December celebrations in the LRC

December celebrations in the LRC

This month in the LRC we are celebrating the season with colourful displays and competitions.

‘Twas the Night before Christmas’

The poem ‘Twas the night before Christmas’ is our overall display theme. Through different displays we have depicted parts of the poem, including a Christmas tree, fireplace decorated up for Christmas, children sleeping in their beds and a winter scene. We chose the poem as it is probably one of the most well-known of the Christmas verses.

Alongside the display we are running a competition asking students who wrote ‘Twas the night before Christmas’?

LRC Christmas Tree

Find the Reindeer Competition

We have hidden 8 of Father Christmas’s Reindeers, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen around the LRC, our second competition is for students to discover where the reindeers are located.

Gift for Christmas

Would you like to give a student the gift of a book this Christmas?

If you have a book at home which you have read and would like to donate to another student. Please bring it into the LRC for us to wrap up and place under the LRC Christmas tree.

LRC Loyalty Card

I hope that you have been enjoying reading books from the LRC this term. Students who return a book as a part of the LRC Loyalty Card Scheme in December will receive a small gift.

Have you renewed your books?

Please remember to renew your library books before the Christmas holidays.

Happy Christmas from the Learning Resource Centre

UCP Library Resources Survey

UCP Library Resources Survey Feedback

In November we carried out a specific survey for our Higher Education students. 39 of you responded (about 5%) and results were analysed and also split between level 4s and the level 6s who use UCP's Canvas and the students who use ARU's Digital Library. A report has been shared with lecturers and UCP management as well as library staff.

The survey focused on the following topics:

Inductions

72% if you had either had an induction from a tutor, librarian or followed one online. This meant that there are still some students who have never had a library induction. The link to our Online induction and quiz can be found either on the Introduction to Library Services in your subject guide in Canvas (level 4) or via the LRC pages on the PRC student portal - there is a specific version for UCP students.

Photo - publicdomainpictures.net

Confidence in Accessing Online Library Resources

You said: Most students said they felt confident in accessing resources online although a number said they had never used a database. Students added that more guidance could be given including being shown in tutorials, demonstrations by a librarian, 1:1 help or providing guides.
We say: Remember that access will be easier if you use the links we give you in your subject guide, within the Student Portal or in ARU's library catalogue as these are specific to us and usually take you directly to our logging in page. Otherwise look for Institutional Access (or Campus access) or it may say via Shibboleth. You will probably have to select Peterborough Regional College from a list and you will then find yourself at the logging in page.
For level 4 students guidance for using specific databases is gradually being added to your guides.

Reading Lists

You said: Students indicated that they like their reading lists and most lecturers provide them (although not all). You wanted more varied texts, earlier access (before your module starts), information on the level and importance of the item to read and copies available in the LRC.
We say: The LRC has ordered copies of all items listed on level 4 and top-up degree reading lists (ARU provide them for levels 5 and 6 except top up degrees) where still in print. Where possible we have ordered eBooks so that more students can use the book at the same time. Sections can then be downloaded, copied and printed if preferred.

Study Excellence Sessions

You said. You said that you would attend a library study excellence session.
We say: So far this year no students have attended them. Responses to other questions suggest you might like this in tutorial time. We are also happy to help at any time in the LRC.

Photo by Startup Stock Photos from Pexels 

Where you like to study

You said: Most of you prefer UCP or home saying that the LRC is too busy and noisy with not enough tables and chairs.
We say: We do not have enough space for more tables and chairs. However we do have benching in the various rooms. We try to ensure that the noise is kept to a reasonable level. It is quieter first thing in the morning and late afternoon.

Other comments include: "great selection of relevant books in the LRC", "Staff at LRC are always really helpful and friendly, I like how easy it is to renew books via email or phone also".

LRC Reading Group Update

The Reading Group Books

Our Reading Group met for the first time in October and chose the books that we will be reading as a group this year. 

