Does your Moodle course contain PDF or Word document readings that may not be accessible, or links that don’t work off-campus?  Have you taken over a module and need help tidying documents into a reading list? Good news:  Teaching and Learning Services (TLS)  can help!

Teaching and Learning Services in the library manages both ReadingLists@UCL and the UCL copyright licences.  Given access to Moodle, or a list of readings, they can undertake a one-off project to re-create your reading list in ReadingLists@UCL and update your links and documents to be both copyright compliant and more accessible.

Owl postcard for readinglists@ucl

We will give you editing access and offer orientation training so that you or a colleague can take over managing your list once set up.

Contact readinglists@ucl.ac.uk and ask for a ‘Moodle Health Check’. Please note: we are very busy around the start of Terms 1 and 2 but we will let you know a timeline that accommodates our existing workload.

If the answer is yes, then why don’t you take a look at the new LTI 1.3 (launched last summer) !  As rollover for Moodle courses has now begun, new embedded links will have to be created for 2024-2025 Moodle courses using the new LTI 1.3.

However, you will still be able to view your reading list and embedded sections from the old LTI on current Moodle courses and any previous ones, but as the old LTI has now been retired,  you cannot now use it for embedding links.

The new LTI is available from the Moodle palette as seen below.

Screenshot of Moodle palette showing the new LTI.1.3 integration tool

The new LTI offers the same features as the old one, but has a slightly different took and feel. We have plenty of information regarding the new LTI on our Teaching and Learning Services web pages, which includes some PDFs and videos on how to install the integration tool.

You also might like to read our previous blog from last year on the new LTI.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at readinglists@ucl or if you have a query about Moodle in general, please contact the Digital Education Team.

No doubt you have read the updates, blogs and twitter, Yes Moodle has changed !

Moodle 4 is a revamped user interface and experience, and we are assured that it provides a more modern and significantly cleaner user experience for the user, with updated technology, design, navigation and layout.

What does this mean for reading lists you may ask yourself ?   Luckily nothing too significant, although the layout for the Library Resources block, and the embedding (LTI) tool is slightly different on the new upgrade.

The familiar Library Resources block is hidden in a drawer ! To reveal the block, open the drawer. We have further instructions on our Teaching and Learning webpages  that explain how to add the block (if not already added), and how to configure the block. 

The popular embedding tool has now been updated to LTI.1.3 and is available from the  “Add an activity or resource” palette.

Full details of how to use both the Library Resources block and the embed tool are available from our Teaching and Learning webpages, and videos will also soon be available.

For more information on the upgrade and training available please see an earlier blog from the the Digital Education Team. 

There is also further information on the UCL Moodle staff guide

If you experience any problems using the above features,  please do not hesitate to contact  readinglists@ucl.ac.uk

Hi all,

Having problems with the Moodle integration tool for embedding sections of your reading list ?

If you are, it is because of the last Moodle upgrade, which is causing a problem with autofilling users credentials into the various bits of Reading List activity. This is mainly affecting new academics.

Don’t despair, there is a fix ! Digital Education, often fondly known as the “Moodle folk” can sort this problem out for you. Just email Digital Education at digi-ed@ucl.ac.uk, and they should be able to resolve it for you, so you can continue adding sections of your reading lists in Moodle.

There are some small changes coming to reading lists that we want to let you know about in advance.

Some rights reserved https://www.flickr.com/photos/ramnaganat/7346166054/ ; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

Bookmarking button

Some browsers are increasingly not working well with the ‘Bookmarking button’, which is used to harvest metadata for your online reading list.  For some years an alternative ‘bookmarklet extension’ has been available which is supported by newer browsers like Edge.  The bookmarklet extension is available for Edge, Chrome and Firefox browsers.  In some browsers you are able to create your own shortcut using a keystroke rather than a mouse click on the icon.

In a week or so you will begin to notice a pop up when you edit a reading list.  It will offer a prompt to use the new bookmark extension, which you can dismiss or ask to be reminded later.  You are welcome to use both or either bookmarking options: the existing bookmark button will continue to be available.  More detailed information can be found in the support article ‘Installing and using a bookmarklet extension’.

Upgrade to Moodle-ReadingLists@UCL integration

This upgrade (called LTI 1.3) will improve security and allow changes to improve the annual rollover: in practice this will negate the need for annual maintenance of links embedded in Moodle.  This upgrade is still in Beta testing but we will update here when there is more news.

We love to hear feedback on the service and any suggestions for development that would help you.  Please send comments to the ReadingLists@UCL email or use the ‘Feedback’ button at the top of ReadingLists@UCL.

