The Library’s role and challenges in implementing an elearning strategy: a case study from northern Australia

Abstract

Background: The Northern Territory Department of Health and Families' (DHF) Library supports education programs for all staff. DHF is implementing an elearning strategy, which may be viewed as a vehicle for coordinating the education function throughout the organisation. Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the concept of elearning in relation to the Library's role in implementing an organisation-wide elearning strategy. Methods: The main findings of a literature search about the effectiveness of elearning in health professionals' education, and the responsibility and roles of health librarians in elearning are described. A case study approach is used to outline the current role and future opportunities and challenges for the Library. Discussion: The case study presents the organisation's strategic planning context. Four areas of operational activity which build on the Library's current educational activities are suggested: the integration of library resources 'learning objects' within a Learning Management System; developing online health information literacy training programs; establishing a physical and virtual 'elearningLibrary ⁄ Centre'; developing collaborative partnerships, taking on new responsibilities in elearning development, and creating a new elearning librarian role. Conclusion: The study shows that the Library's role is fundamental to developing the organisation's elearning capacity and implementing an organisation-wide elearning strategy.

Learning Management Systems (LMS) and e-learning management: an integrative review and research agenda

“…For its part, the paper by Sánchez-Alonso and Vovides (2007) dealt with all the analyzed categories, and the second paper that elaborated the most about the different categories was the one by Lonn, Teasley and Krumm (2011), in a total of six of the seven categories. The papers that dealt with the least number of categories (two) were the ones by Boumarafi (2010) and Ritchie (2010). The remaining papers had three to five categories.…”

“…The papers by Sánchez-Alonso and Vovides (2007), Chang et al (2009), Boumarafi (2010, Ritchie (2010) and Macfadyen and Dawson (2010), totalizing 36% of analyzed papers, are related to the administrative function planning (Sobral & Peci, 2008). These papers are geared towards a vision of the future where objectives are specified, strategies defined and actions are taken to achieve them.…”

“…According to Gil (2011), a case study is characterized by the exhaustive and deep study of one or a few objects so that it is possible to acquire a broad and detailed knowledge of the object, in which multiple sources of evidence are used. The papers by Boumarafi (2010) and Ritchie (2010) attempted to investigate the relationship between the integration of libraries and virtual and learning environments in two separate contexts. The papers by Graf, Liu and Kinshuk (2010) and Lazakidou and Retalis (2010) sought to investigate issues related to learning styles and LMS.…”

“…(2009) is not about an LMS in particular, but it presents technologies used in a South African university, among them LMS. Ritchie (2010) indicates that a new LMS focused on the context specificities of his study will be deployed. The study by Judah and Kennedy (2010) as well as the work of Louw et al (2009) were not on a LMS in particular, but they noted the use of LMS by students, in a biomedicine program at an Australian university.…”

Increasing impact in a time of decreasing budgets

“…Introducing an international flavour to this virtual issue, we have a case study from the Library of the Department of Health and Families in the Northern Territory of Australia . This paper explores impact library and information services can have at an organisation‐wide level, namely in the implementation of an e‐learning strategy.…”