Case study of the BSc Computer Science (COMU01)

Overview

The Library's support for Computer Science undergraduate students has traditionally been provided through induction sessions at the beginning of each academic year.

The aim of this project was to explore where information and digital literacy (IDL) support could be embedded within the curriculum to provide the right support, in the right format, at the most appropriate time.

The Library Student Associate and Liaison Librarian explored the IDL resources available, assessed the relevance of IDL resources to their own studies, and identified gaps in the IDL offer from the perspective of a Computer Science student.

Outcomes

Recommendations from the project:

• Developments will be made to the Library's online resources to address the identified need for guidance on referencing code in assignments and finding and using images in website creation.

• The Library will co-investigate with the department guidance on the ethical reuse and referencing of code with a view to update the Library's Referencing Guides.

• The Discovering images tutorial has been identified as a resource which can be modified to include specific information about using images in creating websites.

• The Library Student Associates identified the need to promote the Library's IDL offer and that awareness of the online tutorials could be raised with academic staff with a view to embedding these into Blackboard modules. Modules identified were:

  • COM1001, COM1008, COM3420
    Images: Discover, understand, reference
    Creating and using images

  • COM2009
    Questioning and evaluating information

• The relevant referencing guides should be embedded in all applicable modules and assessment.

The Library will continue to collaborate with the department to embed the IDL support that is available and to promote this to students.

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Reflections

Sofia Bodurova, Library Student Associate

From the very beginning until the end I have felt great being able to participate in the programme development, doing research on how things can be done. This participation guided me in many ways about all of the resources and support that are provided by the Library.

Many students from the University, including me, have had a hard time finding information about plagiarism. However, during that time the Library has supported us.

After this project I would definitely start looking a bit more into the Library, many topics not covered by lectures are provided as workshops by the Library. The key idea of ours was to identify the gaps in the department which could be filled by the Library.

There are two key concepts that are used but not explained in many modules; they are 'Images: Discover, understand, reference' and 'Preventing plagiarism and reference management'.

What can be better in our case is to reduce the time it takes for a student to find everything on their own and have information provided on Blackboard. This can also save time for many lecturers who have to deal with enquiries in these areas.

Emily Herron, Liaison Librarian

It has been interesting to discover more about the assignments that students are working on and to learn from Sofia how the Library's resources could provide support with these.

One of the main messages we heard from all the Library Student Associates was how hidden the Library's online tutorials are. They need to be embedded within Blackboard modules at the point of student need and made easier to find.

The PLA lead and the department have been very supportive of the work that Sofia and the Library have undertaken. The next steps will be to work on the outcomes identified within the project.

This will be done in collaboration with the department with a particular emphasis on the need for guidance on referencing code in assignments and finding and using images in website creation.