The books are:

Paper Towns by John Green
The ten thousand doors of January by Alex L Harrow
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
To all the boys I’ve loved before by Jenny Han
How to be happy by Eva Woods

Our students have chosen a good mix of books and I for one am looking forward to reading them.

Girl reading in a library.
https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=261862&picture=books-library-book-old-library

Next meeting

For our next meeting on Wednesday 27th November 12.30 -1pm, we will be reading John Green’s Paper Towns. If you would like to join the Reading Group please speak to a member of staff in the LRC, you will be given a copy of the book which will be yours to keep.

If you enjoy reading why not join our Reading Group today.

LRC drop-in sessions and World Mental Health Awareness Day

LRC drop-in sessions 

Are you having problems finding information for your course work ? Do you feel like you are spending hours at your computer and not getting anywhere? 

Then the LRC drop in sessions may be for you.

The LRC runs two drop in sessions for FE on a Tuesday, 12:30 – 13:00 and a Thursday, 13:30 – 14:00 and an HE session on Wednesdays, 13:00 – 14:00.

The FE, Find it Fast sessions are for you if you are studying at college and having problems finding books on the LRC catalogue or want to search some of our electronic resources for information. You can come along to the small IT room in the LRC and a librarian can help you find information. You are welcome to also bring your sandwiches and have your lunch in this room if you do not have much time and are attending the session.

The HE, drop in sessions are for those studying at UCP. These sessions are also if you are having problems finding information for your coursework and would like some help and guidance. This session is also run in the small IT room and you are welcome to bring your lunch.

Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/english106/4357228667

Mental Health Awareness Day

In case you didn't see the video starring Ed Sheeran and Prince Harry, please see below.

October celebrations in the LRC

This month in the LRC we are celebrating Black History Month, National Poetry Day & National Libraries Week.

Black History Month

The month of October is Black History Month in the UK.  Black History Month provides an opportunity not only to celebrate achievements but also offers a chance to raise awareness of the events from history, identifying lessons which can be learned from the past.

 

Peterborough Regional College 

National Poetry Day

This year is the 25^th Anniversary of National Poetry Day which takes place on Thursday 3rd October. National Poetry Day is the UK wide yearly celebration of poetry, to inspire everyone to enjoy, discover and share poems. Each year there is a different theme and in 2019 the theme is Truth.

Peterborough Regional College

National Libraries Week

Libraries Week is a celebration of the nation’s much-loved libraries. Libraries Week 2019 will take place between 7^th - 12^th October.

In the LRC we will be celebrating with the following events:

LRC Reading Group

Wednesday 9th October 12.00 - 13.00

FE/Access

‘Find it fast’ sessions

Finding resources for your assignments

Tuesday 8^th October 12.30 – 13.00

Thursday 10^th October 13.30 – 14.00

UCP

Wednesday 9^th October 13.00 – 14.00 library drop-in

Study excellence sessions

In 2019 the theme is the role of libraries in the digital world. During this week we will be highlighting eBooks which are available for you to use.

LRC Loyalty Card

Take up our six book challenge and join the LRC Loyalty Card scheme to read six books and a chance to win a fantastic prize.

I hope that you will find a book that you would like to borrow from one our displays.

New reading group

New to Learning Resource Centre

LRC Reading Group

If you enjoy reading you may like to join our new Reading Group.

Why would I join a Reading Group?

1. Book Clubs are sociable and will give you a chance to make new friends.

2. You may read books which you might otherwise not have picked up, leading to new favourite authors or genres and an expansion of your reading horizons.

3. No matter how serious your book discussions, getting together and chatting on a regular basis can be fun.

4. Let’s face it books and refreshments go well together.

Relaxing Read
https://pixabay.com/get/57e0d2454952ab14f1dc8460825668204022dfe055587449722d78d1/leaves-1076307_640.jpg

When and where will the LRC Reading Group meet?

Our Reading Group will meet up once a half term in the LRC small computer room.  The first meeting is on Wednesday 9^th October 12-1pm. During this session you will get to know one another and choose the books which we will be reading as a group this year.

How will the books be chosen?

