Supporting the transition to higher education

Jane Mortimer

About De Montfort University

1992 university, formerly Leicester Polytechnic

Now 2 sites at Leicester only previously 10 across Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire

5 faculties Art & Design, Business & Law, Health & Life Sciences, Humanities, Technology

More about De Montfort University

• 20,000 students (plans to grow to 22,000+)

• Most students are full-time undergraduates– Also 1000+ taught postgraduates– 200 current research students

• Partner college (FE) network in UK and international links

• Active promotion of widening participation

For transitions this means …

About Library Services• 2 libraries, plus one branch• Not IT converged but runs main open-

access computing service (500+ PCs, plus wireless capabilities)

• Now includes learning support and development

– Centre for Learning and Study Support (CLaSS)– Maths Learning Centre– IT Training

Promotional video• Captures the student voice

• Produced by a professional documentary maker

• Used in induction since September 2007

• Available on the library web pages, YouTube and for download

Other induction activities

• Tours – personal, audio, self-guided

• Welcome desk

• Prize draw

• Library fleece waistcoats and lanyards

• Public library presence

Ask Gateway www.askgateway.dmu.ac.uk

• Launched last year but still in development

• One-stop shop for support

• Library-led but resources provided from across the University

Writing Quiz:available via www.askgateway.ac.uk

• Useful starting point for students to identify priorities for developing writing skills

• Quiz links to a wide range of helpful writing resources

• Relevant to students at all levels

‘It was easy to use, made me realise where I was going wrong and then motivated me to find out more’

(DMU student 2008)

Library guides

• Print and web based– Library services– User guides– Internet guides– Study guides– IT help

Using Web 2.0 and e-learning technologies

• To add interactivity to teaching and learning activities

• Makes a contribution to the development of an inclusive approach

• But, not just because they are there!

• In development …

• Referencing and law tutorials using Course Genie

• Podcasts to produce bit sized chunks of information

• Adding narration to presentations with Articulate

• Screencasting with Captivate for demonstrations

• Inclusion of mindmaps in presentations

The value of collaboration• Drop-in lunchtime workshop programme

– librarians, CLaSS, Maths Learning Centre, IT training, Counselling, Royal Literary Fund Fellow in residence

• Library Disability Team input to – pre-enrolment events – disabled student inductions arranged by the

faculties and Disability Advice and Support– support worker training

Contacts• Jane Mortimer, Academic Team Manager

(Resources and Services) jmort@dmu.ac.uk - disability support

• Amanda Poulton, Academic Team Manager (Learning & Skills Development) apoulton@dmu.ac.uk - Ask Gateway, Web 2.0 and e-learning

• Mary Pillai, Academic Team Manager (Centre for Learning and Study Support) – Ask Gateway, writing quiz

• Jo Webb, Head of Academic Services jwebb@dmu.ac.uk – library video