Retrieval efficiency of select search engines vis-à-vis diverse open courseware formats
| Pages | 457-470 |
| Date | 06 June 2016 |
| Published date | 06 June 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-08-2014-0132 |
| Author | Zahid Ashraf Wani,Adil Ahmad Sofi |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
Retrieval efciency of select
search engines vis-a
`-vis diverse
open courseware formats
Zahid Ashraf Wani
Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kashmir,
Srinagar, India, and
Adil Ahmad So
North Campus Library, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to gauge the visibility of open content available in different formats of
select open courseware (OCW) repositories through prominent search engines.
Design/methodology/approach – Open content in three formats (pdf, audio and video) from four
OCW repositories listed in the OCW consortium under the science and technology subject heading were
searched through seven select search engines.
Findings – None of the selected OCW repositories are fully visible on the selected search engines.
Visibility of OCW content varied from one search engine to the other and was affected by the
format in which it is available. Google is the best search engine for retrieving OCW content,
whereas OCWnder – a specialized search engine for retrieving OCW – has performed dismally.
Research limitations/implications – The study demonstrates the need for enhancing the visibility
of open content through using search engine optimization techniques.
Originality/value – The study intends to supply ndings that could be used by stakeholders to
improve the visibility of OCW repositories. It is an attempt to draw a comparison between search
engines for their ability to index different formats of OCW in the selected repositories. Findings can be
used by information professionals to brush their information hunting skills.
Keywords Search engines, Visibility, Open learning, Open courseware
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Information communication technology (ICT) has transformed the eld of education.
The emergence of new technologies has reduced many barriers to provide education to
those who were previously deprived of it. ICT is the bedrock of modern open and
distance education, and supports the completion of objectives, such as the following
(Bates, 1997, as cited in Shirley, 2001):
• to improve the quality of learning;
• to improve access to education and training;
• to reduce the cost of education; and
• to improve the cost effectiveness of education.
The Internet and the World Wide Web have made education more exible. A person can
now learn anytime they have time. They can listen to or speak to professors who are
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Diverse open
courseware
formats
457
Received 15 August 2014
Revised 4 January 2015
12 March 2015
7 May 2015
Accepted 10 June 2015
TheElectronic Library
Vol.34 No. 3, 2016
pp.457-470
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/EL-08-2014-0132
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