Hi Julian,
We've been using Aspire to provide pre-arrivals reading for a couple of years here at BU.
Challenges have been:
* Getting “programme-level” recommendations (as you point out below our usual lists are at unit or module level). Part of the solution is just being persistent in asking for recommendations from the schools. We also have a fall back of listing unit reading lists for a programme if we have no specific suggestions.
* Concerns about how students will understand how to use reading lists and the materials that will be available when they get to BU (so they are not purchasing material that is readily available in the library!). We have got around this by developing an activity which helps students to critically evaluate a reading list to prioritise reading and think about how they will access materials (especially important where we are listing unit reading lists rather than specific recommendations). This also gives us a platform to start information literacy work before students arrive.
* Thinking through how to get the information to students pre-arrival. We have worked with our marketing and communications team to ensure that the reading list is integrated with information that goes out to students.
It’s still not perfect by any means and we have further development work to do this year.
On a positive note - adverse comments in our freshers survey about not having reading lists pre-arrivals have dramatically reduced!
Happy to share more detail if you would like to contact me by email or phone.
Best Wishes,
Neil
Neil Ford
Academic Liaison Development Manager
Library and Learning Support
The Sir Michael Cobham Library
Bournemouth University
Talbot Campus
Poole
Dorset
BH12 5BB
Tel: +44(0)1202 965648
email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
web site: www.bournemouth.ac.uk<http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/>
-----Original Message-----
From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Julian Robinson
Sent: 17 January 2014 09:47
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Advice on rolling out pre-readings
Hi,
I'm being asked to advise on rolling out a selection of pre-readings for applicants, which they can engage with over the summer. The idea is for this to be at the programme level, and for it to be a small amount which students would be directed to as part of the customer care prior to arrival.
We use Talis Aspire, but only at the modular level, and I'm cautious of advocating a new work flow of lists at the programme level in Aspire, in part due to the extra administration and risk that this may not get the required buy-in.
If anyone has an easy solutions to this, and in particular how you find it best administered (from the Library, from the Department/School?) I'd be very keen to hear. One solution may be to recommend (mandate?) each Department to take ownership of a web page for pre-arrival lists, which could then be linked to in University communications.
Best wishes,
Julian
Julian Robinson
Learning and Teaching Support Librarian
The Library, University of Sussex,
BRIGHTON BN1 9QL
Tel. +44 (0) 1273 873466 or int. 3466
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