Not just a pretty face: putting the learning into the Learning Commons

Rosie Jones

Encouraging learning

• Infrastructure

Encouraging learning

• Infrastructure

• Furniture

Encouraging learning

• Infrastructure

• Furniture

• Inspiration

Encouraging learning

• Infrastructure

• Furniture

• Inspiration

• Training room

…students have easy access to and from the Library and Student’s Union……………

Putting the Learning into the Learning Commons

• More than just a ‘pretty face’

• Project role appointed

• Consultation

• Dedicated team

Learning Development Team

• Unique training programme

• Open learning materials

• Cross discipline

• Collaboration and partnerships

• We will ensure that all students benefit from opportunities to acquire the core skills, knowledge and personal attributes necessary for employment and further study; we will prepare students for a range of career paths by … embedding employability in the curriculum, engaging students in employability and developing research skills.

Manchester 2020: The skills agenda

We will ensure that students are supported through the

personalised learning policy, and we will invest in student retention through core

skills support

University of Manchester. (2011). Manchester 2020: The Strategic Plan for the University of Manchester. [Online]. Available at: http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=11953

My Manchester Essentials

My Learning

ProgressionMy

WellbeingStudent

Wellbeing

My EmployabilityGraduate

Destinations

What's on offer: An Overview

Open Programme:Students self-select the workshops and resources they use. There are online learning resources, formal workshops and informal face-to-face components.

Some that are available are: Academic skills Employability skills Digital/informational literacy

Open Programme:Students self-select the workshops and resources they use. There are online learning resources, formal workshops and informal face-to-face components.

Some that are available are: Academic skills Employability skills Digital/informational literacy

Tailored Programme Support:Curriculum-linked support of specific requirements.Blended offer of online learning resources supported by face-to-face workshops and skills clinics.

Some that are available address: Evaluating information Finding information for dissertation Referencing and EndNote

Tailored Programme Support:Curriculum-linked support of specific requirements.Blended offer of online learning resources supported by face-to-face workshops and skills clinics.

Some that are available address: Evaluating information Finding information for dissertation Referencing and EndNote

Online learning resources: open--->tailoredOnline learning resources: open--->tailored

And ….Interview SkillsCVsCareers in PublishingJob Search and Networking Online and Via Social MediaMyers Briggs Type Indicator Interview Preparation: Using Business Databases Interview Skills and Confidence Professional Presentations via Pecha Kucha Academic WritingRevision and Study SkillsBest practices for learning: learning styles workshopGet your ideas across: presentation tips and tricksNew Additions:From the Search to the First SentenceA series of workshops on Research SkillsManchester Museum : workshop on visual presentation and putting into contextStudents as Partner's : Confidence in LearningULC workshop on picking up a second language.2.5 days on Leading groups and group research by PASS and Peer mentors.A mini-conference to assist with Presenting your ideas.

Options, not answers

• Focus on process of learning, not end result

• Built-in feedback from students

• Where do I go from here?

• Build on students’ own knowledge

• Give them the tools to find their own answers

• Encourage students to learn across disciplines

The pilot semester of the open skills programme

During the pilot semester:

1) Delivered workshops to over 200 students from every faculty and across a number of schools.

2) Responded to student feedback and high demand to double the offerings of certain workshops.

3) Partnered with Careers and other providers to develop and design workshops to answer demonstrated student need.

Working in Partnership

• Joined up support for students, academically

and beyond

• Central resource for students & staff

• Audit, analyse, improve

What Next?• Design, develop, deliver—training & support

• Integrating tech area &reaching out to the wider

community

• Rovers, a student support network, integration with

degree programmes

• Launching My Learning Essentials

• E-learning offer

September 2013: Online resources

Learning styles

Using social media in education

Plagiarism

Planning your revision

Creating visual aids for presentations

Types of information

Sources of information

Introduction to databases

Planning your literature search

Performing your search

Evaluating information

Referencing and EndNote Web

Tailored programme Open programme

Find out more

Rosie Jones: rosie.jones@manchester.ac.uk

Jennie Blake: jennie.blake@manchester.ac.uk

Nicola Grayson: nicola.grayson@manchester.ac.uk

http://mleproject.wordpress.com/