The TELSTAR project is developing the means of integrating the RefWorks bibliography management software within the course authoring tools and Moodle. One of the project’s aims is to manage links to library content in the VLE. See the TELSTAR blog for up to date information and quick screen casts explaining how it will work.
The Information and Knowledge at Work (iKnow) project led by the Open University Library has recently seen the launch of its website, which offers a variety of free resources aimed at helping you to find and manage information effectively at work. The activities have been created in bite-sized chunks, so that you can fit them in whenever you have a few free minutes, at your desk or on the move.The resources are also available to use in courses or to share with people you know.
Topics themes are:
• Finding information quickly
• Know your sources
• Evaluating information
• Information handling
• Organising information
• Keeping up to date
Learn how to manage information in your workplace more efficiently, enhance your skills, improve effectiveness, and maximise your performance.
Having launched the site, the next stage of the project involves engaging with employers in order to evaluate the pedagogy and practical application of the materials in the workplace. In addition, development is currently underway to produce information literacy self-assessment tools that can be used to develop workplace training plans.
If you are interested in finding out more about the project, or would like to suggest employers from small or medium sized businesses who you think would benefit from the material, or be willing to take part in a pilot study, please get in touch with Natasha Soma (N.Soma@open.ac.uk) or Liz Mallett (E.A.Mallett@open.ac.uk).
How a ‘land of make-believe’ has helped the OU thrive.
Independent, The (London, England) – Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Author: Gary Slapper Director of the Centre for Law, The Open Univerity.
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY, one of the best innovations in British history, was nearly scuppered at its outset.
Library Services is running the following online tutorials for OU students and staff in November:
Student introduction to Library Services: 15th November, 3pm
How to do a literature search: 19th November, 10am
How to find an ebook: 18th November, 4pm
How to find an ejournal: 12th November, 1pm
How to social bookmark: 6th November, 11:30am
How to use RefWorks: 2nd November, 10am; 28th November, 10am
Finding information in Business & Management: 24th November, 12:30pm
Finding information in Psychology: 10th November, 7pm
Please register for these online sessions by going to the Library Information Literacy Area of the VLE. On this website you will also find the learning outcomes for these sessions, a link to training on the interface and you will be able to check if you have the right software to access Elluminate.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports 1974 – 1996 is now available.
Covering the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Eastern Europe, they includes a wealth of transcripts of broadcasts and news from around the world all translated into the English language. Issued by an agency of the US government. More information is available here:
An archive of video clips from the Tomorrow’s World series of programmes, which ran from 1965, is now available from the BBC. Late 60s films include: The automated office of the future, Computerised banking in the cashless economy, and, Executive toys to while away the hours. A clip from 1967 describes Europe’s first ‘home computer terminal’ and asks “Can we expect a computer like this in every home in the future? Time will tell.”
This database contains the entire 3,500 hour British Pathe Film Archive which covers news, sport, social history and entertainment from 1896 to 1970. Access and low resolution “preview” downloads are free. Microsoft Windows Media Player is required to view the clips. Contains a strong trade and industry section.
Because students now refer to a multitude of resources other than books and journals, they find it more and more difficult to know if they have cited exactly correctly. There is still no one definitive method of citing web resources, podcasts etc. This article, advocating a simpler way can be found at the link below.http://academicreflexions.blogspot.com/2009/06/20th-april-2009-academic-referencing.html
The following IT equipment can be loaned from the Library
The management video database 50 Lessons has now been made available to MBA alumni on the MYPAL webpage. The MYPAL site is accessible from the MBA Alumni website and contains links to a range of resources which the Library has made freely available to MBA Alumni.
There has been staff and student access to 50 Lessons for sometime and its short videos are a popular choice for integration into OUBS course learning.
Other exisiting MYPAL access is to:
Academy of Management Journal
Academy of Management Perspectives
Academy of Management Review
British Journal of Management
Management Today
and the Management First database and the Net Library ebooks collection
