Sustainable, continuous improvement in online academic and information literacy support

Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference 2018, 30 July - 2 August 2018 Gold Coast: Roar Leap Dare
 
[Peer reviewed] This conference paper builds on previous research that evaluated the impact of an embedded online academic and information literacy module into the Learning and Management System (LMS) of a first year university business course. The research findings concluded:
 
“this resource contributed to student success, and that staff and student satisfaction with the resource contributed to increased confidence with student academic skills and information literacy in respect to their assignment task. Assessing the impact of the online resource on student success has helped to demonstrate the value of the library at Griffith University to the wider community” (Rae & Hunn. 2015 p. 1)
 
Since the original module was created and embedded into the LMS for a single course in 2014, the provision of these individual, assessment specific, online modules has expanded into all levels of Business School undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Academic interest has piqued due to the movement into blended learning offerings at Griffith University demanding equitable access to academic and information literacy support.  Data was gathered over the years 2014 to 2017 on unique users and page views of the modules. Usage has leaped from 4,442 page visits by 910 unique users in one course in 2014, to 271,556 page visits by 12,456 unique users in 45 different courses in 2017. 
 
Whilst the learning analytics of the data gathered continues to indicate positive impact on students and so supports the continued and increased provision of these resources, other issues around sustainability have arisen and need to be addressed. The aim of this paper is to examine how the use of an e-learning maturity model can help  address issues of sustainability  that arise as part of supporting an online approach to academic and information literacy support.