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UCL and Talis co-hosted event

By Hazel M Ingrey, on 1 December 2017

Talis Aspire and UCL eventThe ReadingLists@UCL software is provided by a company called Talis.  We have worked closely with them over the years to develop our service; feedback from UCL academics and students have led to improvements to the reading lists for everyone.

This week we co-hosted an event with Talis, attended by librarians and learning technologist from other Universities.  Some of the presentations and discussion really gave me pause for thought.

 

June Hedges reminded us that the UCL student body has more than doubled in the past ten years.  Budgets, space and resources certainly haven’t kept up with this amazing growth, so reading lists really is one of the essential value-for-money services we can offer:

  • using the lists to deliver readings digitised under the CLA licence, so paper print readings can reach all students on a taught module
  • to make the most of existing electronic resources by bookmarking articles, e-books and film direct to the reading list
  • … and in doing this, students clicks on key readings maintain the resources’ high usage statistics, which helps to ensure they continue to be funded for purchase.  (Adding a copied pdf into Moodle, by comparison, will mean no measureable indication that the journal is being used).

Eugene Walker from the School of Managment gave a wonderful insight into how his department has identified the benefits to using ReadingLists@UCL, wanted their students to have the improved academic experience, and doggedly set about improving their uptake!  They have some subject specific resources which they use to create excellent, helpful lists for students.  They also have some self-imposed ambitious targets for next year.

Goldsmiths had a similar approach to UCL, explained by Maria O’Hara: they aimed to thoroughly use their online reading lists from the start.  In their statistics they count reading lists which are set up, populated, and have the key texts purchased or digitised.  That is a great deal of work, but sets a wonderfully high standard for their users.

Something else I took away and will be working on this year, is looking ahead. One measure of our success last year was reaching the target of 65% coverage of reading lists for taught course modules.  This year we are focussing on:

  • Quality and currency.  Excellently resourced lists that are updated regularly, are enriched by commentary or notes, and excellently resourced.
  • Best practice.  What makes a good list?  Do you know if students are engaging with all or some of the list, or what they need from a list?  We will use research, student feedback and analytics to suggest best practice.
  • Use in teaching and research. Academic staff have told us how they use reading lists in the classroom for teaching, it would be good to capture this for peer-to-peer use.  We will also suggest ways to use lists as a tool to engage students in learning through research.

 

Everyone seemed engaged in the conversation and the TLS team certainly came away re-inspired with some academic-new-year resolutions for online reading lists.

 

How do I update my reading list for Term 2?

By Sandra Bamborough, on 11 January 2016

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.

During the start of Term 2, TLSS* are happy to help by creating empty reading lists for new courses and to help with your digital readings.  You can then take ownership and share editing rights with your colleagues.  We will show new colleagues how to use their reading lists.  For those of you who may like a quick reminder, would like some tips, or have questions, we are also continuing our drop-in sessions throughout the winter.

Our drop-in sessions are held in the TLSS office every Wednesday afternoon, 2.30-4.30 p.m, and will continue up to and including 24th February.  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 for one-to-one refresher sessions; email us for further information, to set up a reading list, or to book a visit!

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

 

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.

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.