Table of contents: issue51

Book Review: E-learning and Disability in Higher Education

editor — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 23:00:00 +0000

Simon Ball reviews a comprehensive discussion of e-learning and accessibility that gives support and guidance to effect good practice from individual to institutional level.

Jane Seale begins her book by explaining the reticence of e-learning practitioners to embrace accessibility concepts as if they were waiting 'for the magic fairy to miraculously transform all e-learning material with one wave of her magic wand'. It is probably human nature that we would mostly prefer to be handed a ready-made meal than a lesson in farming, but we all know deep down that only the latter will lead to long-term success. Seale sets about providing a very effective lesson in farming - not a finished meal.

Book Review: Teaching Web Search Skills

editor — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 23:00:00 +0000

Verity Brack takes a look at this book for Web trainers, teachers and instructors.

Greg Notess has brought together techniques and strategies for Web search training not only from his own experience but also from a number of well known Web search trainers; readers will recognise the names of Joe Barker, Paul Barron, Phil Bradley, John Ferguson, Alice Fulbright, Ran Hock, Jeff Humphrey, Diane Kovacs, Gary Price, Danny Sullivan, Rita Vine, and Sheila Webber.

Book Review: Digital Literacies for Learning

editor — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 23:00:00 +0000

Pete Cliff reviews a work that challenges traditional notions of literacy and how suggests that new literacies need to be developed to empower both learners and teachers in the digital age.

In the changing, and increasingly digital world, learners and teachers are more and more subject to information overload and the noise this generates. Teachers must cope with larger cohorts and more disparate communities. Increasingly, information communication technologies are being used to address these issues and it becomes clear that new skills are required to operate effectively in the learning environment.

Book Review: Information Architecture for the World Wide Web

editor — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 23:00:00 +0000

Keith Doyle reviews the 3rd edition of the primary reference book for practising in-house staff and consultants responsible for the development of institutional information architecture.

Information architecture helps people find the information they want, whether it's a prospective student looking for a course, or staff using the intranet. It is mostly concerned with how people browse and search the institutional Web site, and with how knowledge is shared. People working in information architecture are likely to be responsible for institutional Web strategy; global links on the corporate template; the institutional search engine, site map and index; institutional analytics; portals and primary stakeholder home pages; content management and content management systems.

Book Review: Blogging and RSS - A Librarian's Guide

editor — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 23:00:00 +0000

Kara Jones reviews a practical guide to blogs and RSS written for librarians, packed with library-specific examples.

At the time of review, Amazon UK had over fifty different titles for sale on weblogs and RSS feeds. How do you choose which to read? When faced with a new technology or service, it's useful to have instruction designed specifically with you in mind as the reader and learner. In 'Blogging and RSS: A Librarian's Guide', Michael Sauers does exactly that and pitches directly to a specific audience. Those interested in this book will presumably be librarians and information professionals and will probably already have an idea of what a blog is, and some knowledge of RSS feeds.