The internet navigator: an online internet course for distance learners

Library Trends, Summer, 2001 by Carol Hansen

Beginning in late 1998, the UALC Distance Learning Committee and the UALC Reference/Instruction Committee worked together to discuss providing better online instruction for distance learners statewide. Their efforts were aided by the recent and fortunate influx of new instruction librarians at several institutions in Utah, and the recent gathering of instruction librarians for the LOEX of the West Conference held at Southern Utah University in June 1998. Several new and exciting online information literacy tutorials were developed outside Utah, including EIL, RIO, TILT, Santa Cruz's Net Trail, and others, providing additional inspiration (see Appendix). The UALC Distance Learning Committee subcommittee on Information Literacy Competencies developed a standardized list of information literacy competencies. By March 1999, a new task force, the Information For Life Task Force, was formed from members of the UALC Distance Learning and Reference/Instruction committees, and work began on rewriting the Internet Navigator Course. The major goals of the project are to:

* promote information literacy in this global and dynamic information technology environment for all types of learners; and

* provide shared library instruction to support each institution's needs, such as a required writing course (English 2010 at most institutions) and the statewide computer and information literacy competencies. These competencies are in accordance with the recommendations established by the Utah State Board of Regents Technology Subcommittee in 1995 (unpublished).

The expected outcomes of the project include:

* the nationally and internationally respected statewide Internet Navigator course will continue to meet the needs of future students and the community at large;

* the latest Web technologies and pedagogy will be used to provide active and creative online experiences for learners;

* this initiative will heavily promote the use of databases and collections supported by UALC and Pioneer funding;

* syllabi, lesson plans, and assignments for the core English writing course (English 2010), and other library instruction will be shared among Utah libraries in order to minimize duplication. This will save an enormous amount of time for instruction and reference librarians across the state;

* standardized learning objectives and information literacy competencies will be established and promoted statewide; and

* this initiative will provide guidelines for faculty to integrate this ready-to-use module in any course, on campus or at a distance.

The Information For Life Task Force met from Spring 1999 through Fall 2000 to completely rewrite and revise the course. As of June 2000, drafts of significant content additions have been written by task force members and posted on the task force Web site/intranet.

The new course will be launched in January 2001. The team evaluated content based on shared goals and specific instructional objectives that promote information literacy competency.

The new Navigator consists now of four modules: