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RSC NewsFeed - 10th February 2004
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In this issue:
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1. Changing the Culture with ICT - Secure Your Place in the Future Now
2. What has the JISC ever done for us?
3. Internet Explorer Puncture Repair Kit
4. Seconds Out. . NLN Round 4. . Procurement Call
5. Health & Life Sciences Online
6. Searching the Internet for Images
7. Getting to Grips with Google
8. Home Computing Initiative (HCI) from the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI)
9. Creating an MLE Infokit
10. Bids Required for Inter-institutional Authentication Projects
11. The e-MapScholar2 Project
12. JISC Call for Tenders: Eprints & Open Access Journals Model
13. Having a Home Computer Pays off at Work
14. Training and Events
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Changing the Culture with ICT - Secure Your Place in the Future Now
Bookings are now being taken for this conference to be held in the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow on Tuesday 9th March. The conference sessions will:
Target Audience: Principals, Deputes, Senior Managers & Practitioners in Colleges & Universities
Date: Tuesday 9th March, 2004 (09:30-16:00)
Location: Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Cost: FREE
A full programme and booking form can be accessed by clicking below:
www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/home.html
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What has the JISC ever done for us?
Good question. And there are some good answers available in the latest edition of the Ariadne online magazine which looks at how specific curricular areas are served by different JISC services. To read the whole Ariadne piece go to http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/. Otherwise, to find out what the JISC provides to your particular subject area select from the table below:
If you don't see yourself in the table that doesn't mean there's nothing for you. Check out the RSC web sites - links at the end of this newsletter- for further pointers to JISC resources for FE.
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Internet Explorer Puncture Repair Kit
Microsoft have released details of potential vulnerabilities in their browser software and issued an associated cumulative patch for Internet Explorer 5.x and Internet Explorer 6 on all Windows platforms. More information and the upgrade patches are available at:
www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04-004.asp
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Seconds Out. . NLN Round 4. . Procurement Call
The official procurement process for the National Learning Network (NLN) Round 4 Materials Development Programme began on 2/2/2004, with 9/3/2004 set as the closing date for expressions of interest to be returned to the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta), which is managing the programme. E-learning materials procured under the programme will be for the Adult and Community Learning sector, in the following subject areas.
· English for Speakers of Other Languages
· Family Learning
· Learning to Learn
· Making Learning Work for You
· Modern Foreign Languages (generic materials)
According to the call, materials "are not required in the form of courses, but must be packaged as small, self contained episodes of learning (Learning Objects) approximately 15-20 minutes in duration", with each Learning Object focussing "on a maximum of 2 learning objectives". Click here for full details of the programme: http://www.nln.ac.uk/materials/developers/round4_procurement.asp
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Health & Life Sciences Online
If this is your area, you may like to know that JISC is organising a series of one-day seminars comprising presentations and hands-on workshops. The seminars offer an overview of the key electronic resources within the health and life sciences and the chance to attend hands-on training sessions with leading resource providers. The seminars are suitable for teachers and researchers, post-graduate students, staff development officers, subject librarians, IT subject specialists, departmental IT representatives, all those responsible for promotion and provision of online resources in health and life sciences within their institution. In the future it is planned that a seminar on this will be run in Scotland. But for now, the scheduled workshops will take place on 18th March 2004 at the University of Nottingham Medical School at Derby, 29th April 2004 at the University of Newcastle, and on 11th June 2004 at OUCS, Oxford University. Further details at:
www.jisc.ac.uk/resourceguides/hls (follow 'events' link)
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Searching the Internet for Images
A new addition to the resources section of the TASI (The Technical Advisory Service for Images) is a comprehensive guide to Searching the Internet for Images. Alongside tips and advice on how and where to find the images you're looking for, this newly-updated report contains links to over one hundred relevant resources:
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/resources/searchingresources.html
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Getting to Grips with Google
An excellent resource for both staff and students is this interactive guide to using the world's most popular search engine. The search ends - or begins here: www.googleguide.com
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Home Computing Initiative (HCI) from the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI)
The HCI scheme has recently been re-launched by the Government to encourage the development of ICT skills by the UK workforce. Colleges and other educational institutions may be interested in the relaunch of this initiative which seems to have advantages for employees and employers. HCI schemes are enabled by the Government's 1999 tax exemption on loaned computers which allows employers to implement a tax-exempt loan scheme for computer equipment for their employees to use at home. Many employers use HCI schemes to widen their existing benefits package. Most organisations, large or small, are eligible. For more information see:
http://www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/oee/hci.nsf/0/7908C3347218272C80256E0F0041F265?OpenDocument
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Creating an MLE Infokit
The relaunched 'Creating an MLE' infoKit is now available from the JISC InfoNet website at http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk An organic resource, this will grow as experience in the community grows. The InfoKit provides a guide through the process of developing an MLE, following a process model and providing step-by-step advice based upon practical experience of the JISC's MLE projects. There is a newly-launched discussion group on the website which will facilitate this. You are also invited to send resources, such as case studies, for possible future inclusion in the Kit.
