Post on 06-Dec-2014
description
The Learning Hub at Teesside University: an innovative
approach to supporting student learning
Yvonne CottonLearning Advisor (Literacy)
Library & Information ServicesTeesside University
OutlineOur journey at Teesside University:–Background–Current Service–Moving from librarian to learning advisor– Succeed@Tees workshops–PASS– Future
BACKGROUND
Teesside University• Post 92 University• Main Campus in Middlesbrough and site at
Darlington • Six Schools: 21,830 students (15,000 FTE) • Queen’s Anniversary Prize 2013• Times Higher Education University of the Year
2009/2010• Vision: Providing Opportunities, Driving Enterprise,
Delivering Excellence
Learning Hub Vision• In five years from now, the Learning Hub will:– play an integral part in the University strategy for student
achievement – provide a valued input into learning, teaching and the
curriculum– provide a holistic approach to learning support in partnership
with Schools, Departments and students – be a highly visible and effective service – deliver an innovative and strategic approach to learning
support
Teesside Experience, pre-2012Academic Librarians
Literature Searching
Referencing
Academic Skills Centre
Writing
Maths
Referencing
Availability of supportAcademic Librarians Academic Skills CentreDrop in support X Drop in supportEmail/phone support X Email/phone supportChat X ChatWorkshops X WorkshopsPre-booked tutorials Pre-booked tutorialsOnline Material
(Website/LibGuides)Online Material (Website)
Academic Librarians
Direct liaison with a specific
School
Embedded teaching
within modules
Quality role in programme approvals
Member of Key
Committees
Liaison with large number
of staff in School
Academic Skills
Centre
Support all Schools
Liaison with small number of academic tutors from
School
Relationship with the University
Learning Hub 2012
• 2 teams merged– Learning Hub Manager – Learning Advisor (Literacy)– Learning Advisor (Maths) (0.8)– 6 Academic Librarians (Subject Teams)– 7.5 Assistant Academic Librarians
Learning Hub 2012
• Hub and spoke model• All librarians provide first point of contact– Immediate help with literature searching and
referencing– Book tutorials with skills advisors• Literacy• Maths• English language
What students ask about…
Writi
ng
Drug ca
lcs
Lit Search
ing
Referencing
English La
nguage ITOther
Maths
Worksh
ops
Academic s
kills0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
2012-132013-14
Question Handling
67%
33%
1st line2nd line
Referral Routes: out
Learning Hub
Academic Librarians
16%
Workshops 4%
Other library
4%
Schools 3%
University Services 1%
IT helpdesk
4%
Learning Hub Tutors 67%
Tutorial feedback26/02/2014 Student wished to book a
tutorial as it is her first assignment and wanted to make sure structure was correct
Talked about proof reading out loud to see where long sentences should be split. Talked about WEED model. Recommended some Succeed@Tees workshops.
04/03/2014 Needs help with critical writing skills
Discussed draft assignment. I felt that she was making a case, but that her writing style was sometimes over-complicated. Therefore, we looked at ways in which her language could be simpler in order to allow her to emphasise her key points.
03/03/2014 Student wanted to book appointment for help with dissertation.
Discussed aim of dissertation, ensuring that she had been explicit in what she'd done, especially made it clear how she had revised her care plan, following her research findings.
Positive comments from students• “Just to let you know I passed the other assignment with a
mark of 70%. I want to thank you for your advice and constructive feedback, it is very much appreciated.”
• “I met up with yourself last year with regards to an assignment and you were a really good help.”
• “Just to say thanks again for your very helpful tutorial, I feel much happier with my resubmission now”
• “Thank you so very much for your kindness and patience with me throughout all the maths help. It was very much appreciated. Thanks to you I “passed”. Still can’t believe it!!”
Learning Hub Space
What should be a librarian’s role?• Giving advice on referencing?• Giving advice on finding information for
assignments?• Delivering a workshop on critical thinking?• Support for writing a literature review?• Commenting on the structure of a student’s
assignment?
