New module codes

In June we gave an outline of how TLS planned to manage this change to the new module codes.  Since then, the reading lists have rolled forward and TLS have started updating the module codes, using information from the Academic Model Project team. You don’t need to let us know which modules you would like updating: we are doing all online reading lists.  If any lists don’t have a new code, we will get in touch with departments to ask if they would like them left or archived

New Moodle

Moodle has been upgraded this summer and the ‘New Moodle‘ is already available, with the updated 2018-19 module codes.  For integrating with reading lists, New Moodle works in the same way as Legacy Moodle: you just need to switch on the ‘Library Resources’ block to make a link to the reading list. There is a more detailed integration which we will update this autumn, to ensure better interaction between Moodle and reading lists: ISD staff need to complete their prioirty Moodle migration work before doing this.  ‘Legacy Moodle’ is also still available for reference and also Late Summer Assessments.

Two possible problems:

1. Students undertaking re-sit exams may wish to re-visit their former reading lists, if they haven’t saved a version.  Legacy Moodle won’t link to the 2017-18 reading list as these are now archived.  Students can search all current ReadingLits@UCL lists by module name; or if the list has been updated already, we can retrieve the previous version from the archive.
2. The Library Resources block also contains a link to past exam papers.  All exam papers are found under their old codes so this link will not work!  Students can search Exam Papers online by module title.  If you wish to hide the broken link for this year, use the settings of the ‘Library Resources’ block to configure the block.

What you can do now:

• If you have saved URL links of 2017-18 reading lists, either for your own reference or in student handbooks, please update them before term starts
• Review the contents of your reading list: edit it to update notes, dates and readings, then publish to make it available to students.
• Check your Moodle module has a ‘Library Resources’ block, and the link to the reading lists works
• If you would like editing access to a reading list, get in touch so we can enable that for you.

For help with editing and updating Moodle, head to New Moodle and select the ‘Staff Help’ tab for guidance, or use the ‘Contact Moodle Support’ option there.

For help with editing an online reading list, please get in touch with ReadingLists@UCL.

For sourcing new books, journals, films and more, contact your friendly subject liaison librarian!

The rollover was requested to start on Tuesday 17th July, however you will have noticed the 2017-18 lists remain on display.

The Talis team identified an issue relating to student numbers so paused the rollover: they updated us on Wednesday 18th with the news that they are testing the fix they have created and will re-start the rollover when they are confident there are no issues.  So sorry for this delay!  You can contine to edit your 2017-18 lists as usual, but please publish your changes as you work, to make sure they are saved.

New 2018-19 reading lists do not roll over and can be used as usual.

‘Perfect Gwith Barrels’ by Philip Male

In TLS we are preparing for the annual ‘rollover’ of ReadingLists@UCL. This is our final task of the academic year: the CLA report of UCL’s digitised readings was sent in June, the majority of teaching has finished, and the exam period too is largely over.

Each summer the reading lists have a new copy made for the September term, much like the Moodle snapshot.  This year the rollover is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday 17th July 2018.  From about 5pm that day:

• Reading lists for 2017-18 will have an exact copy made for 2018-19, which will publish immediately
• The old version (2017-18) will archive, which means it will disappear from public view but can be found and re-used in future years if needed
• Students will have continuous access to their reading lists: there is no down time for viewing lists
• Editing rights remain constant, so list editors are able to edit the new lists as soon as they appear
• Lists already set up as 2018-19 will be unaffected by the rollover

Please note:

• Unpublished changes will not copy forward into the new list: please publish your lists before 17th July if you wish your updates to be carried forward.
• We suggest you stop editing reading lists before 5pm on 17^th July, and continue editing when you can see it has the 2018-19 date stamp – certainly from the morning of 18^th July, if not sooner.
• TLS are aware of the new module codes being introduced and will begin updating the reading list module codes from around 19^th July.  More details in our blog post on this.
• To have old courses archived, new lists set up, or current module names amended, please email us your requests!

Do you need a refresher on how to edit and manage your lists?  Drop in to our office in Senate House on Wednesday afternoons, 2.30 – 4.30pm for a quick session.  You could walk away with a new list set up and ready to go, get guidance on how to link to non-standard resources, or find out how to embed reading lists in Moodle.

The ReadingLists@UCL webpages also have guides, FAQs and contact details.

You may have noticed that a new Explore user interface (UI) has been soft-launched and is in a development phase for user testing.

When adding new readings into an online reading list however, please continue to use the classic Explore interface.  ReadingLists@UCL can only interact with one catalogue interface, so until the new UI has been formally launched, the reading lists will continue to interact best with the classic Explore interface.

