ACIL Meeting Minutes - 12th February 2004

SCONUL Advisory Committee on Information Literacy (ACIL)
Meeting Number 7
Date: Thursday 12th February 2004

MEETING NOTES AND ACTION POINTS

1. Present:
Hilary Johnson (Chair)
Deborah Bragan-Turner
Wendy White
Peter Godwin
Jo Parker
Stephen Town
Janet Peters
Helen Hathaway
Toby Bainton
Selena Lock
Martin Jenkins

Selena was welcomed to the meeting

Apologies:
Liz Hart

2. Notes and action

Item 7. Alteration to read “ESF rules” and delete repeated item starting “JaP queried ...”

Outstanding Action points from the last meeting. All complete.

3. Matters arising

06/11 CILIP Special Interest Group (ST)

ST reported that a small group meeting concerning the definition of IL had been written up and sent to Sue Brown. ST was still awaiting response from Sheila Webber. In an email to CILIP, ST expressed concern at lack of recognition by IL and that his comments were fully endorsed by ACIL. It was suggested there be a formal response from ACIL to Liz Bowden commending the idea of a cross-sectoral interest group.
Action: HJ 07/01
It was further noted that a new LIS-InfoLit list was replacing lis-infoskills. It was suggested ACIL could be making better use of this new development by targeting messages to different library sectors. HJ further suggested that the new list could be employed to further interest in a new CILIP SIG. JaP noted the interest of public libraries in IL related issues. A further suggestion was that the e-mail from ST to CILIP be form the basis for a more general email to go to LIS-InfoLit. ST pointed out that the CILIP group will meet again, possibly in March.

HJ to check with LH re plan to invite Emma Place to ACIL meeting.
Action: HJ 07/02

4. SCONUL Exec Board

JaP reported on the establishment of a short term task force to consider e-learning (e-mail). Sue Roberts was to lead and there was to be a one day meeting in March/April to provide contextual information. Representatives were to include HJ, OU and TLIG. Group will examine how SCONUL committees look at e-learning; produce an action plan; undertake advisory work and respond to strategic initiatives. The new Group is very much focused on e-learning which lead to the question as to whether e-research is to be picked up. ACIL to contact Sue Roberts to consider and HJ will take to the meeting in March/April.
Action: HJ 07/03
TLIG representation welcomed and encouraged. KV/RH to be contacted for involvement and comment.
Report back further at meeting in May
Action: HJ/JaP 07/04

5. ACIL Action Plan

A Advocacy
International certificate. TB reported that the IFLA University & Research Committee had been supportive but some concerns had resulted in little progress. It was recognized that promotion of certificate would promote IL but that ECDL was very similar. However the latter is skills based and does not have the critical skills element of IL. It was agreed that International comparability is what we would like to emulate not the 'content' and approach. It would be helpful to utilize the enthusiasm in IFLA. A short paper to IFLA research committee was proposed which helped to address the concerns.
Action: LH 07/05
Further discussion revealed that it was felt an NVQ type Certificate would be the most appropriate. This should be targeted at library professionals and actively recognize different levels. It was also possible to take advantage of developments from Prague declaration and WSIS (UN). This draft declaration of principles was not quite IL but skills for info society.
Action plan - remove 3rd bulletin point from 2a to 1a
2a too narrowly defined as says 'across the profession' - delete this part so it is just nationally and internationally
2a - key bodies - UCISA TLIG not mentioned and needs to be included.
ST - approached to speak at Eastern Central & Southern Africa (SCANAL?) conf on IL in UK; link to be included in Action Plan.

