At the University of Reading, we have various IT skills training sessions. These are all run by our IT Services but badged as part of an overarching Student Services Training Programme which includes workshop sessions from Study Advice, Maths Support Centre and Careers.
They include introductory sessions for Freshers (very difficult to get the right level for this, judging by comments from our recent Freshers' survey), courses for all students on using common software and applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Endnote, and regular 'Drop-in-and-learn' sessions for brief advice on any topic or supported self-training. There are also more targeted courses like 'Word for a Thesis'.
The one thing that is conspicuously lacking is training to use our VLE (Blackboard), despite the fact that most students will not have used it before, and almost all course information is now filtered through it. We offered Blackboard training as one of two alternate workshops at our pre-entry training event for mature students, and so few students chose the alternative that we made it a plenary session this year - feedback has been very positive.
Kim
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Dr Kim Shahabudin, FHEA, Study Adviser, Study Advice & Maths Support
1st floor Carrington Building, Whiteknights, University of Reading, RG6 6UA
* 0118 378 4236/4218 * www.reading.ac.uk/studyadvice<http://www.reading.ac.uk/studyadvice>
Winner of Student Nominated Award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning, 2010
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From: learning development in higher education network [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Farrell, Stevie [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 28 January 2011 10:49
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: IT support in UK HE
Hi all
I'm currently writing up my MA thesis on assumptions of IT skills in HE students and the need to challenge this. As an academic skills tutor (IT) in a study skills support team I see a lot of students that need a range of help with IT.
It would be really beneficial to me if I could get an idea of how many institutions have IT as part of their study skills provision.
Please could you spare a few minutes to let me know if your institution provides IT support as part of core study skills. And if not, where students go to get it.
Many thanks
Stevie
Stevie Farrell
Academic Skills Tutor (IT)
Skills for Learning
Leeds Met University
C507
Portland Way
Leeds
LS1 3HE
0113 812 5429
Email [log in to unmask]
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