Click to enlarge

We will post an update on this blog, and on the ReadingLists@UCL homepage message, when the switch has been made to the new UI.

Do contact the TLS team if you have concerns or questions.

You found your online reading list on Moodle by spotting the link in the ‘Library Resources’ block, or when searching for your course on the ReadingLists@UCL home page.  Perhaps you read some key texts for tutorials in the first flush of enthusiasm in the autumn, however now it is revision time and you need to look over some of those readings in a hurry!

If you are short on time and need to find things quickly, here are our top three for using ReadingLists@UCL:

1. Long reading list?  Re-order the readings by importance (essential, recommended etc.) or type (journal, book…), using the ‘Grouped by section’ button.  Then scroll down, or use the ‘Table of contents’ to jump down, to the section on ‘Essential’ readings for example.
2. Convert the list to pdf to print out (Export -> Export to PDF) to highlight and scribble on; or keep your notes virtual by using the ‘Add note’ button on each reading.  These notes are private to you.
3. Log in!  Once logged in, click on your name at the top of the screen and ‘View Profile’ to see your private notes and reading intentions.

(Click to enlarge)

From speaking with students we know you find reading lists intuitive to use, however we also have a little more guidance on our webpages, just in case.  We are always very keen to hear of anything that can be improved, so please contact us with suggestions or questions!

I was reading recently about link rot, that modern nuisance when links to a resource or webpage no longer work.

It is food for thought when refreshing your online reading list for this term. Keep link rot in mind when creating links to new readings: if you have linked to webpages of an organisation that subsequently changes name, or readings on a shady website, students may find the pages no longer available the following year.

Occasionally it even happens in paid journal subscriptions: this year an Archaeology journal was taken over by a different publisher and every stable article link changed.

What can you do if you don’t have time to check through all your lists for broken links?  Navigate to the reading list and sign in; click ‘Review’ then ‘Request Review’.

This sends a notification to the TLS.  We check for broken links and create more stable links where possible; we also check all books link to the library catalogue, where relevant.  If you have added a ‘Note to the library’ requesting books be purchased, or newer / more editions for the library, we pass this on to the relevant subject librarian.

Puzzled about how to add digitised readings to your online reading lists for students? Concerned about mysterious pdfs in Moodle?  Or worried about the copyright issues in course readings?

Then worry no more as the Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) are here to help! We offer advice and help to ensure course readings are copyright compliant, using UCL’s CLA licence, and other licencing schemes such as the NLA, and ERA where appropriate. Our course readings service will check readings are legally compliant under one of these licences and add the digitised readings to your online reading list.

To find out more feel free to “drop-in” to TLS (Senate House, room 317, 3^rd floor, South Block) between 2.30-4.30 pm on Wednesdays. Contact us at: library-tlss@ucl.ac.uk. We also have webpages with information at your fingertips about the course readings service that you might find helpful.

We were recently asked by a librarian if there was any way to see which books on a reading list did not link out to the book in the library catalogue, Explore?  Librarians check through newly updated reading lists to ensure books and other resources have been purchased, where possible.  Once purchased, librarians can also update the reading list to link to the available book or journal.

To answer the librarian: there is a way to check this!  You can ‘export’ a reading list into a spreadsheet (CSV) format.

Sort by ‘Type’ to view all ‘Books’ and if the ‘Local Control Number’ field is blank there is no link to Explore. Either UCL doesn’t hold the resource, or the academic didn’t make a link to it.

This can also be useful for those librarians who are updating lists, or who have inherited one and want to check whether you need to link any items to the catalogue to make them more readily accessible for students.

Of course, you can also ask our team to do the checking for you, by publishing the reading list and clicking on the ‘Request review’ button. TLSS will check through and link to books or journals where possible, or update unstable links to e-books or e-journal articles.

Lynda offers a huge range of video tutorials supporting learning in software, creative and business skills – all free to UCL staff and currently enrolled students.

Log on to Lynda, using your UCL username and password when prompted.

Find the video or section of the Lynda course that you would like to add to your reading list and bookmark as normal, by clicking on the ‘Add to my Bookmarks’ button. (For further information on how to set up a list and add the bookmarking button please see our webpages).

Change the ‘Type’ to ‘audio-visual document’, then add any other metadata you think necessary, e.g. change the title to display the title of a section. Finally, check the ‘Online resource’ box is ticked, save the bookmark and publish your list: when your students now click on your reading list they will be taken directly to the video or section.

It is also possible to search for and bookmark Lynda resources from the library catalogue, Explore.

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!