Kent State University Libraries supports distance learners
and education-abroad students through Web conferencing.

Kent State University Libraries supports the mission of finding a way for students to complete their master’s, bachelor’s or certificate degrees through alternative methods. Most recently, University Libraries has had success in helping distance learners and education-abroad students through Web conferencing.

Thousands of Kent State students currently study abroad in places such as China, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Students participating in distance-education programs are typically geographically separated from universities and their libraries. Most of the time, students rely on local public libraries, friends or the Internet when conducting research for assignments, says Thomas Warren, manager for University Libraries Reference Center.

“Librarianship is a profession that is focused on finding and providing accurate, relevant information to our users,” Warren says. “It also focuses on instruction – showing our users how to search, evaluate and then apply found information to solve a problem or support a hypothesis.”

No matter where they are in the world, students need to conduct research and find online journals and resources in order to complete their assignments.

University Libraries recognized this and piloted an online Web conferencing project in the 2013-2014 academic year to engage students in culturally diverse learning environments, help students critically evaluate information and then apply that information to their school work.

University Libraries is currently using WebEx Meeting Center as its Web conferencing tool.

“WebEx is supported by the Division of Information Services on campus and has all the functionalities needed to make it a productive tool,” Warren says.

Librarians are able to meet with a single student or a group of students at different locations in the same time. The tool also offers screen-sharing abilities between the host and student, audio and video capabilities, a shared whiteboard and meeting transcripts or recording of the lesson to review after the instructional process.

University Libraries' WebEx Meeting Center allows the
university's librarians to meet with a single student or a
group of students who are at different locations at the
same time. It also offers screen-sharing abilities between
the librarian and the student.

Students who need assistance are directed to a LibGuide that is used to funnel users to the appropriate librarian. Staff members with University Libraries put together a step-by-step process sheet that helps them through the entire event from scheduling an online consultation to sending a transcript to a student.

“From the students’ perspective, the process is much easier,” Warren says. “Students simply need to open their WebEx Meeting email invitation, check their computer’s audio and video setting and then log in to the meeting at the agreed time.”

University Libraries has very few problems with the online consultations. However, on a few occasions, there have been issues with time. Accommodations need to be made that are agreeable to both parties.

“Students who are studying or researching abroad will need to be cognizant of the time difference between Ohio and where they are located,” Warren says. “I have talked with one student in Italy – there is a six-hour time difference.”

The service has completed a pilot semester and a quiet rollout of the service last semester to work out the logistics – scheduling, notification and becoming familiar with the software. WebEx Meetings have been used in approximately 10 percent of University Libraries’ reference consultations. An average of 100-125 personal consultations were logged per semester.

Staff members at University Libraries have requested individual accounts for all librarians on the Kent Campus to use for student consultation purposes and to use as an alternative meeting method with colleagues from other Kent State campuses.

To schedule an appointment with a Kent State librarian, including WebEx Meeting appointments for distance learners, visit http://libguides.library.kent.edu/meet1.

For more information about University Libraries, visit www.library.kent.edu.