Making Learning Resource Centre Workshops Work!
Type of snapshot
Central services provision e.g. library, learning development, e-learning, ICT
What was the context for this snapshot?
We are one of the largest FE Colleges in the country and the Learning Resource Centres are faced with the challenge of trying to reach as many students as possible to raise awareness of our paper and electronic resources and provide them with the skills needed to gain full benefit from them.
Over the years we developed a series of workshops which we offer to teaching staff to book their groups on. The attached leaflets give full details of the programmes of workshops available. Where possible the workshops are made as subject specific as possible.
What kind of learners were involved in accessing this provision or support?
So far this academic year we have delivered 807 workshops and for the whole of last year 892. Workshops were delivered to pre-entry to Higher Education level, thus encompassing a wide range of ages, abilities and socio-economic groups.
- bristolentry.pdf | LRC Workshop: Entry Level Courses programme
- bristolFE.pdf | LRC Workshop: FE Courses programme
- bristolHE.pdf | LRC Workshop: HE Courses programme
What skills or literacies were particularly being addressed?
Skills covered by the workshop programme include: Identifying different media Identifying relevant resources Evaluating relevant resources Structured approach to research
We hope the workshop programme makes students aware of all resources available to them and how to get the best out of them for their subject area.
Who provided the support? How was support provided?
Workshops are delivered by Learning Resource Centre staff. We publicise the workshop session via email and attending team meetings. The workshops are not compulsory and so teaching staff have to decide whether to book in or not.
Benefits, outcomes, and lessons learned
Previously, we offered a one size fits all programme of workshops whereas now we offer three separate programmes after consulting with teaching staff. Although in reality there is very little difference between the three programmes, teaching staff feel a degree of ownership as they were consulted with and the programme is aimed at the level of their students.