The Reading Group members will choose the books that we will read.  The books will be brought for the group and members will be able to keep their copy of the book.

The Reading Group is at lunchtime, when will I have time to eat my lunch?

Reading Group members will be able to eat their lunch during the session and soft drinks will be provided.  Remember to bring your lunch with you.

If after reading this post you would like to join or find out more information about our Reading Group, either speak to a member of staff before 9^th October, or simply turn up at the first session. 

I hope to see you there.

LRC Loyalty card and reading

Do you enjoy reading or want to read more?

The LRC is running a loyalty card scheme again this year to encourage as many students as possible to borrow and read 6 books throughout the year.

Reading can be enjoyable, relaxing and sometimes challenging. However, did you know that reading fiction particularly helps you improve your English. You start to absorb new words and ways of writing which can't easily be taught. There is also research that reading helps improve your empathy and social skills as well as your creativity.

Loyalty Card poster
Copyright Peterborough Regional College

To take part, come in to the LRC, speak to a member of staff at the desk and sign up. As you read a book (which has to be fiction or a biography), we stamp your card. After 3 books you can collect a free tote bag and once you've read 6 you are entered into a prize draw and invited to a special Loyalty Card event towards the end of the academic year.

Tips for getting better at reading.

Towards the end of last week, the BBC Ideas website released a short video called "How to get seriously good at reading" https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/how-to-get-seriously-good-at-reading/p07n3xmv . Even if you love reading, there are some interesting facts in the video that you may not know.

Welcome to new students and 6 things.

Welcome to PRC 

Whether you are a new student or a returning student (or even a new or returning member of staff) - Welcome to the LRC and the College from all Learning Resource Centre (i.e. library) staff!

Do you know 6 things about the LRC?

The LRC is running a student induction quiz this year themed around "6 things that you need to know about the LRC".

It includes things such as how to set up a pin, how to register for an LRC loyalty card and finding the opening times of the LRC.

It will help you with using the Learning Resource Centre and should make it easier to use for your studies.

Every completed induction quiz gets entered into a prize draw so, by taking part, not only are you finding out how to use the LRC but you could also win a prize.

Chester the Puffin -our LRC mascot.
Photo: Peterborough Regional College

We look forward to receiving your entries and helping you familiarise yourself with the LRC.

Loyalty Card Celebration Event

Loyalty Card Event

On the 6th June the LRC held it's annual loyalty card presentation event. This year we teamed up with the Wellbeing team and youth centre and held a joint presentation along with prizes for the yellow book competition (photos, poems etc. created by students about mental health).

We invited Alexander Gordon Smith (a writer of teenage horror novels including the Escape from Furnace series and The Fury) to speak to the students at the event. He spoke about how he started writing books and also how writing had helped him at difficult and stressful times in his life. The students enjoyed the event (which included afternoon tea) and many spoke to him afterwards.

A hamper of reading goodies was presented to the winner of the Loyalty card scheme this year and runner-ups received signed copies of Alexander Gordon Smith's latest book. We also held a free raffle giving everyone there a chance to win a copy too.

Alexander Gordon Smith talking at the Loyalty Card event
Photo: Peterborough Regional College

Why not take a look at Alexander Gordon Smith's website and if you like scary things try one of his novels. We have several titles in the LRC which you can borrow.

Things you like about yourselves

Mental Health Awareness Week

Leading up to Mental Health Awareness Week, we asked students to note on a paper person what they liked about themselves. The week's theme was body image but we had a range of responses and of course body image isn't everything! Here are some of the responses. Do any of them resonate with you?

• My ability to speak in different languages.
• I'm caring
• My body has carried 5 amazing children
• I like that I am thoughtful as I always put a lot of though in my presents I give people.
• I like that I am weird and make people feel comfortable.
• Resilience - proud to be me.
• My loyalty to friends
• That I always try my best and aim to make myself happy and others.
• I am passionate and committed to my learning/
• I like having glasses.
• I like being a small human
• My ability to make people smile.
• I have nice eyes.
• I'm tall which is OK I guess.
• Caring less about my appearance the older I get!
• I feel that I'm full of surprises, people never know what to expect.
• My jawline.
• I like being a unique soul.
• I like having a strong will and mind.
• The ability to be content
• My hair. My beard.
• My weird smile.
• My happiness, honesty.

