JISC

The Link^ER project responds to Theme C of the call and is undertaking a formative evaluation of the Programme.  Its main focus is on the generic lessons to be learned from the Programme about the integration of digital libraries and VLEs.

Aims and Objectives

The overall aim of the project is to provide formative evaluation and review of the technical, pedagogical and organisational issues emerging from the programme.

The specific objectives are to:

• Produce a review report summarising recent developments, achievements and trends relevant to the area of digital library and VLE linkage (updating and broadening the INSPIRAL final report)
• Provide formative evaluation across the full set of Theme A and Theme B projects
• Identify important emerging issues, innovative solutions and exemplary case studies
• Develop and validate guidelines for other institutions, focussing particularly on cultural, organisational, technical and pedagogical issues
• Produce interim and final reports capturing key elements of lessons learned and synthesising conclusions for key audiences/stakeholders
• Disseminate our reports widely within the community

Project Methodology

The over-riding concern in designing the Link^ER project has been to select methodologies capable of providing rapid feedback from a Programme which has a duration of only ten months.  Close interaction between the Link^ER team and key players in the Theme A and B projects is essential and will be achieved through a planned longitudinal series of interviews with individuals representing each of the projects.   Formative feedback to projects and to JISC will be provided in a timely fashion. 

To gain a wider perspective, developments in the field in both UK HE and abroad will be reviewed, and the views of key stakeholders sought.

Implications/ Deliverables/ Stakeholders

The project will deliver:

• A review report summarising recent developments, achievements and trends in the DiVLE area
• An interim report summarising key issues identified by all stakeholders, and a final report reflecting upon lessons learned from the Strand A and B projects, identifying useful case studies, and suggesting directions for future work.
• A collection of action-oriented models, frameworks and guidelines documents, tailored to the needs of the principal audiences and in a form suitable for user testing and validation.  These will be produced in a format allowing widespread targeted dissemination and efficient maintenance by JISC.