supporting the transition to higher education jane mortimer
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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) [email protected] - disability support
• Amanda Poulton, Academic Team Manager (Learning & Skills Development) [email protected] - 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 [email protected] – library video