Helping medical students access recommended resources: the role of Aspire reading list software at Lancaster

Jenny Brine

• Wide range of recommended resources– Electronic books– Print books– Journal articles– Official documents– YouTube– Web resources

What’s the problem?

• New medical students (about 50 a year)– PBL (every two weeks)– Used to printed textbooks – Unfamiliar with

conventions of journal articles

– Web not a place for serious study?

– Authentication for access to electronic resources

• Aspire software from Talis (2012)• Embedded in Moodle• Have to use Aspire list – no other way to get the list of

recommended resources• Tutors ensure students know how to use Aspire• Tutors prepare lists of suitable resources for each PBL area,

which the Subject Librarian turns into an Aspire list• Tutors can and do add material if they wish

Aspire reading lists within Moodle

Lists very well usedLinks to anatomy and physiology and clinical medicine books the most heavily usedJust about all the recommended readings consulted by at least some of the studentsComplaints when a resource is inaccessible for any reason

Effective?

• First year students tackle first SSM in second term – have to search for literature independently

• Not sure on this one – evidence?

• Subject Librarian responsible – most lists take me about an hour to do.

Any issues?

• Does it make finding the literature too easy?

• Does it discourage reading around a subject?

• Workload for Library?

• In Moodle• Student List View• Click through to electronic resource

– Note link to library catalogue, Amazon• Dashboard

What does it look like?

Conclusions

• Makes electronic the norm from the very beginning of students’ academic life

• Easy access on mobile devices• Ensures expensive electronic books are well used• Subject Librarian can ensure key print material is digitised

when need be• Far fewer complaints about inability to access key readings!

Jenny Brinej.brine@lancaster.ac.uk01524 592545www.libweb.lancs.ac.uk

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