Evidence of Open Science Principles in Library Disaster Management: The Malaysian Academic Library Experience

 Abstract :  Many institutions struggle to create effective preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation plans despite the significance ...

Friday, September 6, 2013

Empowering the Educational Magnificence of Students’ Life Skills through Library Web 2.0 Services

Mohd Ismail Abidin
Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
mohdismail@bdrmelaka.uitm.edu.my

Mohd Ab Malek bin Md Shah
Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
malek625@bdrmelaka.uitm.edu.my

Mahdad Tajbakhsh Jadidi
Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Computer and Information Technology
University Malaya
mahdad777@yahoo.com

Kiran Kaur
Department of Library and Information Science
Faculty of Computer and Information Technology
University Malaya
kiran@um.edu.my

Sabariah Hj. Mahat
Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
sabariah@melaka.uitm.edu.my

Abstract

Cognitive skills, personal skills, and inter-personal skills are the tripartite components which are vital in to the teaching process and system. Indeed, in order to empower students’ competencies, it is undeniably true that school libraries have played a crucial role in materializing such magnificent achievement. This is due to the fact that as more schools add project-based learning to the curriculum, students need library skills to conduct research which is essential to completing their projects. Most importantly, students must master library skills in order to navigate problems which they might encounter in a real-life setting. In fact, some students, especially those in higher levels, do not receive direct instruction in regards to library skills, but learn them through activities that support the content areas instead. Thus, the main focus of this study is to explore an overall landscape of using Web 2.0 library services, as well as the awareness among students regarding the services offered by the library in developing their skills theoretically based on a practical approach. This study incorporates user survey to obtain the overall data use of library Web 2.0 services in general (public and academic libraries). A total of 657 people participated in this research. It is hoped that this study will increase the awareness of using library Web 2.0 services offered by the school libraries among students which could eventually enrich their life skills in facing their academic world holistically.

Keywords: cognitive skills, personal skills, inter-personal skills, competencies, library skills, Web 2.0 

Introduction 

Schools and universities are no longer the only academic sources of information and knowledge. Without a doubt, the traditional literacy has been gradually extended to a multimedia literacy pertaining to the students’ abilities of cognitive skills, personal skills, as well as inter-personal skills with digitally encoded materials (Nikolov, 1997). In relation to this, Web 2.0 and social media technologies contribute to an ongoing shift in learning styles and knowledge creation; as well as changing learner’s information needs and expectation. The convergence of diverse philosophical and pedagogical concepts such as creation of new cognitive authorities, knowledge construction through individual learning styles, autonomy of the learner in formal educational contexts or the increasing role of informal learning promote innovative pedagogical approaches and models of to enhance learning. Online applications are increasingly ubiquitous, social, and participatory (Jenkins, 2006;  Valkenburg & Peter, 2009). Similarly, the studies carried out by Riza Ayu and Abrizah (2011) and Aziz, Arif, Ramly, Abdullah, and Husaini (2011) found out that Facebook is the most popular social media used by the academic libraries in Malaysia. In fact, the rise of online communities such as Facebook facilitates a participatory culture where individuals must develop literacies such as networking, information appropriation, remix, judgment, and collective intelligence. Application of Web 2.0 in Teaching and Learning Process The Web 2.0 virtual learning environments provide opportunities for students, academicians, parents and stakeholders in creating conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning process holistically. The emergence of Web 2.0 revolution is widely recognized (O’Reilly, 2005). In relation to this, it is undeniably true that today’s learner does not merely read or consume content instantly. This is due to the fact that most of the students (generation Y and Z) access Web 2.0 applications widely (Socialbakers.com, 2013). To support this remark, the latest research done by Mohd Ismail and Kiran (2012) indicated that the main purpose of Web 2.0 application development is for promotional purposes which could eventually lead towards a formation of bilateral communication between users and libraries. In relation to this situation, some of the Web 2.0 applications and services are blogs, wikis, RSS feeds, tagging and social bookmarking, multimedia sharing, podcasts, social networking (Abram, 2005). 

Research Aims and Methodology 
The main purpose of this research is to investigate the use of Web 2.0 offered by Malaysian public and academic libraries among Malaysian society. It also indirectly raises awareness about this application among library users in Malaysia. In addition, this research also aims to identify the extent of the service acceptance among users, and also to see how this application helps users in the education and learning process. It is compatible with the latest Malaysian social lifestyle where government promotes virtual learning or blended learning. To explore the use of Web 2.0 among users aged between 12 to 21 years old, these users were surveyed. A questionnaire consisting of 15 open-ended questions was used for this study. A total of 657 library patrons from various walks of life participated in this study. 

Result and Discussion
Respondents’ Background
The profile information which was gathered from the respondents consists of gender, place of residence, and age. From the surveys, the majority of respondents are women (62.6), while the urban population is the largest respondents for this study, with 54%. In terms of age, the 15-17 years respondents were the highest representing 42.8%, followed by the age range of 12-14 years (28.8%). Almost 17.5% of respondents aged 21 years and above (See Table 1). Respondents were also asked whether they surfed the Internet or not. The results indicate, about 96.2% of them used for or been surfing the Internet in their daily lives. Only 3% of respondents had never used the Internet.

To be continued.......
Discussion and Conclusion
Indeed, it is undeniably true that educational institutions currently have been familiarized with the application of technology in its implementation of teaching and learning process holistically. In fact, the application of Web 2.0 services has tremendously contributed to assisting the students to strengthen their abilities in mastering the cognitive skills, personal skills, and inter-personal skills which are indeed vital in their effective learning process. Indeed, in order to enrich the students’ competencies, school libraries play crucial roles in
materializing such magnificent achievement; as it is of the utmost importance for the librarians to keep pace with their users professionally.

* This Paper has successfully presented at IASL 2013, Sanur Bali, Indonesia. 26-30 August 2013. Thanks to Mr Malek and Mahdad..Hope we can collaborate again in next research....















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