A new innovative suite of online resources from Skills@Library, and available through the VLE, allow students to pick and choose the support they need, when they need it. We have redesigned our online provision to create a suite of bite-size, user-friendly resources, tutorials and activities, making it easier for students to find the support they need on a specific issue, rather than having to complete a full tutorial. The resources are therefore designed to be targeted, interactive and engaging. They cover specific academic skills issues, such as aspects of academic writing, critical thinking, finding and managing information, presenting and referencing. As well as independent student use, the resources can also be used by academic staff in teaching and blended learning activities, fitting into the curriculum at the appropriate moment.

1. SEC3 2014 Engaging Leeds
Student Support & Student-focused Engagement Symposium
Bite-size resources for
academic skills development
Helen Howard
Skills@Library Team Leader

3. SEC3 2014 Engaging Leeds
Overall aims
• Help students to develop academic skills to be independent, confident
learners
o enhancing their current learning and research, as well as their
future employability
• Provide online resources which staff can signpost to or embed in VLE
module areas
Helen Howard, Student Support & Student-focused Engagement Symposium

4. SEC3 2014 Engaging Leeds
Online learning resources - aims
• To improve our existing resources:
o Some very long tutorials – hard to find the relevant bit
o Lack of consistent look, feel and navigation
Helen Howard, Student Support & Student-focused Engagement Symposium

6. SEC3 2014 Engaging Leeds
Online learning resources - aims
• To create a set of short, focused online learning resources:
o Easy to use, but interactive and engaging
o Variety of topics: choose what you need at the right moment
o Can be used independently by students or within blended learning
Helen Howard, Student Support & Student-focused Engagement Symposium

13. SEC3 2014 Engaging Leeds
Accessing resources
• For students and staff:
Skills@Library website: by topic or online tutorials page
http://library.leeds.ac.uk/skills-online-tutorials
• For staff
VLE: follow link from Skills@Library website lecturer page or from
A-Z guides in VLE
Helen Howard, Student Support & Student-focused Engagement Symposium

14. SEC3 2014 Engaging Leeds
Feedback
Undergraduate and taught postgraduate students were asked to try a
tutorial (outside of a teaching session):
•98% said tutorials were easy to navigate
•88% said the level was about right
•79% said that it improved their understanding greatly or quite a lot
•92% would recommend the tutorial to a friend
Helen Howard, Student Support & Student-focused Engagement Symposium

15. SEC3 2014 Engaging Leeds
Feedback
“Easy to use and vital
to completing
assignments”
“I found it helpful in
gaining a further
understanding in the
subject area”
“It is easy to understand
and apply to your own
work”
“i have it bookmarked on
my laptop so i can keep
referring back to it.”

16. SEC3 2014 Engaging Leeds
How could they be improved / future plans
• Further topics to be added: critical thinking,
note-taking, essay structuring, exam skills…
• Investigate adding more advanced elements
• Improve the process of embedding into VLE
module areas
“Useful if you don't know much
about it, too basic if you do
though.”
Helen Howard, Student Support & Student-focused Engagement Symposium

17. SEC3 2014 Engaging Leeds
Skills@Library online resources
http://library.leeds.ac.uk/skills-online-tutorials
“I have found all the tutorials on
skills@library very helpful so far”
“I love all the tutorials as they are so
helpful and easy to access! :)”
Helen Howard h.e.howard@leeds.ac.uk
Student Support & Student-focused Engagement Symposium