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Designing Effective Library Tutorials: A guide for accommodating multiple learning styles

Lori Mestre, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

Chandos Learning and Teaching Series No. 8

 - provides results from usability studies conducted with students that assess learning style and the resulting effectiveness of tutorials based on their preferred style
 - compares approaches and software used by librarians and educators to create tutorials, along with examples of pitfalls and benefits of each for various learning styles
 - incorporates examples of ways to use software while including learning objects to match learning style
 - each chapter has a section detailing student responses in research studies

Learning styles are highly relevant for students in the online environment. Designing Effective Library Tutorials provides examples of, and steps for, how to create tutorials that match learning styles, based on usability studies of students from various cultural groups and styles of learning. The book presents studies, practical suggestions, and examples to assist librarians and faculty as they develop online programs for students from diverse learning styles. Research on learning style preferences in the online environment emphasizes the need to provide a variety of methods that include text, aural, visual, and kinesthetic examples. Geared for the practitioner working in online learning, the book summarizes current literature, and presents best practices for designing effective online tools for diverse learners, including suggestions for assessment of learning objects.

This title is structured into twelve chapters, covering: The learning style debate: do we need to match up learning styles with presentation styles? Overview of learning style theories and learning style results from various studies; The intersection of culture and learning styles; The need for learning object development; Current practice: categories and features of library tutorials; Effective design of learning objects; Pedagogical considerations for tutorials; Interactivity options for tutorials; Assessment of learning objects; The value and process of usability studies; Marketing learning objects for broad visibility; and a section on resources.

Readership: Librarians and educators who create, develop, or prepare materials to be used online. It is also applicable to those who teach online

£52.50 / US$90.00 / €65.00

An e-book version of this title is available to purchase as part of a Collection or Pick n Mix. Visit Chandos Publishing Online

About the author

Lori S. Mestre is an Associate Professor of Library Administration and the Head of the Undergraduate Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In addition to her M.A.L.S. degree, she has a doctorate specializing in language, culture and curriculum and has devoted the last 15 years to exploring the intersection between multicultural librarianship and online learning environments that best reflect the diverse needs of students.

Titles which may also be of interest:
Utilizing Technology in the Academic Research Process
Enhancing Learning and Teaching through Student Feedback in Social Sciences
External Quality Audit
Designing Effective Library Tutorials
Providing Research Support

Contents

The learning styles debate: do we need to match up learning styles with presentation styles?
 - Introduction
 - Learning gains?
 - Are learning styles measurable?
 - Criticisms of tailoring instruction based on learning styles
 - Does knowing a student’s learning style make teachers more effective?
 - Should we match teaching style to the content being taught?
 - Solutions and compromises regardless of the controversy
 - Conclusion
 - References

Overview of learning style theories and learning style results from the Mestre study
 - Introduction
 - Learning style models and inventories
 - Discussion
 - Conclusion
 - References

The intersection of culture and learning styles
 - Introduction
 - Some examples of the relevance of culture and learning styles
 - Global and analytical learners
 - Culturally responsive instruction
 - Suggestions for accommodating various cultural and learning styles
 - Conclusion
 - References

The need for learning object development
 - Introduction
 - Learning objects, web-based instruction, and tutorials
 - Benefits of learning objects
 - Tutorials for teaching faculty
 - Challenges of creating learning objects
 - Overview of the faculty’s or librarian’s role in creating tutorials
 - Access to existing tutorials
 - Students’ perceptions of learning objects
 - Personalization
 - Conclusion
 - References

Current practice: categories and features of library tutorials
 - Introduction
 - Web-based tutorials with screenshots
 - Narrated PowerPoints
 - Tutorials created with screencasting software
 - Podcasting/vodcasting
 - Mobile applications
 - Videos
 - Montages
 - Conclusion
 - References

Effective design of learning objects
 - Introduction
 - Involving the stakeholders
 - Designing for quality instruction
 - Developing goals and the design plan
 - The script
 - Navigation and consistency across tutorials
 - Designing for different ability levels
 - Other technical considerations
 - Accessibility
 - Assessment of the learning object
 - Conclusion
 - References

Pedagogical considerations for tutorials
 - Introduction
 - Meaningful content
 - Modular design
 - Cognitive science applied to instruction design
 - Models for integrating good pedagogy into tutorials
 - Getting help with integrating effective pedagogy in multimedia
 - Conclusion
 - References

Interactivity options for tutorials
 - Introduction
 - What qualifies as being interactive?
 - Interactivity and active learning
 - Planning for interactivity
 - Interactive activities
 - Developing effective questions
 - Seeking help
 - Multimedia suggestions
 - Concerns about adding multimedia
 - Learning style considerations
 - A checklist for considering multimedia interaction
 - Conclusion
 - References

Assessment of learning objects
 - Introduction
 - How is success measured?
 - Methods of assessment
 - Steps for assessment
 - Assessment and maintenance of tutorials
 - Conclusion
 - References

The value and process of usability studies
 - Introduction
 - Definitions of usability testing
 - Purpose of usability testing
 - Methods
 - Guidelines for usability testing
 - Process for performing usability studies
 - Resources needed for usability testing
 - Iterative testing and analysis
 - Conclusion
 - References

Marketing learning objects for broad visibility
 - Introduction
 - The message
 - Working with faculty to promote tutorials and websites
 - Social network tools
 - Making resources more visible
 - Suggestions for promoting, linking, and embedding learning objects
 - Other resources
 - Conclusion
 - References

Resources
 - Learning style inventories
 - Repositories and sites for hosting learning objects and tutorials
 - Organizations and websites devoted to online learning
 - Storyboarding sites
 - Free CGI scripts on the Internet
 - Scripts for usability studies
 - Screen capture tools
 - Screencasting tools, including screencasting help, open source tools, and commercial software
 - General software for creating learning objects
 - PowerPoint/Flash conversion
 - Images (image sites, image capturing and editing tools)
 - Audio
 - Video and software to integrate photos, videos, and audio (video editing and other software)
 - Puzzles, games, and activities
 - Simulation, scenario, and animation tools
 - Mobile applications
 - Testing and assessment tools
 - Eye tracking software and equipment