Academic Library Collaborative Learning Support

through Interactive Technology

Grant Funding Proposal
Submitted by Shelly Richardson
May, 2015

Needs Assessment

Weigel Library is a venue for group study and collaborative learning for students,
faculty and staff. Those who use this small branch of K-State Libraries are primarily
members of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design. In order to facilitate this
learning environment in an academic library setting, library patrons need collaborative
tools.
When students and faculty gather to study and share project plans in the current
branch library setting, the creating and sharing of visual materials is accomplished by
displaying drawings on the flat surface of a study table, through verbally describing
design concepts or by gathering around individual computers to electronically display
their creative ideas.
Over the next two years, the building will undergo extensive renovations, making
the availability of group study and collaborative spaces scarce. Incorporating innovative,
collaborative tools in the branch will provide a valuable asset to our service population
during this time of transition. These collaborative tools will also serve as a technological
experiment, providing administration with user feedback about implementing similar
tools in the new branch library.
The funding sought through this grant will provide an Interactive White Board
(IWB) for Weigel Library. An example that demonstrates the instructional use of such a
tool can be seen in this video by Samsung: http://youtu.be/rBohGcWBgiM Also referred
to as interactive touch-screen display, the Samsung website describes the IWB as
having three main components: a large format display (similar to a flat screen tv), a
touchscreen overlay for said display, and the Magic IWB software package. Unlike

SMARTtvs or similar products, there is no need for a projector to operate this

interactive device.
Incorporating IWB technology in the study areas of this branch library will fulfill
the following instructional needs:
1.

Save money: Students will have the ability to remotely connect to the IWB, sharing

what otherwise might need to be printed with their classmates and professor. Changes
to the design can be made and iterations saved digitally. Administration will see a
decrease in operational costs. According to the Samsung website, when compared to a
projector-based interactive system maintenance needs, the IWB saves an average of
30% during the first four years of ownership.
2.

Development of professional-level skills: IWB screens and acquiring the skills to

present successfully with them, will give students experience in an environment they
may encounter with future employers. These skills will increase the students
marketability, making them valuable prospective employees in their field of study.
3.

Interactivity: Library patrons will participate in real time learning. This technology

will transform group/class study through virtual screen sharing software and the handson development of ideas shared on the large display. They will have enhanced
designing abilities through interactive drawing tools and the integration of digital media.
4.

Collaboration: Library patrons will be able to produce new material and illustrate

iterations of their designs with their class or study group. Groups will be able to engage
one another in their learning processes, creating collaborative learning communities.
5.

Improved pedagogy: Instructors, presenters and group leaders using the IWB will

experience improved methods of instruction/information sharing. Through improved

content availability, options like video and image capture, the sharing or storing of
presentations and ability to mark up files and save them as a copies, will allow the
creative process to flow and function more quickly and smoothly. This will also improve
course access for students with learning, physical or cognitive issues.

Goals and Objectives

Grant funding for this project will address the goal of providing academic library
patrons an effective group-learning environment through improved collaborative study
methods facilitated by the incorporation of an Interactive White Board (IWB).
The objectives for this project are based on two of the instructional needs
identified in the Needs Assessment: Interactivity and Collaboration. These needs are
being viewed through the lens of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design
(College of APDesign) Mission statement, one aspect of which asserts the importance
of A creative, stimulating environment that inspires shared learning and creative
growth. In providing collaborative study tools, we will be facilitating both shared
learning and creative growth.

Objective 1- Shared Learning

Over the next year, 50% of library patrons using the IWB for group study collaboration
will participate in shared learning through use of screen sharing, interactive drawing
tools, and/or digital media integration. These actions will increase the effectiveness of
the collaborative learning environment.

Objective 2- Creative Growth

Over the next year, 50% of library patrons using the IWB for group study collaboration
will participate in creative growth by producing new creative works, saving mark up
files of creative work iterations, and/or using video or image capture to record creative
sessions for later use. These actions will increase the effectiveness of the collaborative
learning environment.
Projected purchase and integration of IWB into library setting will be prior to the
start of the spring semester of 2016. At the time of purchase and installation, initial
training and demonstration on the usage of the IWB will be provided by the vendor in a
one-off session, available to all staff, student employees and library patrons. Continued
demonstration and training will be based on this vendor instructional session, to be
conducted by library staff and student assistants and will be offered on an as-needed
basis to any interested parties. Library staff and student assistants will be responsible
for assisting patrons in using the IWB and for maintaining statistics on its use.
Adoption of the IWB for study group use may be slow and instruction by library
staff and student assistants may be necessary. The physical space of the library is
open, allowing staff to observe study group habits and intercede or offer suggestions to
patrons when collaborative tools may be useful.
This open adoption process allows for two methods of measuring success of
project objectives. Qualitative methods may be employed through observation of IWB
use and a standardized form of recording these observations could be developed. For
example, an instance of recorded observation would record the date, number in the
study group, IWB tools they used for their collaboration and whether there were any

difficulties in using the tools successfully.

