Obj - To increase student utilization of databases purchased by Walker Management Library
Project 1 – Incorporation of Database Utilization into MBA Courses
This project would encourage a partnership between MBA professors and the Walker Library staff to increase student utilization of databases. The library staff would interview professors to see what information is being taught in a particular class. Once that information is gathered, librarians would determine which databases would best meet the needs of project and/or homework completion assigned throughout a course. After this is determined, then librarians and professors would work together to create a syllabus that incorporates database utilization as a required resource for various assignments. To maintain the scope of the project, only two courses (one core, one elective) would be selected as a pilot for this program.
Project 2 – Partnership Between the CMC and Walker Library
This project would encourage a partnership between the CMC and the Walker Management Library to increase student utilization of databases. During the Town Hall meeting hosted by the Deans and CMC, they proposed to do “deep” industry workshops to better prepare students for interviews. Our proposal is that during the workshops, the CMC would distribute a list of various databases housed on the Walker website that pertain to those industries being presented. Likewise, the librarians could perform a quick demonstration during the workshop that utilizes one of those databases. Additionally, the CMC and Walker could prepare a one page list of databases that provide information about particular companies, salary trends and cities to help students better prepare for full time and internship interviews. These could also be included in the GPS for 2nd Year students next year.
Project 3 – Lunch and Learn
This project would encourage peer to peer marketing by leveraging a relationship between student leadership and the Walker Management Library. A focus group would be conducted with several club leaders to see which topics would be most beneficial to their memberships. From there, the Walker staff would create a database workshop that would address many of the issues raised during the focus group, as well as a small presentation (or perhaps incorporation) on which Fortune 500 companies utilize which databases. A joint club meeting would be held in Averbuch and the Walker staff would provide lunch. Student leaders would promote the meeting to their respective organizations. A one page handout would be provided at the end of the meeting.
First of all, I like the problem you are trying to solve. Personally, I have not used the Walker library databases very much until recently. I think a lot of students do not know about the information and resources available, so finding ways to improve that awareness is key. I think Project 2 is a good idea because students could be doing more research on companies and industries for their job searches. I like the idea of a one-pager that lists different databases. What if there were several different one pagers for different industries? For example, have one handout on the tech industry, another on healthcare, etc. with the links to specific resources that pertained to that particular industry. Then students could pick up whichever handouts they were interested in. These handouts could be available at both the CMC and the library.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alena in that this is a great problem to be examining. Of the three options, I would prefer #1. in particular, there are some projects in the first year core (I'm thinking of strategy specifically) that require primary source research on the part of students (as opposed to all data having come from a case study). Integration of database education into the curriculum would simulate work situations more closely than case studies.
ReplyDeleteI think that what's missing from these three projects is discussion of actual usability and user interface of available databases. Easier UI could drive adoption and thus increased usage and understanding.
I like the Partnership between the CMC and Walker Library idea. I personally used Library for companies’ research and staff was very excited and helpful. CMC should encourage students to use Library especially in the beginning phase, when they ask you to find target company list. I think there is more than enough access to the information for class work, but usually it is complicated when it comes to job search. Library could do presentations about job trends overview, statistics & target list strategy in terms of finding information.
ReplyDeleteThis is a much required thing to be working for.I think there is great potential in this project work to deliver some actual value to Owen students.
ReplyDeleteIdea 1: this is a great and practical idea to pursue but we need to be careful about generating enough buy in from students as well as professors. If it ends up as another optional post on the BB, it may lose impact. however having it as a project in any one core course can help realize the utility of databases early in mod.
idea: if i remeber it correctly this is done to some extent in sessions by joyce but not really emphasized. using the Walker library event or may be a competition could be a way to generate more interest.
Idea3: We as a part of the consulting club have done this and mentioned about databases that are helpful to us in particular and this has worked to some extent.
I think your ideas are great and especially like the first one. I think that the majority of students do not use the databases as often because they simply do not know what kind of information they hold, how to get to that exact information, etc. But, if it were implemented into the course load, they would be required to take the time (much worth it) to figure these things out and increase their utilization.
