Building a Better M.I.C.E. Trap:Using Virtual Focus Groups to Assess Subject Guides for Distance Education Students

摘要

Subject guides are often used as an alternative to in-personlibrary instruction for distance education students. However, when studentsare not on-campus, it can be difficult to assess if they are getting all ofthe relevant information they need. In an organization that serves studentslocated across the United States and even outside of the country, a methodwas needed to assess the effectiveness of library information provided todistance learners on specific topics. The William F. Harrah College of HotelAdministration (Hotel College) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas(UNLV), offers a number of on-campus and distance education courses,including classes taught at a satellite campus in Singapore. With diversecourse offerings via distance education, the conventions and exhibitionssubject area was chosen as a case study. Often referred to as M.I.C.E., thestudy of meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions in a hospitalitycontext is a major subdiscipline within the Hotel College. After researchingdifferent approaches to studying the effectiveness of subject guides, a virtualfocus group was chosen to gather feedback from students. This paper will demonstrate how focus groups can be created and how the informationgathered can be used to increase effectiveness of subject guides. Readerswill discover effective techniques and pitfalls for using virtual focus groupsin conjunction with subject guides assessment.