The second assessment method employed for measuring project objective
success would be a pre/post survey of library patrons, producing quantitative results.
This would be an informal paper and online survey, distributed in a manner that would
be non-invasive to the library patron experience. The patron would voluntarily provide
feedback on their collaborative study experience, using wording specific to the Shared
Learning and Creative Growth objectives. These objective based questions could be
measured for effectiveness by using a Likert scale. The feedback gained from these
patron assessments could inform the future technology purchases planned for the new
building opening in 2017.

Budget
Grant funds are requested for the interactive white board (IWB), operating software, and
related equipment. The remaining budget consists of In-kind Costs of staff time for
installation, maintenance, promotion, training and evaluation.

Grant Costs

Total

65 Interactive White Board (IWB)

$2,600

IWB software

$600

Internet modem/router

$120

Stand/Cart mount for IWB

$420
$3740

In-kind Costs

Library Staff Time

Staff and student assistant training

Approx. 80 hrs.

IRB training and application

Advertising and Marketing (in-house)
Program evaluation (library staff collaboration)

$0

Information Technology Staff Time

IWB Installation and support

$0
Total Costs

$3,740

Program Evaluation
The objectives for this program are specific and measurable. The purpose of the
evaluation is to measure the program impact and effectiveness, based on the program
objectives.
The funding sought through this grant will provide an Interactive White Board
(IWB) for Weigel Library. Also referred to as interactive touch-screen display, the
manufacturers website describes the IWB as having three main components: a large
format display (similar to a flat screen tv), a touchscreen overlay for said display, and
the Magic IWB software package. The IWB will facilitate collaborative study and
learning for library patrons.

Objective 1- Shared Learning

Over the next year, 50% of library patrons using the IWB for group study collaboration
will participate in shared learning through use of screen sharing, interactive drawing
tools, and/or digital media integration. These actions will increase the effectiveness of
the collaborative learning environment.

Objective 2- Creative Growth

Over the next year, 50% of library patrons using the IWB for group study collaboration
will participate in creative growth by producing new creative works, saving mark up
files of creative work iterations, and/or using video or image capture to record creative
sessions for later use. These actions will increase the effectiveness of the collaborative
learning environment.

Evaluation Methods
Formative Evaluation
The library space for this proposal is an open room, allowing staff to observe IWB
activity and use. Using a spreadsheet, the library staff will record statistics on the use of
the IWB through observation. Staff will also train interested patrons on the use of the
IWB and through these staff/patron interactions, encourage user feedback via survey
(online or hard copy).
The observational statistics and feedback survey results will be analyzed at the
end of each semester for a full calendar year. The results of the formative evaluation will
reveal the degree of the success and/or effectiveness of the program objectives. Based
on the end of semester evaluation compilations, in-program changes may be
implemented to improve overall program success. For example, formative data may
reveal that more formal IWB training for library patrons may be necessary for objective
effectiveness and program success. A library administrator who specializes in
assessment will assist with evaluation processes and conclusions.

Summative Evaluation
At the conclusion of a full calendar year of IWB implementation, a summative
evaluation of program objectives will be conducted. This will also use the datasets of
staff observations of IWB use and patron feedback surveys measuring the effectiveness
of the program objectives. In particular, these datasets will show the growth and impact
over the full term of the program, revealing both areas of program strength and
development need. The summative evaluation will demonstrate a broad scope of the
program, statistically supporting or discounting the usefulness of IWB use in contributing
to the success of library patrons collaborative learning environment.

References
College of Architecture, Planning and Design: Mission and Vision. (2013, October 9).
Retrieved April 12, 2015, from http://apdesign.k-state.edu/about/mission.html

Doorley, S., & Witthoft, S. (2012). Make space: How to set the stage for creative
collaboration. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.

Karsh, E., & Fox, A. (2014). The only grant-writing book you'll ever need (Fourth ed.).
New York: Basic Books.

McElrath, T., & Carlson, M. (2013). Winning grants step by step: The complete
workbook for planning, developing, and writing successful proposals (Fourth ed.).
San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.

Samsung. (n.d.). MagicIWB - SMART Signage Solutions - SAMSUNG DISPLAY.

Retrieved March 17, 2015, from
http://displaysolutions.samsung.com/solutions/lfdSolutions/magicIwb?method=list

Samsung Magic IWB 3.0 Demo. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from
http://youtu.be/rBohGcWBgiM