Please note JISC InfoNet will be attending and presenting at the forthcoming Scottish RSC Conference on 9th March, Glasgow Royal Conference Hall.
See www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/home.html for further details.
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Bids required for Inter-institutional Authentication Projects - Deadline Noon - 3rd March 2004
Is your college involved in sharing resources across institutions? How do you ensure that only registered users have access? What impact has this had on technical infrastructure and human resources? A significant amount of money is available through JISC to fund projects focusing on inter-institutional authentication. Innovative approaches to authentication are encouraged, though projects supporting and expanding on work that the JISC and other agencies have already begun in this area will also be welcomed. For more information go to:
www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/01_04%20Circular%20Full%20Text.doc
If you'd like to speak direct to someone about this call, please contact, Nicole Harris, JISC, Strand Bridge House,138-142 Strand, London WC2R 1HH, 020 7848 1802, n.harris@jisc.ac.uk or alternatively our own Mahendra Mahey at the JISC Regional Support Centre Scotland North and East - mmahey@rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk, 0131 315 7675
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The e-MapScholar2 Project
The e-Map Scholar products provide online resources for teaching and learning using real-time spatial data from Digimap (http://edina.ac.uk/digimap/). The JISC is evaluating the need for teaching and learning products developed under the original e-MapScholar project. This project will also identify potential delivery models of Digimap products to UK Further and Higher Education. Whether you have used e-MapScholar or not, you're invited to complete the online questionnaire at: http://edina.ac.uk/projects/mapscholar/questionnaire.html.
This should take no more than 20 minutes. A draw will take place on Monday 1 March 2004 of all those who provide contact details. The winner will receive the £20 Amazon voucher - £1 per minute for the lucky winner.
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JISC Call for Tenders: Eprints & Open Access Journals Model
A study to forecast a delivery, management and access model for Eprints and Open Access Journals within Further and Higher Education. This tender document invites proposals to undertake an analysis of a delivery, management and access model for e-prints and open access journals within the context of further and higher education. Funding of up to £30,000 including VAT and expenses is available for this study. The work should be undertaken over a three month period from April - June 2004 and the deadline for proposals is 12 noon, Wednesday 10th March 2004.. The full tender document is available at:
www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=funding_eprints
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Having a Home Computer Pays off at Work
People who have a computer at home say it makes them more productive at work according to a new survey for the Office of the e-Envoy. And three-quarters say it helps them achieve greater work-life balance. Those polled felt the benefits of their access to a home computer were:
· 61% have improved their IT skills,
· 65% are more familiar with the Internet and
· 51% have learned skills at home which help them at work.
In total, eight of 10 employees said their employer had seen a benefit from them having a computer at home. Further info:
http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/MediaCentre/CurrentPressReleaseArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4006275&chk=CVcXBV
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Training & Events
A full listing of all the workshops currently being run by both RSCs in Scotland is available at:
RSC Scotland North and East
www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/rscsupport/training.html
RSC Scotland South and West
www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk/events.htm
These courses and others are listed on the Scotfeict website at: www.scotfeict.ac.uk/events which also lists other staff development opportunities for FE staff within Scotland.
Nationwide training opportunities are available on the NLN events database at www.nln.ac.uk/events
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