Student use of digital learning materials: Implications for the NSDL

Our project will investigate how undergraduate students in STEM disciplines use digital learning materials, what impact this use has on their learning, and what the implications might be for NSDL collections. We describe the mixed-methods approach we will be using to study the topic, combining a number of discipline-specific focus groups at a wide range of institutions with a large sample-size survey of undergraduate STEM students from numerous colleges and universities around the country.  The research results will not only help illustrate the value of NSDL collections but will provide insight as to how collections and services can be improved.