The BBC published an article worth reading this week called How to Keep Body Positive in the Selfie Era which gives some advice on the whole issue of body image.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2019

Mental Health Awareness Week 

Every year for Mental Health Awareness Week the Mental Health Foundation reflect on aspects of, or what can contribute to mental health. This year that aspect is Body Image- how we feel and think about ourselves.  With the rise of social media we are bombarded daily with pictures of the “ideal body” and for those of us who don’t fit in to that body type, how we feel about ourselves can become problematic. The MHF are using Mental Health Awareness Week to remember that we should all #bebodykind to ourselves and to those around us. Remember, we only have one body and it is amazing.

Don’t always trust what you see!

Whilst it’s easy to be swept away by the “ideal body” image that is ever present in the media and in social media channels such as Instagram, it is important to remember that you shouldn’t always trust what you see. Magazine covers are edited. Social media posts such as Instagram are edited. Photo filters are everywhere. When scrolling through feeds it can be easy to forget that photos have been filtered, bodies altered, hair

made fuller, skin smoothed. Nobody is perfect- the image that is being portrayed to you in the media is unrealistic and celebrities are beginning to speak out against over-edited magazine covers-https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/news/a56561/celebrities-respond-retouching-magazine-covers-criticism/.

Furthermore, celebrities are becoming ever more aware of how they are creating unrealistic role models and whilst we may focus on women when thinking of body image problems- it is also effecting men on a growing scale. Actor Richard Madden recently commented how his portrayal in The Bodyguard projects “a very unrealistic body image” https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/bodyguard-richard-madden-male-body-image_uk_5cada9a5e4b01bf96007c785

So next time you’re comparing yourself to people on TV or on social media- remember it’s not always real.

This programme, available on Box of Broadcasts and YouTube, shows exactly how easy it is to edit photos and explains how we see over 700 digitally edited photos each day.

https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand/index.php/prog/02E22219?bcast=102836809

(When asked to log in, please use your college log-in details)

 Body Positivity

Challenging the issue of the “ideal body” is body positivity- a movement that challenges society’s expectations and promotes the acceptance of all bodies, in all their various forms. There are plenty of body positive accounts you can follow on Instagram.

To find out more about body positivity, read this article-

https://tinyurl.com/y35ljprd

(When asked to log in, please use your college log-in details)

What we’ll be up to

This week we will have a display in the LRC about what people like about their bodies- these have been filled out by students in the last few weeks. Furthermore, we will have a chill out colouring area if you need somewhere to take a break and don’t forget our Mental Health leaflet that can signpost you to services inside and out of college.

Always remember, if you need help, you can ask for it.

The Mental Health Foundation will be releasing stats and reports on how we can look after ourselves throughout Mental Health Awareness Week so make sure to check them out- https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

Revision - try testing yourself

Revision 

It's getting near that time of year again and exams are approaching. What is the best way to retain information? One study suggests there are 2 methods that are really effective:

1. Testing yourself
2. Spreading out your revision over time (this is the best method).

So it's not a good idea to leave it to the last minute and it's a good idea to come up with some ways of testing yourself.

Testing Yourself

Your lecturer may have access to past papers but these aren't always easy to get hold of so how else can you test yourself?

Flashcards

• Create physical flashcards - the BBC website shows you how to do this  here. 
• Create online flashcards using free online tools like Adobe Spark, Quizlet or StudyStack. You can also create them in Google Slides.
• Use existing flashcards on these websites - BUT remember you don't know who has created them so check that the answers are right first.
• When using the flashcards to test yourself, remember to keep those you don't get right to one side. This is a good way of showing you what you need to read through again. Then go back to these and  keep using them to test yourself until you get them all right.