Role of librarians• We are more comfortable with some than others• We’ll look at some of these skills and who’s doing
them at Teesside
Librarian to Learning Advisor• Part of restructure of the Library in 2012• 1 Assistant Academic Librarian role going• Ring-fenced role as a Learning Advisor (Literacy)
in the new Learning Hub• Sounded like a fun new challenge!• Started in September 2012
Librarian to Learning Advisor
• Already had a number of skills– Referencing– Checking if work had enough or appropriate
references– Empathy
• Writing skills
Librarian to Learning Advisor
• My favourite books to help me:– Palgrave Macmillan Pocket Study Skills Guides– Stella Cottrell’s Study Skills Handbook
Succeed@Tees Workshops
Business information
Critical Appraisal (Qualitative)
Critical Appraisal (Quantitative)
Critical WritingEbooks
Reflective Writing
What’s New About Studying at University
Writing a Literature Review
2011/12
Exams and How to Survive Them
Maths for Drug Calculations
PowerPoint Basics
Structuring Your Essay
Academic Writing
Referencing
Refworks
Cinahl
Doing a Literature Search
Find Books Fast
JournalsCritical Thinking
Keeping Up to Date
Presentation Skills
Time Management
Using Google Like a LibrarianPreparing for Your Dissertation
2012/13Workshops 2013/14
Views of pages Sept 2013- May 2014
18241
Home 6144
Harvard Referencing 2169
Academic Writing 1143
Arithmetic for Drug Calculations 770
Critical Thinking 738
Structuring Your Essay 664
Preparing for your dissertation 599
Journals - What? Why? Where? 578
Writing a Literature Review 565
Doing a Literature Search 552
Critical Writing 526
CINAHL Workshops 494
Reflective Writing 458
Presentation skills 378
E-books@Teesside 375
Critical Appraisal for SoHSC Students 337
RefWorks 333
OSCOLA referencing 238
Find Books Fast 225
Google to the max 220
Time Management 208
Exams and how to survive them 133
APA Referencing 120
Keeping Up To Date 112
Finding Business and Management Information 74
What's New About Studying at University 69
2014-2015 workshops
• Running fewer workshops (18 or 19 compared with 25 last year)
• Keeping the LibGuides for the ones no longer running
• Staff concentrating on taking fewer workshops
PASS Pilot
PASS PilotPlanning• Visits• Desk research• Talking to other departments within the
University who work with volunteers• Advertising to Schools in the University via
Learning & Teaching Committees and PASS Demystified workshops
PASS PilotPhysiotherapy• Year 1 – Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice• Used 5 second year students
English Studies• Year 2 – Thinking About Representation• Used 6 final year students
PASS SessionsWhat happens in a PASS session?• Whatever the students want to cover• Up to the PASS Leaders to run the session in an
interesting and meaningful way
What did students think?• Extremely helpful• Very beneficial• The PASS programme helped me a lot in my first year• It has really helped me to develop what I have learnt in lectures• I feel that the PASS programme has been fundamental to my
experience as a first year • I often shied away from asking questions to lecturers in order to avoid
looking stupid.• I found the PASS leaders from our programme very approachable,
friendly and helpful• Given a student’s insight on how to deal with the subject• Talking to students who were in our position• Guidance from second years – didn’t judge if we were unsure• Empathy!• I now feel confident
What did PASS Leaders think?What did you get out of PASS?• Confidence, presentation skills, satisfaction,
time management, leading groups, self worth and helped with career aspirations.
Has it helped with employability?• Unanimous – yesWould you be a PASS leader again?• Unanimous - yes
Successes and Issues with Physiotherapy
• Started later as second years were out on placement
• Dealt with very large groups
Future plans• More PASS groups, so more PASS Leaders
(have over-recruited)• Need to account for large break in middle of
year when second years are on placement
Future for PASS• Will run in same modules and in 2 new
modules in 2 new Schools next year
Successes• Positivity about the Learning Hub• Improved communication• Proactive approach
– Succeed@Tees workshops– PASS
• Self-booking for tutorials• Teamwork• Advocacy
Challenges
• Location of physical desk– Learning Hub in social learning area
• Different levels of staff confidence and experience
• Developing Learning Hub guidelines• Doing more with less• Change
Learning Hub 2014+• Project to develop the service
1. Research2. Operation of the Learning Hub• Guidelines, Space, Input into the curriculum,
Communication, IT infrastructure
3. Online Learning Materials4. Evaluation strategy5. Expanding PASS6. Continuing and developing Succeed@Tees workshops