, new e‐learning development units—and that it is consequently imperative that ‘cognate areas are linked or work closely together to help encourage synergy in working practices.’ 17 As Laurillard 45 stresses, ‘collaborative development is crucial for learning technologies because of the range of skills needed.’ Childs et al ., 18 however, found that librarians have not yet established a foothold in supporting e‐learning in health education and identify the problem as mainly one of an uninformed perception of librarians by non‐librarians.…”

“…With the development of e-learning, the erosion of boundaries and barriers between different professional groups and moves towards team working are viewed as positives and the key to future professional practice for learner support staff in HE. [39][40][41][42][43][44] A clear theme in the literature is that support for e-learning is needed from a range of (often dispersed) services and professional roles-IT, library, educational development, new e-learning development unitsand that it is consequently imperative that 'cognate areas are linked or work closely together to help encourage synergy in working practices.' 17 As Laurillard 45 stresses, 'collaborative development is crucial for learning technologies because of the range of skills needed.'…”