NewsFeed | RSCs Scotland
Fortnightly bulletin from the Scottish Regional Support Centres
7th November 06
Welcome to the latest edition of Newsfeed, designed to bring you up-to-date information on the current issues relating to the use of ICT for teaching and learning. As always, we welcome feedback on NewsFeed (or any RSC service you may have used) through the RSC websites.
1. JISC News
SuperJANET5 - a world class network unleashed
SuperJANET5, the upgrade to the JISC-funded JANET network, was launched at an event in London on 26th October. The newly-enhanced world class ICT network for UK education and research, operated by UKERNA (United Kingdom Education and Research Networking Association) has a potential user base of some 18 million people across UK education and research. SuperJANET5 will deliver a highly robust and scalable UK-wide network that will stimulate and support the development of ever more innovative and cost-effective ways of enabling the creation and transfer of knowledge, and ensuring that opportunities for learning and progression are available to all.
New international model agreement for authors published
JISC and its Dutch equivalent, SURF, have published a model agreement that will help authors make appropriate arrangements with publishers for the publication of journal articles. This "Licence to Publish" is the result of several years of international consultation and aims to establish a balance of rights and interests in the emerging scholarly communications environment.
2. JISC Collections News
Parliamentary papers digitised
JISC has purchased the digitised images of the 19th Century House of Commons Parliamentary Papers (HCPP) and FE and HE institutions can now access the resource free of charge. Order….order…at the House of CommonsParliamentary Papers (HCPP)
New library consultation underway
Between now and Christmas JISC Collections is consulting with the library community on a range of new online resources and the renewals of some existing agreements. Have your say by visiting the JISC Collections website.
3. Free Open University learning materials
Under a £5.65m OpenLearn project the Open University is aiming to make 5,000 hours worth of material available by April 2008 - not only directly to learners, but for educators to adapt and use for their own purposes.
The website will initially have some 900 hours of study in a variety of topics - from access to postgraduate level - using the Moodle "virtual learning environment". Look and learn at the OpenLearn website.
4. New Resources & Useful Websites
New agreement with Ordnance Survey
The Libraries and Archives Copyright Alliance has successfully concluded a new agreement with OS to replace the defunct and long-expired 'BRICMICS Agreement'. The new agreement which regularises and clarifies the conditions under which librarians and archivists may copy maps takes effect from 1st November 2006 and will be reviewed in December 2009. Librarians and archivists within 'prescribed libraries and archives' are now formally permitted to copy from OS copyright paper and electronic mapping for users without specific licensing. For full details see the Clip website.
Great British Pictures
The Geograph is a collaborative photo project designed to present images of every square kilometre of the British Isles (apparently there are nearly 330,000 such squares). To date the project has managed to fill more than 140,000 of these, with 250,000+ photos contributed by thousands of users. All images and metadata are licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence and images can be located on Ordnance Survey maps and used with other tools such as Google Maps. Get the picture at www.geograph.org.uk
Landmark radio programmes from the BBC World Service archive
As part of a trial The BBC is offering a selection of programmes and highlights packages as downloads and podcasts. Visit the BBC Documentary Archive and get into the exciting world of downloads and podcasts!
Hebridean Connections
Voyage here to find over 40,000 records relating to the genealogy, history, traditions, culture and archaeology of the Western Isles, an island community off the west coast of Scotland. All material is drawn from the collections of the Comainn Eachdraidh, the historical societies which have been preserving local historical knowledge for decades.
Hebridean Connections (please note the terms & conditions of use).
5. What is Voice over IP?
This latest TechWatch report reveals the technologies behind Voice over IP (VoIP) and the new applications it can support. At the moment the potential for very low-cost or free voice calls over the Internet is driving the use of the technology, but in the long-term VoIP is more significant than just free phone calls - it represents a major change in telecommunications. The fact that VoIP transmits voice as digitised packets over the Internet gives it the potential to converge with other digital technologies, which in turn will result in new services and applications. This report examines some key issues around VoIP and its potential for future use within education in areas such as e-learning, research and administration. New technology under the microscope at Techwatch.
