Library and Learning Services has been supporting the work of CELT throughout the lockdown and summer to offer you, your course teams and our students a smooth as possible start to the new academic year. We believe that we all benefit most from support when it is presented as:
Using the menu to the left you can access the full updates, below are the headlines:
Through its work with CELT the Learning Designers have developed and released the first two DigiPath modules from the new DigiPath series. Engagement with the modules as been very high and the feedback has been very positive. To help us build on this work and increase our capacity to support you through this busy year, we have two new UOS graduate interns working with us, and we welcomed Eleanor Morath and Nick Black to the directorate in August.
Module Uplift Service
We are now able to offer additional support to you and your course teams to help you implement the module and instructional design techniques promoted through the DigiPath programme.
The Learning Designers can support you structure your modules, follow the guidance for signposting and expectation management as well as content uplift, moving away from the file repository approach of uploading Word and Powerpoint files.
To make use of this support please contact Aaron Burrell in the first instance to discuss your requirements.
On Campus Support
To support your enhanced use of Brightspace and virtual classroom on campus, as well as other classroom technologies, on campus or online, we have two support bubbles working alternate weeks. This allows us to always have support available to you if you would like to use the Virtual Classroom tool to blend sessions for those on and off campus. Email learningservices@uos.ac.uk if you need support.
For this academic year we are running more drop-in sessions for all academic and study skills, information and searching skills as well as maths and stats skills. We are also extending one-to-one bookings into the evenings for our Academic Skills and Maths and Stats Advisors.
Our primary support model will be online using Virtual Classroom for workshops and Microsoft Teams for one to one tutorials. For students who have reasonable adjustments which include a need for face to face on campus support, our Academic Skills Advisors will be able to take bookings, at least 1 full working day in advance to ensure that they are on campus when needed.
The Library is continuing to offer the Click and Collect service allowing all staff and students to access the physical library stock, please reserve books via your Library Account, you will receive a confirmation email allowing you to arrange a collection date and time. Study spaces must be be booked in advance and the spaces are categorised by the facilities required, desk with power, desk with PC or desk with iMac. These spaces can be booked via our website.
As we begin term our library will be open to staff and students from 10am - 4pm, but we are working quickly to be able to extend our opening hours to include evenings and weekends, as soon as we can. We will update once we are in a position to do this.
The CLA (Copyright Licensing Agency) has extended its temporary higher education licence terms for another academic year, which means that until 31st July 2021, the limit on copying from printed books is increased to 20% or 2 chapters, whichever is greater. Unlike the usual 10% limit, this only applies where no e-book is commercially available – regardless of cost or whether the Library subscribes to a given format or platform. This may mean that some titles fall outside of this extension. you can contact Dave Upson-Dale for advice and guidance.