Use existing quizzes from our Electronic Resources

Some of our online resources have quizzes and case studies built in so you don't have to create them yourself.

Primal has quizzes and case studies on anatomy and physiology. Just choose the relevant module e.g. cell biology or the skin.

Hairdressing Training has quizzes and activities in it. Choose quizzes from the home page, refine by which level you are on by using the menu on the left and then choose what you want to revise. Remember to do the quizzes several times until you get them all right.

The Health and Social Care resource has a risk assessment quiz, but the others are for reflective practice rather than for revision.

Learn about Academic Journals and how to use them.

What are Academic Journals?

Journals or periodicals are academic publications which are made up of articles which experts write to record new research and to discuss new developments in their field. For subjects like science and technology these can be particularly useful as new research is being produced all the time.

Many journals are published electronically and readers subscribe online. The library in a College or University usually subscribes to collections of these so students can use them in their study. Journals and journal articles are usually bundled together into databases with a search engine facility to help find the articles you need.

Click on the link below to see a video about journals that Nottingham University has created.

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/nmp/sonet/rlos/ebp/journals/what_are_journals/page_one.html

You can also find links to articles on Google Scholar, but you cannot guarantee that this will give you access to the full text of the article. You may need to search again for the full text article within the library databases.
ARU students can link Google Scholar to the ARU Digital Library and can access full text articles as long as they have logged in to the ARU library site first.

Print journals available in the LRC.
You can search for past articles in Gale FE News and Reference

LRC Academic Journals

The LRC at Peterborough Regional College provides access to Academic OneFile and General OneFile which include a range of journal articles on different topics. These are available from the LRC's Electronic Resources page on Moodle as part of the Gale FE News and Reference resource. UCP students also have access to a wide range of journal articles through ARU's Digital Library. 

New online learning package on Moodle

The LRC has just created a new e-learning activity which explains what academic journals are and how to use them with quizzes and activities along the way. So if you've wondered what abstracts or open access journals are or how to referencing journal articles then this could be for you. To find this go to the How Do I? section on our LRC 24/7 Moodle page.

GSuite and Google Classroom

GSuite and Google Classroom

As part of the College's Digital Strategy, all staff and students are being encouraged to use GSuite including Google Classroom.

To help facilitate this, our Learning Technologies Manager will be holding drop-ins in the LRC over the next few months for staff and students so they can find out how to access the various tools and understand how it works. 

In the LRC we are already beginning to explore how we might use it to engage with students.

In March these sessions will be on:

Tuesday 19th March 12:00 -13:00

Thursday 21st March 13:00-14:00

Thursday 28th March 13:00-14:00

Keep an eye on posters for sessions delivered in April, May and June.

There is a lot of content on Infozone including how to login to GSuite using your PRC login.

Google Classroom

See the Google Classroom video tutorials playlist here if you are a lecturer.

Below is a concise beginner video for lecturers which I found easy to understand :

If you are a student you can get a quick introduction from the video below.

Safer Internet Day

E-safety

Tuesday 5th February is Safer Internet Day - a day which focuses on being safe online. This year the Safer Internet Centre's theme is "together for a better internet". The idea behind this year's theme is that we can all choose to make a difference when we use the internet and communicate on the web just as we can as we interact with people in our physical environment.

The Centre offers 5 tips for how we can choose to behave and make the internet a better place:

• Choose to ask for consent
• Choose to be supportive and positive
• Choose to be in control
• Choose to find out more
• Choose to talk about it

To find out more about what these mean follow the 5 tips link above. You'll also find lots more relevant information about e-safety and this year's campaign.

SID TV 2019 has also launched a YouTube video presented by young people about Consent Online.

The video is also available with subtitles and British Sign Language here.

Diversity Day & Geospatial mapping

Diversity Day

It's that time of year again and the LRC were manning a stand at the College's Diversity Day event last week.

We asked students to mark on a map where they come from.

Diversity Day map on LRC stand
Photo: Peterborough Regional College

One of our LRC assistants created a Tagxedo image of the places students mentioned.

