I have been invited to collaborate with Tord Hoivik (associate professor at LATINA lab) in developing courseware on Statistics for the 2014 LATINA course which will be presented as a MOOC (Massive Online Open Course). In order to prepare for the development of the course, I was invited to attend the LATINA lab programme.

 The programme was held at the University of Oslo and Akershus in Oslo, Norway from Monday 30 September to Friday 11 October 2013. Its main purpose is to introduce various free or low cost technologies which can be used to improve the student experience and provide an environment for hands-on training in the use of the selected technologies.  This year the LATINA training included the development of e-Books and MOOCs.

The workshop was attended by a small group with delegates from China, Lithuania, Norway and myself.  It was a really stimulating experience that showed how much could be done with some technical knowledge, free software and enthusiasm. I hope to be able to stimulate some of my colleagues into testing and experimenting with some of the software packages and techniques I have learnt.

The way forward:

Professor Helge Hoivik who runs the LATINA lab programme has requested further cooperation between our libraries. The University of Oslo and Akershus prides itself on its use of digital products and development of digital materials. Areas of possible cooperation include:

• Technologies which can be used by library staff (and related driving licenses)
• Language assistance for non-English language speakers
• Publication functions/assistance within a library
• Badges for online course modules and inter-institutional recognition for these badges and certificates
• They also use D-Space http://www.hioa.no/eng/Learning-Centre-and-Library/Make-your-research-known/ODA

Possible applications and sharing of knowledge:

• The development and publication of integrated e-books by library staff (as a parallel development of online courseware)
  • the possibility of including video content allows for audio commentary in a language different from the written text of the book – which I think would be very useful where we have many students who are not English-language speakers
  • E-books can be downloaded onto tablets, phones, etc. and used even when there is no internet access
  • DRM-encryption allows for the short-term borrowing of e-books
  • The use of Paper Camera techniques to add an extra-dimension to digital and printed material distributed by the library
  • Extended use of Adobe Connect and Skype to link to national and  international events, e.g. to the next LATINA workshop presentations
  • Possibly look at badges for individual modules within the Information literacy course

I would also like to try and develop the Statistical literacy programme developed for the librarians at CPUT Libraries into an interactive e-book using the skills I have learnt at the workshop.

Debbie Becker

October 2013