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Archive for September, 2015

ReadingLists@UCL summer sessions extended

By Sandra Bamborough, on 21 September 2015

As many of you will be aware online reading lists are a fantastic way to present course materials to your students in order to better, and more fully, engage them.  Feedback from students has been very positive!

There are benefits for you, too:

  • Update readings and publish immediately
  • Flexible layout makes them suitable for a few essential readings, or fuller lists.
  • Ideal for a variety of resources, such as film or TV clips (e.g. using YouTube or Box of Broadcasts), online training tutorials with Lynda.com, professional body webpages, image database resources etc.

Ahead of session start, TLSS* are happy to help by setting up reading lists for new courses. You can then take ownership and share editing rights with your colleagues. We will also show new colleagues how to use these lists.  For those of you who may like a quick reminder, would like some tips, or have questions, we are also continuing our summer refresher sessions.

We have been holding drop-in sessions in the TLSS office every Wednesday afternoon, 2.30-4.30 p.m, and will continue throughout October.  Visit us in UCL Senate House, 3rd floor, room 317 in the staff area (ask at the UCL reception desk). See our  poster for more details.

In addition we welcome the opportunity to visit departments for ‘Getting started’ sessions or one to one trouble-shooting; email us for further information, set up a reading list, or to book a visit!

 

* TLSS: the Teaching & Learning Support Section, part of UCL Library Services.

Goodbye paper, hello electronic: one academic’s story

By Sandra Bamborough, on 17 September 2015

One member of UCL teaching staff used to hand out paper versions of his reading list for use in class, however he has now changed his practice to use ReadingLists@UCL instead.

During face-to-face teaching, students now add their notes about each reading directly into the online reading list, using their ipads or laptops. Notes against each reading are private to each student and accessible only by them. They can also use the ‘Have you read this?’ buttons on ReadingLists@UCL to organise their reading intentions.

If a printed version of a reading list is still useful you, or they, can export the online reading list to a printable PDF:

  • to print the reading list in its existing layout, select ‘Export’ then ‘Export to PDF’
  • to print a list of the readings in alphabetical order, use the ‘View bibliography’ button click ‘Export’ then ‘Export to PDF’
  • or to view this list in different citation styles: ‘View bibliography’ and select a citation style from the drop-down box ‘Harvard’. If a key citation style is missing, use the ‘Feedback’ button (top toolbar) to request another.

The QR code in the top right hand corner of each printed reading list enables students to return directly to the online version, with all the advantages that brings.

Do let us know about any other exciting ideas you may have, or tell us about innovative ways in which you use your online reading lists. Students, please use the Feedback button on your reading lists to let us know your thoughts!

 

Add a digitised reading

By Hazel M Ingrey, on 16 September 2015

“How do I add a digitised reading to my online reading list?” is one of our most frequently asked questions.

Many core texts you are able to add yourself, where UCL already subscribes to the full text. Bookmark these types of resources into your reading list in the usual way:

If there is a key reading that you would like to make available, such as a chapter of a book with no existing online version, then the TLSS can help.  The TLSS manages UCL’s CLA licence which enables us to digitise readings within certain limits.  Send us a photocopy or pdf of the extract with a cover sheet.  We will:

  • Confirm receipt and give you an estimated timescale
  • Copyright check the reading and fulfil the technical and reporting requirements of the licence
  • Digitise and upload the reading. Highlight to students that the reading is digitised using the ‘student note’.
  • Email to notify you when the reading is available on the online reading list.

Using this route will ensure your readings are copyright compliant and accessible to students alongside all their other core readings.  Find more information on our course readings webpages.

For a reminder on how to get started with your online reading list, see the Quick Guide, look at our FAQs or call in to a Wednesday afternoon drop-in session.