#PetrocReads5 Reading Challenge – A great success!

In February Learning Technologies and Library services challenged all staff and students to read and review at least 5 books before the end of the academic year.

Over 150 staff and students signed up and between them they read over 260 books ranging from Great Expectations to Danny Champion of the World!

28 readers completed the challenge and many said that they had read more as a result of signing up and that they had really enjoyed getting back into reading for pleasure.

Readers who really wanted to challenge themselves had to select a book from each of 5 different genres and while quite a few did manage to complete this more advanced challenge, for some, the challenge was simply to complete 5 books of their choice. We were delighted that so many signed up – many online through a Google form which we created and made available on our Library page but also through manual sign up sheets for students less digitally inclined. We asked readers to write a review of each book that they read, either posting it online through a forum on our Moodle page or filling out a special book review form. We were able to monitor progress as these were handed in or posted. Readers were also invited to post on Twitter @PetrocLTLS  using #PetrocReads5 about books they were reading and we used this thread to share reading ideas and other book related chat.

To encourage students to sign up and keep reading we were able to offer monthly draw prizes very generously supplied by Scott Cinemas, Barnstaple and Merlin Cinemas, Tiverton as well as the Liberty Centre and Exe Cafes at Petroc. We also offered a draw for all completers which included prizes kindly donated by Queen’s Theatre Barnstaple and Tiverton Community Arts Theatre.

We were delighted to invite many of the students who had taken part to a tea party where they were presented with specially designed certificates to celebrate their reading over the year and all completers received an e-certificate in recognition of their achievement.

We have hugely enjoyed the #PetrocReads5 Challenge as have our readers and we look forward to making the challenge even bigger and better next year!!

 

 

 

 

Lets get Petroc reading with #PetrocReads5!

The spring term is all about getting our students into books and reading.

We are very pleased to launch #PetrocReads5, where we challenge all staff and students to read 5 books between February 1st and June 30th.  Each month there will be a draw for all those who have posted a book review on our Moodle Forum and earned themselves a badge, with pairs of cinema tickets up for grabs. There will also be a Grand Draw at the end of June for all those who complete the challenge. Everybody can join the conversation on Twitter @PetrocLTLS #PetrocReads5 for ideas on what to read next.

Petroc staff and students can sign up here.

 

 

What a busy start to the academic year!

We have made it to the holidays and what a busy term it has been! After changes made over the summer, learners have been settling in and getting used to the new Learning Zones. Book stock has been increased at our Brannams campus, the Library has been redesigned in our Tiverton Campus, and at our Barnstaple campus the introduction of  fully IT equipped bookable group rooms and a beanbag area has been extremely popular alongside the new Library space.

The team also had the chance to  promote all the LTLS services at the Fresher Fayre, which was great fun for all involved!

The online Library Induction has been updated for the new academic year 17/18 and 699 FE learners gained their LTLS induction badge and 525 gained their LTLS referencing badge. For the Higher Education learners, the Learning Technology Coordinators provided over 130 workshops.

The LTLS Moodle page has also been redesigned, making it easier to find eResources, access the Library catalogue, book computers and find help and advice. We also introduced two new eResources in September 2017, designed to support learners with their research… Credo Reference and the A-Level Online Archive.

The LTLS team was asked to lead workshops at the October Staff Development day, these covered topics such as Moodle, Social Media, SOLA and eResources. The team also provided a VR/AR/360% roadshow during the lunch break which gave teachers the chance to experience Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and use the 360 camera.

Supporting the use of new technologies for teaching, learning and assessment is high on the LTLS team agenda and we have been able to provide Prowise training from the Tech Hub, use and promote online meeting software, and give students and staff the opportunity to use augmented reality with help from ARMary and ARJoe!! The Blended Learning Moodle page has also been updated with a new toolkit, interactive learning objects, Moodle guides, support and more.

SOLA classes (Scheduled Online Learning and Assessment) are now running in the Learning Centres, a dedicated Learning Tech Coordinator has supported teaching staff with the development of the material whilst working with the learners every week.

We are now looking forward to the New Year which will start with FE learners taking part in the JISC Student Tracker and teaching staff getting started with ChromeBooks: training and support will be provided by the Learning Tech team. The Library team will also be promoting this years reading challenge #PetrocReads5. All updates will be available in our monthly newsletter Blended or by following us on Twitter @PetrocLTLS.

 

 

Reading Hack – ‘Hack in Six’ Challenge

Reading Hack is a reading activist website to get 13 to 24 year olds to come up with ways to inspire people to read. A Hack is an activity created by members, with reading at the core.

I became a member to take a look at what we could use in our college library to get learners to discussing their favourite books with us, and help lecturers in reading-based lessons come up with new activities to get their students more interested in reading a wide range of books and writing about them.

There are many Hacks that the 13 – 24 year olds have created, but one of the ones that peaked our interests early on was the ‘Hack in Six’ challenge. In this activity, the challenger is tasked to think of their favourite book and recreate it in either 6 Emojis, 6 Photographs, 6 Drawings, or 6 Words, and post it on Twitter, making sure to add #HackInSix #LoveToRead and @ReadingHackers @PetrocLTLS for responses from other challengers.

This is our Emoji ‘Hack in Six’, see if you can guess it by commenting below!