Setting up an in-house reading scheme Mike Dann Learning Resources Manager New College Durham Over the Horizon – Mini-conference, CILIP Members NE - Thursday 25th May 2017

Our reasons for joining Falling issue figures. Fewer students interested in borrowing books. Fewer students interested in using books. Library - added value. Reading Ahead 2015 – 16 PowerPoint – Excellence Gateway – The Education and Training Foundation www. excellencegateway.org.uk

Positive experiences for those who join in. A successful scheme Lots of participation. Positive experiences for those who join in. Improves overall achievement. Benefits for mental health. Popular with Ofsted. Reading Ahead 2015 – 16 PowerPoint – Excellence Gateway – The Education and Training Foundation www. excellencegateway.org.uk

Where it all started – The Six Book Challenge 2014 - 15 The benefits of The Six Book Challenge (now called Reading Ahead) Improves literacy, language skills & vocabulary. Improves overall achievement. Benefits for mental health. Popular with Ofsted. Increase library usage and raise it’s profile.

Initial success with The Six Book Challenge This is easy! Several enthusiastic lecturers on-board. Lots of their students enjoyed the scheme. Lots of books were read. Year 1 closed with a successful presentation ceremony. Expected more groups in year 2, then year 3. Uptake would grow as student achievement improved.

Problems with The Six Book Challenge at NCD Where did it all go wrong? Year 2 – fewer lecturers on-board. No increase in uptake after publicity drive. Fewer students benefitted. Year 3 – even less interest. Loss of staff member to drive it forward.

Another look at The Six Book Challenge Re-assessing the scheme Diaries and certificates - cost. Very basic format. Not exciting enough for students? Reading Ahead - online accounts might have helped – not used.

Questioning The Six Book Challenge Basic format of diaries Overall design not changed each year. Same prompt question. Brief comments from students.

Is there another way? Some very vague ideas Use the VLE and allow: Easy access for students. More flexible – different styles for different groups. Can exploit VLE functions – add interest. Easier to collect usage data.

Things move forward A chance meeting: Christine Davis – Lead Practitioner (Maths & English). Outlining her literacy role – course team meeting. An opportunity for a reading scheme. Informal meeting to share ideas.

More progress Follow-up meeting: Colin Galley – Lecturer & TEL Advisor. Experience & expertise with new VLE. Had ideas on how to exploit functions. Scheme name - Tap into Text.

Outline design – our scheme would: Allow participants to read a range of media types. Books, e-books, online articles & documents. Materials separated into categories: Fiction - Book of the Film, sci-fi, crime, historical etc. Factual - News; biography, history, guides etc.

Allow participants some choice – but with guidance. Lots of categories but students choose which ones to go for. Lists of suggested reading – both print and online. Encourage students to reflect. Provide a range of prompts.

The Future with Tap into Text Once set-up should be low maintenance. Any number of students can join with no added cost. Scope for development – same format, new design. Introduce new themes or topics. Budget pressures. Course validations & re-validations.

Setting up an in-house reading scheme Mike Dann Learning Resources Manager New College Durham mike.dann@newdur.ac.uk Over the Horizon – Mini-conference, CILIP Members NE - Thursday 25th May 2017