EIRG is part of the Library and Information Management Research Group in the Department of Information Studies at the University of Sheffield. At present comprising eight academic and research staff, EIRG's work focuses on exploring the interface between learning, information and technology, and has a strong interdisciplinary flavour. We draw on theoretical perspectives from information science, information systems, education, psychology and instructional design, and have specialist expertise in both quantitative and qualitative social research methods, and evaluation methodology. The three main aims of our work are to:

• develop and evaluate theories, concepts, and models of relevance to the application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to learning and development;
• contribute to the development of research methodologies and techniques of relevance to both academic and practitioner research in EI;
• support the development of evidence-based policy and practice in contexts that include formal education (schools, higher education); community networking; and a range of public and private sector organisations.

We are committed to a critical stance on the role of ICTs in learning and development, and our interests encompass both human and technical aspects of EI. Active projects include research in the following areas:

• the role of information services and specialists in networked learner support;
• information literacy, learning and community in the networked environment;
• the design and development of learning environments;
• user studies, e.g., on-line searching behaviour and individual differences;
• computer-based collaborative group-work and learning;
• the management of e-learning programmes and initiatives;
• the development of evaluation methodologies, including action research.

Our research will be of interest to stakeholders in the use of ICTs in diverse settings and roles - including educational practitioners and policy-makers, information managers and librarians, instructional designers and educational information systems developers - as well as to other researchers in relevant areas.

Members of EIRG are also active in ShIRP (Sheffield Informatics Research Partnership), a regional research partnership in the field of informatics that brings together academics, practitioners and providers from a variety of disciplines.

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