Philosophy

We view digital libraries as a key component of the support required for effective education. A layered approach to building courseware atop digital libraries seems to make the most sense.

Problems

• Universities are pressured to be more cost effective.
• Universities pay more and more for library services, especially to commercial publishers.
• Universities are pressured to do more distance education.
• Many current students lack motivation.
• It it unclear how to use technology to help solve these problems.
• It is unclear what pedagogical approaches help solve these problems.

Solutions

• More cost effective - Virginia Tech Initiatives
  • Faculty Development Initiative
  • Staff Development Initiative
  • Local and State ATM Network
• Library savings - Monticello Electronic Library
  • Electronic technical reports (from Snowbird meeting)
  • Electronic theses and dissertations
  • High leverage to train next generation of authors, scholars
• Distance education
  • Paperless courses
  • Videoconferencing over networks
  • CSCW
• Motivation - Interaction
  • Personal tutoring, working in groups
  • Multimedia, hypermedia: control interaction
  • Searching, browsing and other accessing of interaction, including Web home pages
  • Demonstrating, visualizing, taking quizes, doing exercises
  • Email, conferencing (asynchronous discussion)
• Technology
  • Digital libraries
  • WWW, debate support software, email, bulletin boards
  • Videoconferencing, projection
• Pedagogy
  • Presentation support
  • Lab support
  • Discovery based learning, exploration support
  • Keller plan / Personalized System of Instruction