Section B
1b - need to improve contacts with LIS Schools; be more systematic.
Suggest target 2 departments and develop list of topics.
Aberystwyth to be targeted to take adv of distance learning work based students. JaP to id Aberystwyth contact. Also Loughborough (HJ).
JaP to coordinate list of topics; list to be added to web pages.
1b - key skills 16-19 groups - put on back burner but be alert to what is going on. FE sector are doing some good work. JaP dev OCN for info skills; will send round details. 3 levels, starting now with level 1.
3b- model development, items later on agenda. 7 pillars model - to be discussed at later ACIL meeting in 2004.
MOSAIC & briefing paper - overlaps with section C. of list)

Section C
1c - particular focus with Health, picked up by SCONUL Health group. Could also target Social Science linked to Gomersell paper - need to work with discipline group. Need to link with discipline groups is important. Could also link in via LIS Schools. Law potential area.
1c - take out reference to LIS students in this section
2c - link with SCONUL SDC - needs to be clearer link - recognise is blurring of areas of interest
NB SDC = Adv Committee on Staffing not Staff Dev Committee Margaret Heaps chair - to be invited to ACIL and vv and exchange of information
3c Web site
SL - lot of dev of site. E-mails live; action plans up; forthcoming events up and being updated; docs & papers - added where available (7 pillars top of list); minutes up as html and pdf; links updated. Reports and agenda for next meeting sections to be clarified by ACIL. Reports - define 'reports'. Why need agenda for next meeting? Benefit of attracting comment was noted, though not practical - best achieved through action plan. Query from TB re how pages put up, SL to follow up with Gail.
Future developments - Home page - suggested page on each individual on ACIL including photo as a means of encouraging contact from practitioners/researchers. Members to provide text/photos to SL. SL to send round template.
- Action plans - move to reports section? Suggested reports section to just include reports to Exec. and Annual Report. All other documents together. Papers to be external documents.
Events section - need to record previous events with links to relevant information. All group events to be brought together/given higher profile on SCONUL page (as well as on group pages). WW/SL ensure links to UCISA/SCONUL event papers are linked when available.
Doc/papers - SL to filter in sections. ACIL to check headings and also notify any other papers to include. Also to notify links. New ideas - 7 pillars page; to introduce model and associated papers. Supported, ST to produce an introductory paragraph. Model in different formats for use (include attribution to image) to be added. Also include examples on how the model has been used; encourage contributions.
- forthcoming papers and presentations - individual papers/work in progress by ACIL members or LIS students
- promoting ACIL links to other sites, SL encouraging this
- suggested add ACIL link to e-mail signatures
2d - encourage contributions to conferences and cover key conferences. E-lit; ALT;
ACIL to fund attendance? Project fund could be used for this purpose; bid to this for forthcoming conferences.
3d - potential for learning outcomes event (linked to LTSN Generic from LTSN, but may need to be before July. Consideration for another joint UCISA event. Event with HE Academy in late summer when academy is launched. Suggest adopting annual slot for Jan event.

6. Briefing paper on learning outcomes

WW & Helen have volunteered papers & examples have already been received from Newport, Abertay, Bradford plus York & Cardiff. The deadline for this was the end of March. These were to include a short case study (including all the issues it raises i.e. academic resistance) including the learning outcomes of IL delivery. There was a link with LTSN via Lawrence Hamburg particularly on the development of the academic aspects of learning outcomes. LTSN may be prepared to fund as a joint publication.
Publication likely to be 20pp. The quote obtained for 250 copies was approximately £300 +VAT.
The group made suggestions for writing learning outcomes section: Kathy Wiles; Jane Core.
Action HJ 07/06
JaP to draft introductory section.
Action: JaP

7 MOSAIC Evaluation

The pilots still going on and being used in different ways. For example, 1500 students at Southampton but the use was not summative. Nottingham had 55 students and Reading 5 doing the full course. HH reported that Reading would run the course again next year as Open Study Programme.
With regard to evaluation, feedback was still awaited from Eduserve. The matter was taken to Eduserve board and outcomes on funding expected.
JaP reported that the CERLIM costs for this exercise had proved expensive. A similar initiative with UCE via LH was awaiting outcomes.
Action LH 07/07
The issue of evaluation was key in order to gain the support of SCONUL and the subsequent need to negotiate with OU over rights. OU had over 1000 participants and 5-600 evaluations which would be useful but more qualitative data would be required. The following issues were discussed:

