Wonkhe @ Home: A micro-commission on the future of learning resources

The Covid-19 pandemic is changing how students access learning resources. Students learning remotely have had to be able to link to key resources from within their virtual learning environment. The physical university library will certainly make a triumphant comeback post-pandemic – but the more accessible and flexible e-resources and textbooks will play a much greater role in the next normal than they did before. This also offers the possibility of rapidly increasing knowledge and understanding of students’ needs and behaviours when it comes to engaging with learning resources.

The acceleration of what was previously a gradual shift towards a more hybrid model of learning resource provision has created major tensions in the academic e-books market. Libraries argue that publishers are setting prices too high, academics are concerned that they cannot use the best materials to support learning, students complain they cannot access the resources they need at the price they are able to pay, and publishers worry that their business models are not fit for purpose.

We don’t know exactly what the future should look like, but we know things are changing more rapidly than anyone had anticipated. This Wonkhe @ Home event, in partnership with Kortext, will be a “micro-commission” on learning resources in which our expert commissioners, supported by you, the attendees, will hear the evidence on the changing needs of students, academics and university libraries, the available evidence of student engagement with learning resources, and where the gaps are, and tackle the thorniest of questions – who should pay for learning resources?

Agenda

09.30 Meet the commissioners

09.50 How is learning resource usage changing in the disciplines and in pedagogy?

10.40 Break

11.00 What do we know about student engagement with learning resources – and what don’t we know?

11.45 Who should pay for learning resources? Exploring the e-book market from all sides.

12.30 Initial reflections from commissioners

12.45 Close