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Reader Development Information AreaThis information area contains:
- Case studies on the programme of reader development activities that took place across a number of participating colleges in Wales in 2008;
- Details of the CyMAL FE Sector Reader Development Grants;
- General advice and guidance on reader development activities.
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Case studies
This section contains case studies on various reader development activities that took place across a number of participating colleges in Wales during 2008. They contain many ideas to try as well as advice on what did or didn't work. We will add any future case studies here too.
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2009/10 CyMAL FE Sector Reader Development Grant
Following consultation with the FE sector a CyMAL grant application was submitted by RSC Wales. The grant was awarded on 24th June 2009. Colleges taking part this year:
- Coleg Glan Hafren - Will use a range of staff-designed posters advertising the learning centre services in different ways, and asking students to think about what the learning centre means to them. Creations from students will be put forward for the CyMAL competition.
- Coleg Morgannwg - will build on last year's success and further develop the Reader Development Group known as 'Chapter2'. Using a number of technologies including blogs, the student run website, as well as Skype and face to face meetings, they will continue to encourage both reluctant and active readers to develop their skills. They will promote the group through the 4 campuses of the college and activities will lead up to a final short story writing competition which it is hoped, in contrast to last year's book review competition, will hopefully appeal to a broader number of the student population.
- Coleg Powys - a Reader Passport scheme for different curriculum areas, encouraging further reading.
- Coleg Llandrillo - Rhos Site: Building on last year's staff reading group, will now bring in students for a combined reading group (some face-to-face, some via blog or Moodle). Getting items through Conwy public library collaboration for work with reluctant readers.
Denbigh Site: Also working with the Art and Music lecturers to see if they can involve their groups, and will hopefully set up some reading groups, or at least promote some reading activities in the classrooms with other students such as ESOL and reluctant readers.
- Coleg Llysfasi - TBC.
- Coleg Menai - Book swaps and a Reader Reviews Competition of any reading material (e.g. fiction, course texts, magazines, audio books, newspapers etc) with prizes for each of the three sites. Submissions can be by email, post, dropped off at the libraries, or submitted via the library pages on Moodle. The projects will be promoted in many ways: at inductions and teaching sessions; via posters; Moodle; staff intranet; staff e-zine; postcards tucked into books and left on tables; and screensaver adverts on student machines. Coleg Menai will also be running the Libraries Arts Competition 2009.
- Deeside College - work with ESOL learners, with a story/writing competition.
- Gorseinon College - work on wider reading with students, encouraging reading in different genres and authors, and even formats, related to selected themes. Primarily (but not limited to) English students. Collaborating with public libraries on book loans. Students will contribute to a mind map connecting ideas and themes.
- Neath Port Talbot College - Book club using a forum on Moodle, reaching out to reluctant readers.
- Yale College - ‘RD2’ working with a number of groups and their tutors to encourage reading and discussion. Working with students with learning difficulties and disabilities, students who require additional support and students who are working with the Essential Skills team. Students select and write reviews of books, with discussion via a blog.
Note:
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2008/09 CyMAL FE Sector Reader Development GrantFollowing consultation with the FE sector a CyMAL grant application was submitted by RSC Wales. The grant funded many of the prizes given away during the activities described in the section above. Following that a project group met on 16th July 08 and 8th Sept 08 to work on the details of the competition and how to spend the money we had been allocated. The minutes of the meetings are below, as well as subsequent emails which were sent on FE-LRC-WALES.
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Reader Development Experiences from other CollegesThe following information was the result of a query to the COFHE Jiscmail list in July 2008. The replies covered starting up staff book clubs / reading groups, groups for ESOL and adult literacy students and working in partnership with public libraries.
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Web 2.0 for Reader DevelopmentThis section highlights some of the ways in which (free) web 2.0 tools can be used to support reader development activities. Use of these will depend on the technical abilities of the reader group but they can be an excellent way to broaden discussion if meeting in person is not possible. Coleg Llandrillo Cymru is currently running a project looking at the use of web 2.0 in FE learning resource services. There are links to their Wiki and blog below. A comprehensive catalogue is Phil Bradley's "I Want To" website which covers a whole range of resources: http://www.philb.com/iwantto.htmFollow the link below to see how these can be particularly useful for reader development.
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Useful Websites
The links below have been divided into: Reader development advice - case studies and other resources to help with planning reader development activities such as working with particular groups of readers. Book Clubs - specific resources useful for running book clubs. (While on the subject of book clubs - there is an article on The Pen-y-Dreadfuls reading group set up by Merthyr Tydfil Library Service in The CyMAL Magazine (issue 7, p. 16). You can request a free DVD about the group, or Karl can lend you his copy.) Online tools - some free websites that offer to help with reader development activities. All the links are to our delicious website account.... Andrew Eynon's blog also has an excellent summary of Reader Development websites.
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Things to try
Borrowing fiction from the nearest public libraryIf you want a wide range of fiction titles for your readers, but haven't got the budget to spend on new titles, then you could consider working with a public library. They may agree to supply a changing selection of fiction stock. They benefit by increased loans; the college gains access to a wider raneg of stock; and both libraries gain in terms of co-operation and networking. A number of libraries in Wales operate schemes like this. Two examples from FE: "At Coleg Sir Gar a selection of teenage fiction and non-fiction books are borrowed from Carmarthen public library to lend in the College. The selection is changed every term. Similarly at Deeside College an informal arrangement has been made with Flintshire County Library Service whereby new English language and Welsh language fiction titles are collected and dropped off at the College."Resource Delivery Piloting Options In Wales Between Welsh Libraries, Final ReportAlso look at the 'Reader Development Experiences' resource in section 4, which has some references to involving public libraries in reader development activities (and many other ideas).
Tips on promoting competitions and projects
- Talk to people who will advocate it for you e.g. pro-active students and lecturers.
- Promote them during the induction period.
- Talk to lecturers about building into coursework for new term.
- Promote key selling points and keep repeating these messages e.g. (for a competition) your chance to win prize X and opportunity to have recognition and have work displayed.
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