Library grant sees students swap podiums for video cameras

The grants were awarded to 11 University projects which explored ways to create and exchange the University’s scholarly information by innovative methods.

Veterinary science lecturer Dr Liz Tudor used her grant to buy video cameras, a streaming web server and staff support to run a new assessment item for her students.

Her students made videos which helped people with little or no veterinary knowledge to understand complex, scientific topics.

The videos were posted on a secure website and students were invited to assess their classmates’ work.

The program was designed to help student participants improve their communication skills and establish a digital learning resource for future students.

Dr Tudor said the program was worth all the effort and it delivered some surprise outcomes.

“By having the videos online, students and teaching staff were able to interact in new ways," she said.

"We helped build a learning community. Students had the confidence to approach others they hadn’t formally met before and say ‘Hey, I liked your video’.

"It was wonderful to see, especially between groups of students who didn’t typically mix.”

Exhibits from veterinary science and other areas in the University will be on display at the Scholarly Information Innovation Showcase, in the Woodward Conference Centre, 4.15 - 5.30pm on Tuesday 16 November.

For more information: http://library.unimelb.edu.au/about_us/innovation_grants.