ReplyDeleteProject 1 – Great. I think especially if this happens on core courses, so new students learn early about all the resources that are available at the library.
ReplyDeleteProject 2 – I’m a little skeptical about adding another Workshops under the CMC. The cheat sheet I think is a great idea!!! It could have categories, like interview preparation, industry facts, choosing a career, etc
Project 3 – I particularly try to avoid meeting during lunch, could me more of a individual opinion. In substitution of this idea, you could do something that could create buzz / word of mouth of the top data base. I’m much more likely to use a data base if another class mate tell me that it was useful for him, than if I attend an explanatory session.
I think the first option is the strongest, and like Fred said, would give students exposure early in their Owen "career". I also like the idea of adding database "cheatsheets" to the GPS and CMC handbooks. Lunch and learns are always a hit because we all know that MBA students like free food. But haven't the library staff given inservices in the past? People may not attend until they see an immediate need--which is why incorporating it into a mod 1 or 2 class for first years would help.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that none of us use these databases at Owen means one of two things:
ReplyDelete1) MBA's never use databases in the real world, or 2) MBA's DO use databases in the real world and we aren't developing this skill like we should be. If the latter is true, then Project 1 is a great idea. The focus of the collaboration between the professors and library staff should be very practical (ie. a project requiring database utilization that is similar to a project that a recent MBA hire would be assigned to).
I thnk number one is the only way you are going to get people to go the databases. Unfortunately most professors will not spend the time to partner with the Library staff. Requiring information from specific databases will push students to learn all about the information that is available in Walker. If you don't know what a Mintel study is.... you need to go see the Librarians. This information is extremely expensive to the outside world and most of our students don't know it exists.
ReplyDeleteProject 1 is the best concept. If it is not integrated into course material, it is just one more handout that students will not read or one more meeting on the their Outlook calendars. The first time I used these databases was in Germain's class, Writing a Business Plan, because using them was an assignment. I had no idea how much good info was at our fingertips! Great idea.
ReplyDeleteAs an overall constraint, I'm hoping that you will consider that the databases may well be chosen as much (or more) on their ability to support research than they are meant as an MBA teaching aide.
ReplyDeleteThat said, as I look at your ideas, it strikes me that all of your solutions will involve a significant amount of work by parties other than the "students" who, I imagine, stand to benefit most from your innovation effort.
In Proj #1 you will really need to convince the professors that it is worth the effort (in terms of student learning, improved teaching ratings, or some other kind of meaningful outcome) to got through the trouble of setting up an interview with the librarians, in going through the interview, in reviewing the proposed list, etc etc etc. How could you convince the library staff and the professors that this is a meaningful investment?
Proj #2 gets more directly relevant to the beneficiary of your innovation since it invokes "getting a job" as a high-level motivator for students. Still, the approach presumes that CMC and Walker do all the upfront work and that students will bother to do the hard work of preparation (i.e., actually going through the databases) for actual interview-relevant information. My personal experience with this comes from looking at the "click-through" data on my blackboard course sites. While I get high click-through rates on material listed as "required reading", I get very low rates on "recommended reading" links. Is your proposal going to be interpreted by students as being more like a "required-" or like a "recommended-" reading? If the latter, then how will you convince the CMC and Library staff that it's worth the effort?
Proj#3 I like this as it pushes the behavioral change (and effort) more deeply into the potential beneficiaries. It still seems to require that the library staff "create the database workshop" when the actual knowledge of what students' informational needs are resides in the students. What about a system where students search out the information they need and where their effort is observed/coached/guided by the librarians. The librarians then use their aggregated observations to decide which databases are better suited to the real needs of the students - and the students report to each other which of the databases have the best kinds of information for specific needs they have encountered. How would you facilitate this sharing among students? Librarians (and professors) can talk themselves blue in the face about which information sources students SHOULD look at, but often it is a personal referral from a peer that truly drives action.
Just my 2 cents!! Good work and good luck!