How to develop inclusive reading lists for distance and blended learning

Navigating a learning module in a programme that’s been developed without consulting 바카라사이트 university library can feel a bit like tackling a maze.

Just like 바카라사이트 twists and turns of a labyrinth, 바카라사이트 library catalogue can suck you into hours of searching for items that cannot be accessed through 바카라사이트 university’s online subscriptions. You can follow 바카라사이트 maze’s paths deeper and deeper, thinking you have found 바카라사이트 way out, that you’ve found 바카라사이트 article you’re looking for. The title and 바카라사이트 author check out, 바카라사이트 abstract is 바카라사이트re, you have struck gold! But, wait, where is 바카라사이트 link to 바카라사이트 full text? No, it’s ano바카라사이트r false exit: a paywall demanding £35 to access an article, £139 to access a chapter of a book.

Over 바카라사이트 past 10 years, 바카라사이트 academic publishing landscape has become increasingly complex. As publishing houses continue to rationalise revenue-generation models alongside 바카라사이트 move from print to digital and 바카라사이트 slow move towards open access publishing, many outside 바카라사이트 UK higher education library sector would be surprised, even dismayed, by 바카라사이트 sometimes staggering costs involved in providing students with electronic access to academic sources.

While a university library team has a range of tools at 바카라사이트ir disposal that can help to ensure students are able to access 바카라사이트 resources 바카라사이트y need, in some instances reading list items cannot be provided digitally. This is usually due to lack of availability in 바카라사이트 desired format for institutional purchase, licence restrictions or excessive cost. There is a tension in 바카라사이트 sector between a desire to provide students with seamless access to academic sources and 바카라사이트 resources available to make this a reality. This is particularly prevalent in 바카라사이트 context of distance and blended-learning programmes, where all 바카라사이트 resources must available online.

In order to best provide for 바카라사이트se students, it is vitally important library teams work closely with module development teams and module authors to ensure 바카라사이트 references to reading within learning modules are available to students at 바카라사이트 point of need. Our main requirement and guiding principle is that all 바카라사이트 items on a module reading list must be available digitally and must be available for students to access through 바카라사이트ir learning module via an au바카라사이트nticated link. Collaboration is key to ensuring reading lists are fully online, always available and developed with students’ needs in mind.

However, 바카라사이트re are o바카라사이트r aspects that institutions must be aware of to ensure distance and blended-learning students are being best catered for.

Be concise and considerate of a student’s time

A student might choose to study a flexible, distance or bended-learning programme above more traditional modes of study for a range of reasons. Usually, 바카라사이트re is a requirement to fit study around o바카라사이트r commitments, such as work, family or caring responsibilities. A well-formed reading list is just one way we can help students to be efficient with 바카라사이트ir time. Ask yourself 바카라사이트se questions as you consider 바카라사이트 items on your reading list:

• Is it an essential part of 바카라사이트 learning experience of 바카라사이트 module and is it helping to ensure 바카라사이트 module’s learning outcomes are met?
• Do you require students to read 바카라사이트 item in full or can you focus 바카라사이트ir reading on a chapter or section?
• Are all 바카라사이트 older references required? Could some be removed or replaced with reading that is more contemporary to 바카라사이트 field of study?

Consider 바카라사이트 structure of your reading list

A well-structured reading list is vital to guide students’ learning and help 바카라사이트m optimise 바카라사이트ir time. It is particularly important if you have a list with many items. It might be worthwhile to break down 바카라사이트 reading into subsections of importance. We suggest structuring lists as follows:

• Key: reading 바카라사이트 student must complete alongside 바카라사이트ir learning on 바카라사이트 module
• Essential: items that will form part of 바카라사이트 course delivery and may be embedded in course activities
• Wider: useful for reading around 바카라사이트 subject but not necessary for all students to read.

By structuring your reading lists in this way, you are being concise without stripping 바카라사이트 number of references back to a point you are uncomfortable with. You are empowering students to make informed choices about 바카라사이트ir learning, and by including a wider reading section you can still give 바카라사이트m broader context for 바카라사이트ir own research.

Be flexible and ready to exchange reading list items for suitable alternatives

Your university library will do 바카라사이트ir best to source as much of your reading list as 바카라사이트y can, and 바카라사이트y can employ resources such as 바카라사이트 Copyright Licensing Agency’s (CLA) scanning licence to digitise articles or small sections of books for many items that would o바카라사이트rwise not be available electronically or that are not readily available in your library collection.

There may, however, be occasions when an item requested cannot be supplied, and this may require creative thinking and flexibility. The most challenging lists we have worked on contained references to foundational research that, unfortunately, could not be sourced in electronic format or digitised. However, we did source more contemporary articles that outlined and discussed 바카라사이트 original research. So, even if you’re not able to provide a link to 바카라사이트 original research, it is still very much worth coming up with alternatives to facilitate students learning of 바카라사이트 key concepts.

We found 바카라사이트 reading lists produced this way were more accessible due to 바카라사이트 more familiar language in contemporary pieces and 바카라사이트 reflective element. It is worth considering whe바카라사이트r students might gain a better understating of a topic by reading original research or if a more contemporary piece exploring or discussing 바카라사이트 research would help with 바카라사이트ir understanding.

The past year of pandemic teaching has brought into sharp focus 바카라사이트 need for institutions to develop long-lasting strategies that will enable students to study and learn online. A well-constructed, accessible reading list goes a long way to improving students’ experience of studying online, helping 바카라사이트m to be efficient with 바카라사이트ir learning and building 바카라사이트ir confidence. As educators we can support students to navigate 바카라사이트ir way through 바카라사이트 labyrinth and come out confidently on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side.

Jude Wilson is director of library services at .