• how get SCONUL involved
• how individual universities use now where wanted

The group felt that given the apparent demand for MOSAIC, understanding how it can be made available is a higher priority than the evaluation at the moment. It was decided the Executive Board would need the following to enable it to endorse action:

• clarification with OU concerning the product licensing
• indicators of demand
• evidence of quality

Based on these actions a brief note to be created for the Executive Board meeting in June. Meanwhile Informal discussion with JCALT should be progressed via Margaret Coutts.
Action: JaP LH HJ 07/08

8 Paper by Gomersal & Grayson

The paper outlines the shifts in skills needs caused by developments of database system and system providers and impact this likely to have on information skills. Paper has been accepted for publication.There was a need to start a dialogue with practitioners which could commence with ASSIGN. It was suggested that the paper forms a basis for further discussion on the research issues it raises, as it has direct links to research skills agenda. It was felt there was the potential for a seminar on this topic. WW to have further discussion with Gomersal
Action: WW 07/09

9 One day conference on e-learning

HJ’s report was circulated to the group. It was a very successful event with a good spread of roles attending. The speakers and panel session (well chaired by AR) were good. There was to be a report back to UCISA conference where RH & WW are to run session. Joint feedback will also to go to SCONUL web site and SCONUL Newsletter.
TB reported that UCISA/SCONUL reps have started discussions with HE Academy.
HJ has started discussions with Martin Oliver (working on accreditation of LT with ALT) who had responded to HJ areas of interaction with HE Academy.
Kathy Wiles suggested sending initial responses to Cliff Allen (Head of LTSN).
There will be a need to involve SCONUL Staffing committee to ensure there is no overlap.

MJ to contact KV and MP to encourage TLIG to pick this up as areas of overlap for interaction with the HE academy.
Also raise with Rhonda Riachi re ALT.
Action: MJ 07/10
Need to note existence of Heads of e-Learning Forum, new body that has recently formed.
SCONUL Executive Board expressed thanks for work on response to DfES e-learning strategy.
ST noted that JISC response, following e-literacy meeting in the summer, was not universally accepted as a record of the discussions at that meeting.

10 Matters for discussion

- Joint meeting re IL for Health - 61 names had been put forward so far. HJ planning to do something on accreditation and competencies.
- JISC invitation seminar. This had been a positive day with a good mix of people. Big Blue staff are investigating the skills sets of staff. This stems from an awareness that staff are not always conscious of information needs (in the broadest sense). Staff development drivers represent an interesting area of work which could be applied in different institutions. It was noted that JISC are still pursuing the arbitrary divide between staff and student skills. At the meeting Bob Powell identified that JISC are interested in area of overlap between ICT skills and information literacy.
- SLIC. Scottish post 16 Info skills module recently launched. They wish to license, make available on a CD and sell for £283 per institution. This product contains generic learning objects and scenarios. There is interest in mapping this product against MOSAIC. JaP to report further progress.
Action: JaP 07/11
- e-lit conference & new journal. e-lit conference in June. HJ & ST have been invited onto the editorial board of new e-lit e-journal. Journal will publish conference papers

11 Any Other Business

- WSIS - already mentioned
- Australia & NZ information literacy pack. Brought to ACIL's attention for information and reference. This was noted as an agenda item for the next meeting to discuss in more detail. It has the potential to be used in discussions with the academy as an example of potential developments. It would also be useful as evidence for CILIP.
Action: LH 07/12
- Brief article for Update to report progress on ACIL activity including the web site. It would also draw attention to existing work i.e. Prague declaration, ANZAC pack etc.
Action: PG 07/13
- PG noted that Susie Andretta was publishing information literacy book and references the SCONUL model.
- NLN were also putting up new area for librarians.

Deborah Bragan Turner was attending her last ACIL meeting. ACIL thanked her for all her work and time and gave her their very best wishes for the future.

Updated March 2004 by Selena Lock S.A.Lock@Cranfield.ac.uk.