6. VideoAktiv: How you can get involved
For the past two years, the VideoAktiv Project has been running workshops and events across Europe to promote the use of digital video to enrich learning and teaching. Now the project is drawing to a close but its legacy is a website containing a wealth of information and resources including a virtual workshop series, case studies and a workshop toolkit.
But the VideoAktiv project team hope to build an active community to help develop new projects and ideas. If you have an interest in this exciting area get involved by emailing the Project Co-ordinator, Clive Young.
7. Social Networking
An Introduction to You Tube
Seven Things you Should Know about YouTube is the latest in a useful series of technology overviews produced by Educause and focusses on the YouTube phenomenon and the concept of social networking which has attracted a lot of publicity recently.
Social software: E-learning beyond learning management systems
This interesting article argues that it is necessary to move e-learning beyond learning management systems and engage students in actively using the web as a resource for self-governed, problem-based and collaborative activities. Read the Social software articel.
8. Conferences and Events
Digital Curation Conference 2006
21st & 22nd November - Hilton Hotel, Glasgow. With a particular focus on Digital Data Curation in Practice this conference will address different aspects of the curation lifecycle including managing repositories, educating data scientists and understanding the role of policy and strategy. Digital Curation Conference 2006.
Scotland's Colleges Annual Conference and Awards: "Making a Bigger Difference"
Wednesday 29th November 2006 – The Hilton Hotel, Glasgow. The 2006 conference builds on themes currently being investigated through the Review of Scotland's Colleges set up to explore their role in the economic and social development of the nation. Early results are highly positive. Colleges do make a difference!
The master of ceremonies for the day is esteemed broadcaster and journalist Lesley Riddoch who will be presiding over a series of keynotes and panel sessions designed to deliver national and international perspectives. Find more details and book online at SFEU.
TASI Courses – a few places left
- 9th November 2006: Photoshop - Level I
- 10th November 2006: Photoshop - Level II
TASI (the JISC specialist service for images) is running a programme of training workshops aimed at those involved in image digitisation projects, those who wish to capture images and those who wish to use digital images in learning and teaching. More details and booking form on the TASI website
SLIC Conference: Sharing Vision, Planning and Practice
27th November 2006 - John Wheatley College, Glasgow. SLIC (Scotish Library Information Council) announces its first annual conference for FE which will bring together leading thinkers from across the UK in the field of knowledge management offering insight, vision and comment on current drivers for change influencing strategy and policy across the sector. More info and booking details from Slainte.
Discovery and Access: Standards and the Information Chain
7th December 2006 - Bonhill House, London. This seminar examines how participants in the information chain and their solutions vendors can use standards more effectively. What standards do libraries think are important for providing end-user services? How do publishers make business decisions about what standards to adopt? How are standards being used in new and innovative ways? Are there gaps that need to be filled, either in the standards or implementing them more effectively? How can stakeholders influence the future? Details and the chance to have your say at the UKOLN website.
Personalisation of Learning
8th December 2006 - Manchester Conference Centre
How can we put the learner at the heart of the educational system? Join us to explore different approaches to personalisation of learning with Prof. Oleg Liber, University of Bolton, and Mike Halm, Senior Strategist for e-Learning Technologies, Pennsylvania State University, USA. This one-day workshop held by the UK HE Academy costs only £50. Social dimensions of e-learning booking form (PDF opens in a new window).
9.Forthcoming training from the RSCs
RSC South & West
- 7th November: Making Your Computer more Accessible. Changes You Can Make for Free!
- 14th November: Effective Management of eLearning
- 15th November: Change Management
- 12th December: Film and Sound Online and the Education Image Gallery
- 13th December: Creating Inclusive E-Learning Resources – half day workshop
RSC North & East
- 9th November: CSS - A Complete Web Style Toolkit
- 7th December: Change Management
- 8th December: Project Management for the Education Sector
The full listing of all the workshops currently being run by both RSCs in Scotland is available at: