Virtual Tourist Attractions

Virtual tourist destinations to visit this half term

With Half Term approaching I thought that I would look at some of the places which you could virtually visit whilst tourist destinations are still in lockdown.

City tours

Take a day trip to the cities of London: https://360.visitlondon.com/# Edinburgh: https://edinburghtourist.co.uk/virtual-tours/ or Paris: https://en.parisinfo.com/what-to-do-in-paris/info/guides/virtual-visit-paris with these virtual guides.

Museums and Galleries

Explore, Museums, art and architecture from around the world: https://artsandculture.google.com/

Visit The British Museum galleries & collection, the British Museums blog has links and tips for exploring the museum from your own home: https://blog.britishmuseum.org/how-to-explore-the-british-museum-from-home/

Via The Natural History Museum virtual pages you can not only take a virtual self-guided tour, but you can also find out more about my favourite exhibit in the Museum, Hope, Blue Whale: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/virtual-museum.html

Take a look around the fascinating Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, where you might spot exhibits used in the film Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian: https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/vt3/NMNH/

You can take 3 virtual tours around the National Gallery, I like to visit Room 43, as Monet’s The Water-Lilly Pond takes my breath away every time I see it: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/virtual-tours

At the Tate Modern you can view the Turner collection, see the work of sculptor Henry Moore and view British artwork from 1545 to the present day: https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain#getting-here (Select online displays).

Remember to stop for coffee.

Places to Visit

The Buckingham Palace virtual tour allows you to look around the Grand Staircase, White Drawing Room and the Throne Room: https://www.royal.uk/virtual-tours-buckingham-palace

Take a 360 tour around the grounds of the Tower of London as a voice over tells you about the Towers history: https://www.youvisit.com/tour/meadk  Hampton Court Palace should be next on your list, you can look around the Great Hall, Watching Chamber and end your tour in the kitchens: https://in360degrees.co.uk/indie360/HamptonCourt/

If you have you ever wondered about the different rooms which make up the Houses of Parliament take this 360 tour: http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/virtualtour/ after that you may like to have a look inside 10 Downing Street: https://www.eyerevolution.co.uk/blog/get-inside-10-downing-street/

This 360 tour of the Vatican Museums is well worth a virtual visit: http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/tour-virtuali-elenco.html

Visit the Royal Opera House where you can see performances of Ballet & Opera:
https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/all

Whilst the Aquarium and Zoos are closed you can still see the animals via a variety of Webcams and live streams:

London Zoo: https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/virtual-london-zoo

Chester Zoo: https://www.chesterzoo.org/

View the Panda cam at Atlanta Zoo: https://zooatlanta.org/panda-cam/

Houston Zoo Webcams: https://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/webcams/

Monterey Bay Aquarium webcams: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams

Aquarium of the pacific: http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/exhibits/webcams

Harry Potter Exhibition

Finally if you are a fan of Harry Potter and you missed the British Library 2017 – 2018 Harry Potter Exhibition: https://artsandculture.google.com/project/harry-potter-a-history-of-magic?dm_i=5JXV%2C178Q%2C6XNPO%2C4C53%2C1&fbclid=IwAR1mFx41mrbH76jQM6SIeK0WW9tP8FMuyHjUfRjHPZ3WQUvLmOPchMQO5sE

Whatever you do or wherever you virtually go may I wish you a good Bank Holiday weekend and Half Term Holiday.

Learning about research and information from the Covid-19 pandemic. No.6 Research builds on earlier research so remember to reference.

Research and referencing

Have you heard the story of how Pythagoras came up with his new theorem while bathing and jumped out of the bath crying "Eureka"? (See the start of the TED-Ed video below if you want to hear the story).

Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely that it worked like that and neither does any research and discovery which is carried out today. It is thought Pythagoras travelled widely and is highly likely to have been influenced by the architecture and construction work in places like Egypt and Babylon where he would have seen the principle working in practice. He may have been the first to prove it, however.

Research always builds on earlier research.. Scientists won't suddenly just come up with a treatment or vaccine for Covid-19 by sitting on a beach somewhere waiting for inspiration, they will be using previous research on subjects like viruses (especially Coronaviruses), the human immune system, DNA and what was done in previous pandemics for example, as well as testing new vaccines. The idea of using the blood from someone (full text is available on Gale Infotrac/ FE News) who has recovered from Covid-19 and giving it to someone who has the disease was tried in the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 when they did not have a vaccine. The Covid-19 scientists may have been using some trial and error with this idea too but the idea was based on something that worked in the past. Scientists are currently sharing information regularly and if you look at any of the Covid-19 research sites (e.g. Cambridge Fighting COVID website and the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium) you will see academics quoting and referring to other scientists' work as well as talking about the work they are doing themselves. They show how they have used previous research and other researchers' work.

How is this relevant to my research?

• It is always good academic practice to cite in text and reference everything you read and refer to in your assignments or presentations. Not to do this is plagiarism.
• Referencing shows you have read widely and if you show how it backs up your conclusions, your arguments are more likely to be objective and credible.
• References help someone reading your work follow the research back and give them other places to go for their research (just as you can use references in an author's bibliography for research).
• Your lecturer may disagree with your point of view but if you can show where you have found your information you are unlikely to be marked down.
• Referencing saves you copying and pasting large swathes of text (and going over your word count!) into your assignment as you can refer to some research, cite it and just summarise the relevant points in your own words. (Those who want to know more can check using the reference).
• Cite the author and year of publication throughout your assignment and then the full reference at the end (listed in alphabetical order by author).
• ARU and UCP use the Harvard referencing system and their website has examples for all sorts of resources you may use.
• The LRC has a referencing tutorial with quizzes you can do in the How do I? section of the LRC web pages on the Student Portal.

Learning about research and information in the Covid-19 pandemic. No.5 Finding and using statistics

Finding and using statistics

During the Covid-19 pandemic, many of us have been watching the daily briefing from the government and a regular part of this has been reporting on the number of cases and deaths as well as displaying a number of graphs.

Statistics (or data) are more than just numbers and have been used to predict the need for more hospital provision, PPE, to look for the peak of the infection, the "flattening of the curve" and to inform government decisions about social distancing, for example. We've seen they can tell a story, they can help us understand what is happening, they can show trends and inform theories.

Statistics however, are just numbers without context. The number of Covid deaths, though large and too many (especially for those directly affected), on their own mean nothing unless you can compare this to the normal expected death rate last year, for example. We also need to know what is being counted. Only recently have care home deaths been included in the figures.

Statistics have been used to compare and contrast. We have been able to see the UK death rate in comparison to other countries. They meant decision-makers drew similarities between the UK and Italy for example at the beginning of the epidemic. However, at the same time, statistics are to be viewed with caution. No one will truly understand what the statistics mean until the pandemic is over and lessons can be learned. Statistics ideally should be viewed with some analysis.

In the video below from the BC's Andrew Marr Show, Professor David Spiegelhalter (an expert) talks about the whole complex issue of using statistics during the Coronavirus crisis and why numbers on their own aren't always helpful. Also, he discusses how statistics can be used to help measure risk and put things in perspective.


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Using statistics in your research and assignments.

• Statistics are great sources to use for showing the scale of a problem or issue you are writing about and to make comparisons. Use them to show trends over time and predictions.
• Make sure you get your statistics from reputable sources. ONS (Office of National Statistics) collate a lot of information and make it available on their website. Specialist organisations e.g. charities also collect data on their particular area of expertise.
• It is worth checking what the numbers mean.  What definition was used to identify what was counted? For example, Mintel (a marketing database UCP students can access) uses information from MORI polls and outlines this on the website. 
• UCP students also have access to a database called Statista. By using this resource you know the statistics have come from reputable sources. Analysis is provided too and it has a section devoted to directing users to publications and websites where they can find statistics online for free.
• If you have a lot of data, try to present it in a graph or pie chart. Visual representation usually means more to the reader (and uses less words!). Try different types until you find the one which makes your point best.
• Always show where you have got your statistics from (i.e. reference).
• Be aware that people with an agenda may use and even manipulate statistics  to bolster their argument. Think critically as you read.
• Be wary of making statistics say what you want them to say - unless they really do. 

LRC Lockdown Book Review Competition

Book Review Competition 

We are running a Book Review competition to see what PRC & UCP students have been reading during Lockdown. The prize for the best review, as judged by the LRC team, is a £10 Waterstones voucher; runners up will receive a book & book bag.

To enter students should email the LRC: lrc@peterborough.ac.uk with their book review, which can be written, drawn, photographed or videoed. Last date for entries is 31st May.

What have you been reading during Lockdown?

Tips for writing book reviews:

Writing a book review for the first time can be rather a daunting task. Try to imagine whilst you are writing that you are talking to a friend, who is asking you whether or not they should read the book.

Booktrust, UK based Reading Charity, asked Author Luisa Plaja, to share her top tips on how to review a book. 

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/tips-and-advice/writing-tips/writing-tips-for-teens/how-to-write-a-book-review/

Whilst Book Riot, an independent editorial book site in America, recommended 6 steps to writing a book review.

https://bookriot.com/2019/02/14/how-to-write-a-book-review/

To enter the LRC Lockdown Book Review competition, we are happy for you to choose how you would like to review your book. If a written book review is not for you, how about:

Creating a piece of art inspired by the book that you have read, illustrating how the book made you feel.

