Educating information professionals with problem based-learning and collaboration technology

摘要

The basic question raised in this paper is how to best prepare library and information science graduates for work in dynamic digital networked information environments. It is clear that these environments are changing very rapidly and it is important the educators begin thinking about and experimenting with effective ways to train the next generation of information professionals. Such a discourse has been ongoing in library and information science as evidenced by the recent presentation of the KALIPER Report (Pettigrew, 2000), which outlines a set of important trends in library and information science education including the following: 1. "Curriculum is addressing broad based information environments and information problems; 2. Schools are increasing their investment and infusion of information technology into their curricula; and 3. Schools are offering instruction in different formats to provide students with more flexibility." Taking these three themes as a point of departure, this paper argues first that an important focus of this discourse should be on the role of information problems in organizational information environments and second, that the pedagogy and the technological infrastructure developed to support it immerse students in these problems. Problem based learning (PBL), is offered as an example of a problem-focused and student-centered pedagogical approach that foregrounds the curricular imperatives outlined in the KALPIER Report and provides an innovative educational experience for students. After a discussion of the roots of PBL in medical education, the applicability of this approach in information science education is illustrated with a description of a graduate course in electronic commerce. A collaboration technology, the "virtual economy," that has been developed to support PBL is also described in the context of the course. The paper concludes with a discussion of the benefits of PBL in the training of information professionals resulting from the powerful integration of this pedagogical approach and technology.