How Springer Nature References support distance learning

The transition to distance learning has been accelerated by then pandemic and it looks like it is here to stay. Many libraries have or are in the process of adapting their services to a hybrid solution including use of on campus facilities as well as remote learning. In many ways, distance learning is encouraging students to show self-initiative through locating and accessing learning materials themselves. In our interview below, Anil Chandy, Vice President at the Springer Nature leadership team for books explains how Springer Nature References can support students and researchers when searching for research literature.

The global pandemic has sped up the transition to blended learning, how do Springer Nature References support distance learning and researchers who are working remotely?

This is a fast evolving area but at a minimum we know the following: the pandemic is disrupting what we used to perceive as traditional learning and moving students (and those who seek information resources) to an emphasis on self-learning (as lecture notes can address due to various limitations including time and method of delivery, only the key points). But the existence of cogent, DRM-free, accessible knowledge resources can help facilitate bridging the learning gaps that can occur.

Most often online and distance learners also find it difficult to absorb all information during online courses and they need focused, readily discoverable, and citable (even for a term paper) knowledge materials to efficiently manage their learning schedules.  

Springer Nature References are formatted in a way to adjust these issues:          

  

• Chapter title and content are search engine optimized and users can discover them readily on different key search engines without complicated search parameters

• Every entry provides self-contained and authoritative information and users can save their time in looking for multiple trusted resources

Researchers, in addition to those basic needs of distance learning participants, may require more in-depth, specialized and comprehensive information of their research fields. They can benefit in the following ways:

• For early career researchers as well as advanced students, each Reference work provides the most updated scientific information from basic theories to advanced applications of the topic, helping them to build up a solid foundation in their research fields

• For experienced researchers, our titles can offer innovative ideas to apply their research outputs in different areas or solve their daily research challenges.

• Every single piece of reference content is a collaborative effort written by an internationally acknowledge expert that is vetted by peer editors, and presented in a reference work (and in a Reference Module) that supports interdisciplinary learning but also underlying the state of current knowledge.

Finding solutions to the world’s toughest challenges is a current focus for researchers and universities, how do Springer Nature References support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)?

Springer Nature References always publish content in high demand and fast developing research areas and there several titles focused on SDGs in our portfolio:

• At this time there exist over 170 published titles (and this number is growing through our Living Edition content) related to SDGs. These titles are distributed across our 5 dedicated Reference Modules, with the most SDGs-related titles in Humanities and Social Sciences module covering 8 SDGs, including Health, Quality Education, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Decent Work and Economic Growth.

• The Physical and Materials Science Reference Module contains over 40 titles covering 8 SDGs, especially Affordable and Clean Energy and Climate Action/ Climatology.

• We have published a dedicated Series “Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals”, which consists of 17 SDG-focused volumes and aims to address each SDG in a focused way.  There are already more than 1,000 global scholars contributing to a wide array of topics with direct relevance.

If you are interested in further information about Springer Nature References, explore References on the Springer Nature Link platform and find out how to licence Reference Modules.