Each summer the reading lists have a new copy made for the new academic year, much like the Moodle snapshot.  This year the rollover is scheduled for the evening of Monday 13th July 2020.  From about 5pm that day:

• Reading lists for 2019-20 will have an exact copy made for 2020-21, which will publish immediately
• The old version (2019-20) 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 2020-2021 will be unaffected by the rollover

Please note:

• Unpublished changes will not copy forward into the new list: please publish your lists before 5pm 13th July if you wish your updates to be carried forward.
• We suggest you stop editing reading lists before 5pm on 13^th July, and continue editing when you can see it has the 2020-21 date stamp – certainly from the next morning Tuesday 14th July, if not sooner.
• The Moodle ‘Library resources’ block needs no maintenance and will continue to link to the most recent year’s list.  The optional integration ‘Reading list items’ requires checking and possibly some re-linking of resources, particularly after the reading list has been updated for the new year.
• To have old courses archived, new lists set up, or current module names amended, email us your requests!
• A note on Late Summer Assessments for academic year 2019-20.

Do you need a refresher on how to edit and manage your lists?  The ReadingLists@UCL webpages have online quick guides including short videos, and FAQs. Though working remotely, the TLS team still offer 1:1 set up and refresher training through Teams.  Get in touch and you could walk away with a new list set up and ready to go, have guidance on how to link to non-standard resources, or find out how to embed reading lists in Moodle.

Over the summer there will be some changes to ReadingLists@UCL. We would like to make you aware of them, so you can plan to navigate them.

Navigation marker, Margate

Rollover

The annual ReadingLists@UCL rollover will occur on the evening of Tuesday 16th July.  As in previous years, there will be no interruption to use of reading lists for students or academics.  We will post fuller information nearer the time, and subject liaison librarians will notify their departments.

New Look

A new user interface (UI) is being introduced this summer.  It has been developed in response to user feedback but, more importantly, it meets web Accessibility standards ensuring it is inclusive for all UCL users.  Making this change will ensure that ReadingLists@UCL are fully compliant with the 2018 UK Accessibility regulations.

For teaching staff the new list view is available in Beta now: email the ReadingLists@UCL team if you would like to use it ahead of its roll out. We will give you access so you can toggle between the Classic and Beta views.

There is a walkthrough video of the new look for student users – and anyone else who is curious to take a look!

New optional Moodle integration

The ‘Library Resources’ block is still an excellent, stable way to link from Moodle to an online reading list, and something we recommend so that students have a consistent experience across modules. (How do I add the Library Resources block into Moodle?).

Some teaching staff prefer the additional option of embedding readings from their list directly into the the body of Moodle and use the ‘Reading list items’ option.  A new LTI has been developed by the ReadingLists@UCL software owner (Talis) which embeds readings in Moodle in this way, whilst having better accuracy at maintaining the links after the annual rollover.  This integration will be implemented in collaboration with the Moodle team.  More on this later in the summer!

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 question we are asked most often by teaching staff is why not just use Moodle for providing links and pdfs to readings?  Today’s case study shows one student’s experience of this.

Easy access for students?

A student contacted the library e-resources team as she had difficulty accessing an article online.  Her Moodle course is well organised and gives key readings with some great context and reading notes.  Several of the readings, however, led to an error page instead of the online article.

This is happening for two reasons.  The URL for the reading was copied and pasted directly from the web address bar.  For some resources, such as OVID, the web address contains session information or search terms: it is not a stable link.  When re-visited later, the link no longer works.

A second problem is that even if a stable link is used, it does not include the information which prompts students to log in with their UCL details.

In the majority of cases, both these issues can be resolved by bookmarking from ReadingLists@UCL in the recommended way – using a bookmarking button, much like Pinterest or del.icio.us.  When you first set up a list we will offer a quick orientation to show you how to do this.

For a handful of specialist databases, bookmarking requires an extra step. You can ‘Request review’ when your list is complete, and TLS will check and amend links for you; or ask TLS to create the bookmarks for you.  For those who prefer to be self-sufficient we have some guides: in the tag cloud to the right, click on ‘Non-standard bookmarking‘.

How can this situation be avoided on your course?

• Set up an online reading list and have a brief orientation with TLS
• Switch on the ‘Library Resources’ block to make a stable link from Moodle to the online list
• Let your students know about the online reading list!
• Remove any articles from Moodle to avoid duplication of work, and confusion for students

Welcome!

Over summer we have been working towards this moment, helping to prepare reading lists and digitised readings for Term 1 teaching. The many new things to remember in your first few weeks can be overwhelming, so we hope that online reading lists are one of the few things that are easy to use!

Click to enlarge

If your module has an online reading list you can find it:

• On Moodle (usually in the ‘Library Resources’ block – see picture)
• Searching the ReadingLists@UCL home page by module code or title.

When we speak with students they say that reading lists are intuitive to use, and they don’t need much guidance; here is a little information to help you get started:

• our webpages ReadingLists@UCL for Students
• in this blog, the tag ‘student’ pulls out items that may be relevant to you
• get in touch any time!  You can contact us by email, or there is a ‘Feedback’ button at the top of the reading lists page.

Not all modules have a reading list set up for them, this is at the discretion of your tutor or module lead.  If you would like a reading list for a particular course, please get in touch with your department to discuss this.

We wish you a good first term!