Tagxedo showing where students come from

Geospatial Mapping Resource

If you want to find out some of the areas of the UK where students were born, remember that you have access to digital maps of different kinds through the  Geospatial Data resource. You can add symbols and labels to the maps, plot routes, add layers and print off A4 maps. Access is available from the LRC electronic resources page on Moodle. There are also video demonstrations linked within the resource.

Online access to Vogue magazines, photos and articles

Vogue Archive

Did you know that as a student or member of staff at PRC or UCP you have free access to the full archive of American Vogue from it's first issue in 1892 until the latest edition. The link to this is found on the Electronic Resources page on Moodle.

This includes photography, fashion, articles, adverts - in fact whole (in most cases) digitised copies of the original magazines which you can use as part of your course or for your own interest.

We advise you to use the Advanced search as then you can search specifically - for a particular accessory or fashion item , for example, or look for images by a particular photographer/ fashion designer. Alternatively if you want to look through whole magazines, you can browse individual issues.

For a comprehensive guide to using this resource click here. Alternatively ask a member of LRC staff to show you if you are unsure.

Fashion Show photo by AhmadArdity (CC0 Creative Commons)
from  https://pixabay.com/en/fashion-show-fashion-catwalk-model-1746581/
(Not from the Vogue Archive)

Who may find this useful?

Art students - Look at textile design or use the resources to inspire your own designs. Look at fashion or textiles as an art form and see it in it's context so you can understand what influences certain designs at certain times.

Photography students - Look at techniques used for fashion photography and photographing people. Study the lighting used perhaps or look for examples of effects you would like to create.

Media and Journalism students - Look at journalism styles and content through time or currently. Study and soak up techniques used in one of the leading fashion journals.

Hair and Beauty students - You can view hairstyle and make-up trends at a particular time in history and read the techniques used to create the various styles at the time. The more recent issues will show more up to date trends.

Performing Arts students - Like hair and beauty students you can see how actors should dress and look in something set in the past or in the fashion industry and try to recreate these authentically for a production.

Marketing students - Look at advertising and brand creation either currently or through time and within one industry (i.e. fashion).

Sociology students who for example want to look at how gender and class are portrayed over time or within or through fashion or advertising might find this useful. Images give an idea of popular culture at a particular time.

Anyone interested in fashion who has an interest in fashion (historical or present day).

Welcome back and LRC new drop-in sessions

Happy New Year!

Welcome back to College and we hope you enjoyed the festive break and are all set to work hard in 2019. Last week LRC staff manned a stand at the College's Staff Development Day event - Carousel of Learning - and spoke to a number of staff about the sessions and resources we offer. If you are a member of staff and missed this, feel free to come and talk to us if you want more information.

New for 2019 - LRC Lunchtime Drop-Ins 

This term the LRC librarians will be running short workshops/ drop-ins at lunchtime on Thursdays and Fridays in the LRC (Pod C). Thursday slots are 12.15-12.45pm and Friday slots are 1.15-1.45pm

Pod in the LRC
Photo: Peterborough Regional College

The themes of these will be:

Beyond Google - using Google Scholar and searching Google more effectively.

Using LRC Online Resources - introduction to e-books, online journal articles, newspapers and other interactive learning materials.

Referencing and Plagiarism - find out what plagiarism is and how to reference.

Box of Broadcasts - find out how to record, view and search for TV and radio programmes, create playlists and clips.

Information searching skills - how to search effectively and how to know good websites from bad.

Each session will run twice - once each half of the term. Please see posters in the LRC and around the college. The first one is next week - 17th January 2019.

We can only take a maximum of 5-6 students at a time (but if more of you want to attend it may be better that we come to your tutorial/ class if your lecturer is happy).

Drop-ins will have a planned structure but we don't need to keep strictly to this and we can use the time to address questions students have. If you have your own laptop you may wish to bring this with you but this isn't essential. (The LRC has laptops for use but these are in high demand so don't rely on this).

We look forward to meeting you at these sessions over the coming weeks. Any queries, please ask at the LRC desk.