From: barbara_pease@macgate.csuchico.edu (Barbara Pease)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.libref-l
Subject: RE: CD-ROM Instruction
Date: 8 Oct 92 14:58:51 GMT
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
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Approved-By:  MDUMONT@KENTVM.BITNET

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
After facing classes of 50 and 60, I would find a room that accomodates 15 just
wonderful!
_______________________________________________________________________________
To: LIBREF-L@KENTVM.BITNET
From: 'Discussion of Library Reference Issues' on Wed, Oct 7, 1992 8:30 AM
Subject: Re: CD-ROM Instruction

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
At the McMaster University Health Sciences Library, we have just opened a
new classroom in the library specifically for the purpose of teaching
database searching in small group settings.  One of our faculty donated
the money to equip the classroom and we purchased a microcomputer with a
single-disk CD-ROM reader attached, an LED display panel and an overhead
projector.  This allows us to project the computer screen image to a
screen hung from the ceiling at the front of the classroom so that all can
see it without having to crowd around the actual computer screen.

The room will accommodate up to 15 students at a time.  In addition to our
twice daily CD-ROM classes, I teach Grateful Med searching (which requires
a modem connection through Datapac to Telenet or Tymnet, at this point) in
the new classroom on a regularly scheduled basis as well.  It was totally
impractical for us to even dream of a classroom that would have had
computer workstations for students; the money is not available. We feel
that our projection solution is the best possible in these circumstances.
Students rush upstairs after the class to find space at our six CD-ROM
workstations in Reference so that they can put into practice what they
have learned.

We used to try to teach much smaller groups how to search CD-ROM databases
actually at the machines in Reference, but it didn't work well at all.
There were too many interruptions; we had to take a machine out of service
to conduct a class; the setting wasn't private; there were always others
hanging around waiting to use the machine, ...  I could go on!

Our classroom gets steady use and is easy to justify for that reason.  The
staff who teach in it (all members of Reference) are very happy with the
new arrangements; even I have gotten used to the disgusting odour of the
markers we have to use on our new whiteboard! Blackboards and chalk are
out of the question in such a "high tech" classroom because of the dust!


.........................................................................
Tom Flemming                    Bitnet: tomflem@McMaster
Head of Public Services         Internet: tomflem@mcmail.McMaster.ca
Health Sciences Library         Envoy 100: mac.lib.hsl
McMaster University             LIFEnet: TFLEMMIN@life.jsc.nasa.gov
1200 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario               (416) 525-9140  x2321   work
Canada   L8N 3Z5                (416) 527-2848          home
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Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU