JISC

This project (WM-Share) investigated the issues involved in sharing digital teaching content across the West Midlands region, and focused on the use of repositories as a mechanism for sharing teaching content. This Final Project Report describes the approach, the activities undertaken, and the extent to which the objectives were met.

Executive Summary

The project captured the experiences amongst project partners between Spring 2005 and Summer 2006. The project team worked with a range of institutional and project partners at different stages of development of repository services.

The project:

• Identified staff attitudes, behaviours and requirements in relation to sharing digital teaching content
• Explored the drivers and barriers around repository provision amongst the project partners
• Examined the perspectives of repository providers, incorporating issues around service rationale, development, take-up and support
• Implemented and developed an e-Repository at the University of Worcester
• Scoped the options for supporting the sharing of teaching content across the region, and made recommendations

Project investigations found that there was less use of repositories for sharing teaching content than it first appeared, however, there was less resistance to sharing teaching materials amongst staff than might be expected. Over 75% of staff surveyed were already sharing content within their departments. Within institutions, the presence of well-supported strategies to support e-learning activity is usually correlated with a willingness of staff to engage in repository use. Institutions without such strategies are less able to benefit from repository practices.

Working with the project helped partners develop their own practices regarding repository development, especially the university which created its own repository during the project.

This report summarises the key findings and recommendations of the project. However the primary output is the project website which hosts all of the reports, profiles, presentations and summaries produced by the project. The website expands on five key areas:

1. the project itself - including a detailed account of how it progressed
2. advice and recommendations - giving guidance to institutions
3. outputs - including reports, case studies and other relevant findings
4. publications - including conference papers and articles
5. Shibboleth information and implementation reports
6. Report on dissemination event in May 2006

Report available electronically only. Read the final report below.