Sending in a photo review, using props or your family members to act out the plot and to show your favourite scenes.

Or you might like to send in a video of your review.

Ultimately however you decide to review your book, we are looking forward to receiving your entries and seeing which books you have been reading.

Learning about research and information during the Covid-19 pandemic No.4 Avoid fake news, conspiracy theories and misinformation - evaluate!

Evaluate your information sources

The World Health Organisation has called the recent spread of false information an "infodemic" that is "spreading faster than the virus". There have been claims of 5G causing the virus, that it can be cured by eating bat soup, claims that the virus was manufactured in a lab in Wuhan and even the US president himself is reported to have suggested injecting disinfectant (although he says this was taken out of context).

This isn't anything new - Samuel Pepys in his diaries at the time of the Great Plague (1665-6) wrote about different rumours spreading and he himself was frightened to wear a wig in case it spread infection as these were made from the hair of plague victims.

We have posted previous posts about Fake News and although it is particularly an online phenomena, all resources should be evaluated. The tabloids, for example, are published, edited and available in print, but a lot of the information they report cannot necessarily be trusted.

Have a look at this BBC video to understand how misinformation spreads and how to stop it.

How does this relate to student research?

• When doing research, check your sources. You are looking mainly to use academic resources which are of good quality and written by experts. Opinions may vary but they are formed by people who know their subject.
• Library online databases are collections of articles and resources which come from reputable sources. Start here and you will avoid the rubbish.
• When using the web, look at who has written the information and which organisation the website represents (and are they credible? do they have a particular agenda?).
• If using social media, look for the tick to be sure you are reading the official feed or account. Also does it trace back to a trusted website?
• Where possible validate a theory or fact by finding it in more than one source. If someone quotes someone else, find the original source if you can.
• Also remember though that public perception and rumours are a valid aspect of any issue too. (Revolutions have started fuelled by such things). You may refer to fake news and conspiracy theories, for example, but you will need to explain them and remain objective.

Learning about research and information from the Covid-19 pandemic. No.3. Find the experts

Find the experts

Part of being a student is realising what you don't know, identifying what you need to know and who the best people/ authors are to learn from.

Throughout the pandemic, governments have been meeting with and taking advice from scientific experts. In the UK, at the daily Covid briefings, the representative from the Government will field medical questions, for example, to the Chief Medical Officer as he is the expert who knows about infectious diseases. Did you know that the Government even has a Database of Experts specifically for the Covid -19 pandemic? The Guardian ran an article on the 22nd March introducing the different experts advising governments around the world (if you can't see it all online search for it in our Gale FE News database). They may not be famous celebrities, but they are well-known within their field and are perhaps only now coming to the general public's attention.

However, this doesn't mean that we shouldn't use our brains. All of us and especially students need to exercise critical thinking. As we hear from the experts, we need to think about what they say. Different experts will have different opinions on the same information. They may come with bias, they may be influenced by something in their background or personality. Their subject of expertise will affect how they see something. They are still experts because they have built up a lot of knowledge/ experience in their field, but their opinion is theirs and others will differ. This is why it is best academic practice to read and use a range of experts. The government isn't consulting with just one expert about Covid-19, they are taking advice from a number and therein lies the power as all their expertise is harnessed to try and solve the problem of Covid-19.

The TED talk below discusses the use of experts in a wider context and suggests that in life it's sometimes you might not want to rely on the experts.

Finding the experts in your area of study

Like the government, you will need to go and find some credible authors who know and write about your topic.  For the expert database, Parliament are asking experts to upload their credentials so they can check them. As a student you may need to do similar checks.

Recognising the experts

• When looking for literature on your subject, you might notice that there are author names which come up a lot. They may have been mentioned by your lecturer.
• You may find certain names and works cited a lot within the literature. 
• If you search Google Scholar, you will find some authors' works are cited more often than others.
• You may find certain authors and their works listed in bibliographies at the end of useful articles and books. 
• Experts will refer to other experts they respect (even if they don't agree).

How do I test?

• Look at the blurb on the back of a book or within the book under an author profile.
• Where does the expert work? Expert academics and researchers will usually work or be linked to a University or research institute. Alternatively, they may have had a long career within a particular field.
• What projects have they worked on?
• What qualifications do they have?
• Have they written any books and have they been published by a well-known publisher?
• Do they contribute to journals?
• Are they a key member of any professional or official organisations?
• Do they have a Twitter account and if so who is following them? Do other key people mention them?
• Not all key authors will still be alive, but others may still refer often to their work.

Finally, remember that when you search the databases provided by your library service you know that the content available has been through some sort of selection process. You can also usually check if  articles have been peer-reviewed which means they have been reviewed by other experts.
Use the best information from the experts for your assignments, think/write critically about what they say and you are steps closer to getting a good degree/ qualification.