Subject: EDUCOM Proposal Submission Date: Fri, 13 Jan 1995 11:22:05 1. Title: Catching Professors in the Web 2. Primary Presenter: Hugh Blackmer, Ph.D. Reference Librarian Washington and Lee University Leyburn Library Lexington VA 24450 Phone: 703-463-8647 E-Mail: blackmer.h@WLU.edu 3. Other presenters: (none) 4. Proposal Categories: A: Track: 3, 4, 1 B: Format: Single Presentation C: Audience: General 5. Abstract: How can librarians and computing staff encourage and support faculty experimentation with networked multimedia? What works? A year of World Wide Web evolution at Washington and Lee University offers some answers. 6. Summary: Partnership of librarians, professors and computing staff is necessary in the much-touted electronic revolution in teaching; the most challenging link is often to the faculty. Librarians are often enthusiasts for electronic information access, while faculty members tend to embrace a new technology that seems likely to make a difference in their specialties. The empirical question addressed in this presentation is: what works to encourage and support faculty experimentation with electronic information tools? The presentation examines a dramatic year (1994- 5) in the development and ramification into pedagogy of improved electronic access at Washington and Lee University, known for innovation in this arena. The technological changes described began with the introduction of a WWW-based campus information system (http://liberty.uc.wlu.edu) and center upon the spread of networked multimedia (images, sound, video) in the curriculum. As the avalanche of new Internet sites and novel presentations, searching tools and applications accelerated, librarians acted as proactive electronic facilitators, intermediaries between new information technologies and the efforts of faculty to explore, assimilate and implement new teaching and communication strategies. Research on appropriate support for the integration of new media into teaching is in its infancy, and case studies with online illustrations are effective means to address such questions as: How to identify necessary structural changes in roles and activities? What practical steps can library and computer support staff take to support the evolution of new approaches to teaching? What are reasonable measurements of success? What recurrent problems arise in the areas of hardware, software, pedagogy and support, and how can they be resolved? 7. Outcomes which might result: Post-conference networking; establishment of a WWW site clearinghouse on facilitating partnerships for new technology in teaching 8. Have you presented on this topic previously/do you plan to do so this year? No 9. Audio-Visual Requirements Mac or PC with telnet connection, LCD or other projection device