Publishing as pedagogy: the Student Open Access Research (SOAR) - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Publishing as pedagogy: the Student Open Access Research (SOAR) project

Simon Bains

CHERIL Conference 2015

Some background…

Finch, RCUK, HEFCE

Theo Andrew, University of Edinbirgh, via SlideShare http://www.slideshare.net/Earthowned/igmm-21-jan-2014

International context

‘The Inside Out Library’

Some background…

University of Liverpool Library and Press

Andrew Barker and Anthony Cond, University of Liverpool and Liverpool University Press

Manchester University Press (MUP) Strategic Review

“The skills of professional library staff combined with the tools that add value to digital content mean that libraries have the potential to play a leading role in advancing new models of scholarly communication. This trend, supported by recent UML strategy, suggests there needs to be appropriate collaboration between MUP and UML.”

University Strategy

Manchester 2020

Goal 2: Outstanding learning and student experience

We aim to:

• Promote research-informed teaching by

embedding research and associated skills in teaching

• Provide a learning environment which allows

students to develop and use core research skills

• Enable students to have an impact beyond their

academic study

SOAR Aims Respond to evidence of demand for student journals Consider journal services targeting taught students Explore the value of publishing as research training Explore the value of publishing in terms of employability Offer a tangible service in the context of learning through research

SOAR work packages

• MMS student journal functionality

and outputs

Enhance

• Student experience of MMS

journal

Evaluate

• Potential for sharing academic

skills logs

Explore

• Demand for student journals

across the University

Research

• Business model and toolkit to

support sustainability and take-up

Develop

Methodology

• Engagement with students and academics

– seminars – interviews – testing

• Draft toolkit to support training
• Case studies for benchmarking
• Usability study of publishing platforms

SOAR Workshop June 2015

SOAR Workshop June 2015

38 students, including:

• 9 Postgraduate Taught
• 3 Postgraduate Research
• 3 Undergraduate
• 8 Humanities
• 6 Engineering and Physical Sciences

SOAR Workshop June 2015

Key learning points:

• Students value access to those with experience of setting up

student journals

• Students perceive benefits in working with peers as part of a

review process

• Involvement may allow development of valuable skills for the

future

Case Study 1: University of Edinburgh

Case Study 1: University of Edinburgh Issues identified:

Library role must evolve Succession planning More formalisation required Competing student priorities Moving deadlines

Case Study 1: University of Edinburgh

Case Study 2: Purdue University The press in the library offers the opportunity for students to not only research a real-world topic but also publish about it That is a rich way to incentivize student engagement, combines high impact learning practices and offers a tangible outcome from the experience to use in graduate school and job interviews By working together to leverage publishing as pedagogy, presses and libraries may also help educate the next generation of scholars in more progressive attitudes to scholarly communication

Case Study 2: Purdue University

Case Study 2: Purdue University

JPUR Objectives:

Capture research authors young to make aware of and protective of their rights Promote an understanding of proper citation Inculcate awareness of plagiarism Inform awareness of agreements and contracts

Case Study 2: Purdue University Learning points:

• Emphasise realism of the publishing experience
• Broad remit caused concerns but valuable
• Complementary publishing initiative
• Timing is crucial

Usage data from Purdue Top 3 articles

“Do wind turbines affect weather conditions?”

2011

“Is local produce safer?”

2012 “Solving the mystery of the Atacama Nitrate Deposits” 2012

5,466 downloads 3,092 downloads 1,700 downloads

Case Study 3: University of Huddersfield

Case Study 3: University of Huddersfield Learning points:

• Student involvement limited to authorship
• Handholding and simplification required
• Difficult transition from dissertation to journal article
• Poor discoverability

Case Study 4: UCL

Case Study 4: UCL

Case Study 4: UCL

Case Study 4: UCL Learning points:

• Considerable input required
• Set clear objectives
• Be realistic about resource
• Connect with wider university initiatives

Lessons learned from case studies

• Time: timing, and time required
• Academic commitment to inform scope and ensure

succession planning

• Significant support requirement
• Demonstrate strategic relevance

Publishing platforms Usability testing

Functionality and usability

• Open Journal System (OJS)
• Digital Commons

Publishing platforms

Stephen Dew, UNCG Libraries via http://slideplayer.com/slide/6153967/

Publishing platforms

Digital Commons

• Rated by Purdue:
• Templated system
• User-friendly
• Scalable
• Strong statistics gathering facility
• Rated by UoM students:
• Better for reviewers
• More intuitive
• Easier to use
• Concern about learning new system

Publishing platforms

Publishing platforms Key findings:

• Digital Commons offers significant training and

support

• Customisation universal
• Metrics – varied level and access
• Commercial v. Open Source

The Manchester Medical School Journal

Some background…

• Changes to PEP
• Medical School aims of professional development
• Library seeking to partner on publishing
• Alternative way to gain points
• Student enthusiasm

The Manchester Medical School Journal

PRISM (Peer Review Integrated Student Model)

The Manchester Medical School Journal

Challenges

• Time management
• Securing funding
• Obtaining top-level buy in
• Applicability of submissions
• Keeping journal going

Engagement with other students

• Focus group

– 8 students – Wide range of disciplines – 6 UG, 2 PGT

• Interviews

– 3 students from Learning through Research initiative – PGT Life Sciences – 3rd year UG Linguistics – 3rd year UG Geochemistry

Discoveries

• Unanimous interest in writing articles, majority interested in

reviewing and editing

• Little interest in technical journal management
• Concern about value vs publishing in an established journal
• Recognition these were important skills for a research career
• Enthusiasm for interdisciplinary approach to attract more

students, encourage networking and broaden horizons

• Time commitment – cautious, and depended on incentives e.g.

academic career, employability, payment (!).

• “I’d like to have published something in this and then be able to

take it to interviews, to wow employers.” [Purdue student journal]

Engagement with academics

• Supportive of the concept, but concerned about:

– Quality and ability to reach the standard – Training requirement – Time commitment

• Why not target an established journal if good

enough?

The toolkit

The (possible) website

The next phase: PuRLS

• A student publishing course, comprising modular online and face to

face training and including associated software

• Journal publishing software on which to practice new skills
• A pilot blog for publishing learning reflections and other material

related to student learning.

• An internship to provide two students with the opportunity to learn by

doing, working with University Press and Library.

Conclusions and Recommendations

• Scope and appetite
• Multidisciplinary, with a focus on Social Sciences and Humanities
• Mix of formats
• Robust editorial and managerial governance
• Students should be encouraged to manage the publishing processes, with

expert support

• Comprehensive training required
• Existing publishing platform should be kept under review
• Academic support is crucial. Explore academic views on initiative

Thank you.

Simon Bains

CHERIL Conference 2015