Developing subject-based online communities for students in higher education

I’m interested in developing online spaces for student learning and collaboration throughout their university careers.  I’m imagining an interactive space that students can access as needed to supplement research instruction, learn about and discuss digital tools in their disciplines, plus [your activity idea here].

Currently, these types of communities  might be created in Blackboard or other learning management systems for specific courses, but I’m interested in developing them for specific majors, especially interdisciplinary programs.

Let’s work out this idea together:

Has anyone developed these types of communities (library-based or based on majors, interdisciplinary programs) or have examples?

What platforms are best for hosting these types of communities?

What is the role of the community builders (librarians, subject faculty): facilitator, guide on side, info provider, discussion leader, respond to questions?

 

Categories: Collaboration, Session Proposals, Session: Talk, Teaching |

About Heather Martin

I'm Reference Librarian for Arts and Humanities at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the jill-of-all-trades for people and info related to English, music, philosophy, theatre, communication studies, foreign languages, and art at UAB. I also coordinate scholarly communication education at Mervyn H. Sterne Library. I'm interested in using digital tools to develop student communities around research skills in the humanities. Current likes are knitting, green smoothies, and "Supernatural."

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