Inquiry into Digital Teaching Collections

Laura J. French,
Interim Special Collections Librarian Introduction:
Inquiry into Digital Teaching Collections assesses the current use of digital resources in instruction and measures interest in expanded Digital Collections functions by University of Maryland faculty. In proposing Digital Teaching Collections, the University Libraries seek to increase awareness and use of Special Collections holdings and Digital Collections contents.

Findings:
Selected survey responses 1. Survey Responses by Department Departments
African American Studies American Studies Art History Classics English Government Historic Preservation / Architecture History Interdisciplinary Jewish Studies Journalism SLLC Womens Studies

Total
1 5 3 5 12 2 2 6 5 1 6 4 3

Methodology:
A literature review of: Best practices in digital pedagogy Current Humanities and Social Science faculty use of digital collections for instructional purposes, Electronic instruction interface design A survey of six questions was sent to 246 University of Maryland Humanities and Social Science faculty members whose teaching responsibilities align to collections within University Libraries Special Collections. Fifty-five faculty members responded for a return rate of 22%.
The literature review and survey are available at: laurajfrench.com/p/research.html.

2. Types of Digital Repositories UMD Faculty Currently Use Digital Repositories

Digital Collections Digital Libraries Historical Databases Digital Humanities Projects Blank (None?)

Total
21 14 13 12 23

3. UMD Facultys Use of UMD Digital Collections for Instructional Purpose UMD Digital Collections
Non-use of UMD DC Use of UMD DC Blank

Total
35 19 1

4. UMD Facultys Reasons for Not Using UMD Digital Collections For Instructional Purposes Non-Users Reasons
Wasn't Aware Irrelevant Wasn't Aware + Irrelevant Prefer Other

Total
18 16 4 0

5. UMD Facultys Other Reasons for Not Using UMD Digital Collections For Instructional Purposes
I havent thought about it (Classics Instructor) I havent gotten around to it, but hope to do so in the future (History Instructor) I dont know much about [UMD Digital Collections] (Journalism Instructor)

6. UMD Facultys Digital Teaching Collection Selection Criteria

Selection Factors
UMD Subscription Free on Web Depth Breadth Personal Collections Blank Interactive Collections OTHER 2.0 Collections

Total
41 33 24 19 15 10 9 7 5

Conclusions:
More than half of all faculty members say they use digital collections for instructional purposes. Most, however, do not use the University Libraries Digital Collections because they are unaware that the University Libraries Digital Collections. Instructors choose digital collections for instructional purposes based on ease of use for students and applicability of content to course topic.

7. UMD Facultys Digital Teaching Collection Other Selection Criteria

Increasingly the ability to analyze, manipulate, and visualize large datasets will be an important variable/consideration in what digital collections I use for teaching and research. (English Instructor) The accessibility and ease of use for undergraduates who are non-experts, quality of search function, quality and transparency of curation and editing, pedagogical value in generating interpretive debate and engaging students, and good Zotero integration for students. (Interdisciplinary Instructor)

Additional survey responses available at: laurajfrench.com/p/research.html

Further Information:
laurajfrench.com/p/research.html LJFrench@umd.edu OR LauraJanelFrench@gmail.com @LJ_French