In 1996, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released a report about ways to improve undergraduate science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (SME&T) education. One recommendation called for establishing a digital library, similar to those that are being constructed for many research communities, that would make available electronically a wide variety of materials for improving teaching and learning of SME&T.
The NSF asked the National Research Council to examine the feasibility of and issues associated with establishing such a digital national library. In response, an NRC steering committee commissioned a series of papers and convened a workshop to consider these issues. This resulting book delineates the issues that should be considered and provides recommendations to resolve them prior to committing funds.
Table of Contents
Front Matter Executive Summary Introduction Summary of the Workshop Synthesis and Conclusions Steering Committee Recommendations Literature Cited Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1(14) Issues Considered 2(1) Curricular, Pedagogical, and User Issues 2(1) Logistic and Technology Issues 2(1) Economic and Legal Issues 3(1) Overview of Conclusions 3(6) Users and Needs 3(1) Content 4(3) Economic and Legal Issues 7(2) Steering Committee Recommendations 9(6) INTRODUCTION 15(6) Background 15(2) Process 17(1) Project Foci 18(1) Curricular, Pedagogical, and User Issues 18(1) Logistic and Technology Issues 19(1) Economic and Legal Issues 19(1) Organization of the Project 19(1) Organization of Commissioned Papers and Workshop Discussions 19(1) Organization of the Report 19(2) SUMMARY OF THE WORKSHOP 21(26) Introductory Remarks 21(13) Plenary Sessions, Day 1 21(6) General Discussion, Day 1 27(6) Straw Poll and Results 33(1) Reports from Break-out Sessions, Day 1 34(5) Curricular, Pedagogical, and User Issues 34(2) Logistics and Technology Issues 36(1) Economic and Legal Issues 37(2) Introductory Remarks and Discussion, Day 2 39(2) General Discussion 40(1) Reports from Break-out Sessions, Day 2 41(6) Economic and Legal Issues 41(1) Logistic and Technology Issues 42(1) User and Pedagogical Issues, Group 1 43(1) User and Pedagogical Issues, Group 2 43(4) SYNTHESIS AND CONCLUSIONS 47(6) Key Observations 47(1) Critical Issues 47(3) Implementation: Economic, Legal, and Technology Issues 50(3) Economic Issues 50(1) Legal Issues 51(1) Technology Issues 52(1) STEERING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS 53(4) LITERATURE CITED 57(2) APPENDIX A: Commissioned Papers 59(50) A National Library for Undergraduate Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Education: A Learning Laboratory 59(3) Prudence S. Adler Mary M. Case The Digital Library as Road and Load: Partnerships in Carrier and Content for a National Library for Undergraduate Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Education 62(5) Harold Billings A National Library for Undergraduate Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Education: Needs, Options, and Feasibility (Technical Considerations) 67(6) William Y. Arms A Digital Library of Undergraduate SME Education Materials: The Need and Technical Issues 73(3) Su-Shing Chen Digital National Library for Undergraduate Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education: Comments and Another Option 76(2) Stephen C. Ehrmann Digital Libraries for Educational Reform: Instantiation, Ignorance, and Information 78(6) John R. Jungck Issues in Developing a National Digital Library for Undergraduate Math, Science, and Engineering Education 84(6) James H. Keller Some Technical and Economic Issues in the Design of a National Library for Undergraduate Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Education 90(4) Clifford Lynch Basic Issues Regarding the Establishment of a National SME&T Digital Library 94(7) Francis Miksa The Case for Creating a Systematic Indexing System for the National SME&T Digital Library 101(8) Francis Miksa Joan Mitchell Diane Vizine-Goetz APPENDIX B: Workshop Agenda 109(2) APPENDIX C: List of Workshop Participants and NSF Observers 111(2) APPENDIX D: Biographical Sketches of Steering Committee and Workshop Participants 113
Steering Committee for Developing a Digital National Library for Undergraduate Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Education, National Research Council
