IFLA #wlic2012 E-Learning in Information Management Education in Sri Lanka: discussion of the impact of information literacy

Liveblogging at the IFLA World Library and Information Conference in Helsinki, Finland. By the way, the connection failed during Li Wang's talk (actually it came and went in this talk too), so I'll blog that later. Next is E-Learning in Information Management Education in Sri Lanka: discussion of the impact of information literacy, presented by Namali Suraweera (pictured), presenting her PhD research.
She started by identifying current issues and barriers in IM education, a subject offered in three colleges, all in Colombo. The fact that they are all in the capital means that there is a problem about students physically attending, plus a lack of equal services to part timelearners.
The investigation was a case study using the Hutter-Hennink qualitative research cycle (I think, as outlined in this book http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book229185). Data was gathered through interviews, documents and focus groups and coded thematically. Findings included that:
- Information workers as learners are not familiar with student-centred education and found it difficult to navigate e-learning systems and other computer-based study tools. They lacked information literacy and a sense of autonomous learning.
- Secondly, the study found that the academics themselves were not familiar with constructivist approaches, as well as lacking information literacy. There is no incentive to develop IL at the school level, because of the transmissive approach of teaching. This lack of student-led approach in education is perceived as a definite barrier to development of effective e-learning programmes.
- Thirdly, there is little partnership between librarians and academics. The librarians themselves need to learn how to teach, as well.
The conclusions include that lack of staff awareness about information skills, lack of understanding about constructivist pedagogy and lack of training opportunities; learning theories, pedagogy and e-learning are not yet incorporated into Information Management education in Sri Lanka.

Therefore recommendations include a need to update IM curricula and generally increase awareness of constructivist and e-learning pedagogies in teachers.

Full paper at: E-Learning in Information Management Education in Sri Lanka: discussion of the impact of information literacy NAMALI SURAWEERA, CHERN L. LIEW and JOCELYN CRANEFIELD (School of Information Management, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand)