Various
courses have been organized by the Architecture Library since 1995
between information literacy and reference expansion.
1995:
computer literacy and training in the use of Internet services (e-mail, ftp,
wais, gopher);
OPAC services; libraries in the net (Hytelnet); disciplinary online resources;
search engines (organization of a 1st level course).
1998
(Ultranet): disciplinary courses
about databanks and Internet resources for Architecture (2nd level
course). Online tools (online guide to disciplinary databanks; disciplinary
databanks evaluation; free online architectural journals; electronic journals
by payment;
lists of Internet disciplinary resources;)
Afterwards,
there was a crisis of this model and new fundamental issues arose:
1. The
educational credits
system;
2. The
evolution of the information architecture in the library and the
library’s automation.
The library
became the semantic web metaphor and the information literacy’s importance
increased.
Some
lecture notes are available in Italian only:
·
Internet in the Library
(08-11-1999) – Level: basic
·
Internet for
bibliographic researches: the research in Architecture
– Level: basic and
advanced
(focus on databases)
The
short-term goal is to create a module devoted to Internet
resources and the information architecture (metadata)
The medium-term goal is to organize e-learning courses.
Main
characteristics of an e-learning course
are:
·
Blended
methodology;
·
Self-education
weekly modules;
·
Synchron and
asynchron communication;
·
Scaffolding;
·
Partial
self-tests.
Target group: university
students (Architecture, Agricultural science)
Level: basic
The online catalogue: libraries’ OPAC and its services
Basic course (4 hours) - 1 educational credit
(CFU)
Main contents:
·
SBA website
·
OPAC and its facilities
·
Searching for authors, titles, subjects,
keywords, classifications
·
How to locate documents and relating services
·
Paper journals and e-journals
·
Other online catalogues and MetaOPAC
·
Interlibrary loan
The following disciplinary modules
(4 hours and 1 CFU each) are under preparation:
1.
Searching databases
2.
Disciplinary Internet sources
Rich and useful information about the Technological Sciences Library’s user
education activities can be found in the presentation of Nicola Benvenuti at the
Seminar:
User Education in the Architecture Libraries
– Experiences and Projects in
CNBA Libraries. Study Day. Rome, 28 May
2004
Nicola Benvenuti, Education for research or
training
in using library resources?
Keywords: user education – courses for
Architecture students – courses for Agricultural Science students – credit-bearing
courses for university students – information searching– online catalogues –
interlibrary loan – disciplinary databases – Internet sources – education for
research – library resources - research in Architecture - Internet for
bibliographic researches – blended teaching – modularity – self-education
