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Posted By Leanne Young,
10 December 2020
Updated: 08 October 2020
University of Sunderland Library Services has been using H5P to create interactive learning objects in support of learning and teaching for a little over a year. Over the last few months with all librarians needing to quickly adapt to teaching online (due to Covid19) it has been particularly useful.
Background
In the past we have experimented with several different tools to make online learning objects including Captivate and Camtasia. These tools are great but they are expensive and it can take a lot more time than we had to learn how to make the most of them.
My main role is supporting distance learners and Transnational Education (TNE) students and it’s a priority to me that we can create engaging content that is accessible and relatively easy to make. After a bit of searching I came across H5P which is a free open source tool to create interactive content.
H5P and Wordpress
H5P provides many different content types ranging from interactive presentations and videos to ‘drag and drop’ and ‘fill in the blanks’. One of the things about H5P that encouraged us to use it is how intuitive it is. And it really is, though a quick search on YouTube provides helpful videos about it. Although you can create a free account and store creations on h5p.org, University of Sunderland Librarians chose to install the Wordpress plugin onto our University Library Wordpress Site.
H5P and accessibility
A key factor in us choosing to use H5P is its accessibility. We want all of our teaching materials to be accessible to all and H5P actually lists the accessibility of each content type so you can choose what content types to avoid.
When a content type is listed as accessible it means that either there are no known accessibility issues that we are aware of for the end user view of the content type, or that any known issues are about to be fixed. The goal for the accessible content types is WCAG 2.1 AA support, so the content types have been tested against these criteria and more. The content types have gone through a lot of testing with various screen readers, keyboard navigation, zooming, code inspection and more. From H5P.org
Some other great features of H5P which helped us decide to use it:
H5P content is responsive so they work just as well on mobile devices as they do on a standard laptop.
You can embed the objects you create on the web or in VLEs such as Canvas
How University of Sunderland are using H5P
Librarians at University of Sunderland have used H5P to create web based tutorials and well as standalone activities that we can embed into modules on our VLE (Canvas). Our ‘Reading for Assignment Success’ tutorial which is an introduction to reading at University, is made using a combination of Wordpress pages and H5P interactive activities. Our Science and Medical Librarians have been using H5P to create interactive activities centred around systematic searching. Most recently we introduced an online library induction for distance learners that incorporates H5P content.
Challenges
One of the main challenges related to H5P is getting usage data on the individual activities. We’ve recently set up analytics on our Wordpress pages which will hopefully tell us if the pages holding the content are being accessed and engaged with, and we can get similar data from our VLE but we do not get data directly from the H5P plugin related to how well students do in completing the activities. I believe there is a separate plugin for that but as we have to rely on an already stretched Technical Services Department, and at last check that plugin had not been updated in a while we chose not to install it.
Those of us at Sunderland who have used H5P really like it and have found it an easy way to create interactive activities and would recommend others take a look if that is your goal.
Posted By NE CILIP,
28 September 2020
Updated: 10 September 2020
“The only cure for a Fictional Hangover is another book”
Let’s begin how every episode does… In this episode of Fictional Hangover, I discuss first hearing about the podcast, what it is, who has appeared, who is to blame and confirm that we do sometimes dress up to record an audio podcast by Claire Eastaugh, CILIP NE Network Student Rep.
In 2019 author Gail Carriger tweeted that she had been interviewed on a podcast called Fictional Hangover talking about her Finishing School series. I love Miss Gail’s books and I enjoy a podcast so I listened in. It was fun, animated discussions with loads of spoilers so though I hadn’t read some of the books they covered I could follow the conversation. I would interact with the host Amanda on Fictional Hangover’s social media channels and would regularly post in their Would You Rather…? game.
Then 15th September 2019, while I was eating breakfast, I received a message… “Soooo... Amber has quit Fictional Hangover. You don't have any desire to guest host an episode or two or all of them with me from now on, do you?”
Needless to say, I was not expecting that with my morning coffee!
My first appearance, recording as a guest on Episode 33
I said yes, of course. I’d just made a huge change in my life leaving my job of 13 years and was waiting to begin my studies at Northumbria University for my MSc Information Science Library Management. This was perfect, the opportunity to work with someone who was passionate about books, sharing stories and encouraging reading. It felt like a quirk of fate that as I was venturing into this new chapter that this opportunity to do something that would connect me to it should come along.
Fictional Hangover is a weekly podcast about YA and new adult books though we’ve covered wider age categories on occasion. Every episode is guaranteed to give you spoilers, we summarise books in such detail they could be used as book reports (and one listener admitted they have!), we talk about the ups and downs, our favourite and least favourite moments and characters, often fancast and develop fanfic concepts as we go. We play Would You Rather…? too, a game of five questions which are inspired by the book they can be terrible, funny, ridiculous and gruesome – it all depends on the source.
Would You Rather…? opens the show up to so many people. Before I was co-host, I guested in Episode 33, A Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee and since I’ve joined, I’ve had the privilege to talk to other listeners as well as extraordinarily talented authors and audiobook narrators such people as Dawn Kurtagich, AS King, Jackson Ford, PC Cast, Kristen Cast, Bridget Tyler, Libba Bray, January LaVoy, Jesse Vilinksy, Kate Rudd, Sophie Amos, Caitlin Kelly, Caitlin Davies and the lady who Amanda and I blame entirely for my being on the show and our developed friendship, Gail Carriger… twice! When we have creative talents on the show, we produce a bonus episode which is part interview, part chat and mostly tempered down fangirling.
We don’t have sponsorship or any monetary assistance to produce the show, it truly is a labour of love. We try to use libraries as much as possible to obtain the books and we especially love audiobooks. I honestly don’t think we could consume so many without being able to plug my book in my ears – I’m listening to The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern as I type!
Before becoming a Podcaster, I didn’t understand the amount of time and work that goes into it. We try to share the responsibility of picking the books, writing the summary and reaching out to guests. Social media takes up a lot of time which I try to manage as Amanda is the editor, a very big and time consuming task and something I joke gives her too much power as “with great power there must also come -- great responsibility.” An episode doesn’t go by where we’re not shouting edit that out you, edit that out me,so much so that in August when celebrated the 100th episode in a live Facebook event we used that phrase as the tag. It really made me appreciate the awesome power of editing and the experience has not put us off doing more in the future for special occasions.
Celebrating Episode 100 Live!
Amanda and I have never met in person, she is based near Seattle, USA and I’m in North East England. Having an 8-hour time difference can be challenging, but we work around it and when something is so fun to produce no matter how much we have, or haven’t, enjoyed the book we are discussing it’s worth it in the end. One listener told us it’s like hearing two friends talking books and they are included in the conversation which is exactly what we want. We take pictures of our recording for the weekly blog posts, and we have even dressed up for them. Yes, it’s an audio podcast but we can still be fun. When we interviewed Libba Bray for our Beauty Queens episode we dressed as Miss Big Hair and Miss Deeds, for my bad book birthday episode, we wore party hats and purple noses as we were discussing Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend by Alan Cumyn and twice we have done the crescent moon markings from the House of Night series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. Book Character Cosplay is one of big social media posts every Friday. This is another speciality for Amanda, but I’ve joined in the odd production, but I love spit balling ideas with her and every challenge I’ve thrown her way she nails.
Pictures taken during recording
Fictional Hangover continues to be amazing and astound me. When I first joined, I didn’t think we would have achieved so much. I’ve enjoyed building our social media following on Twitter and adding content to Instagram. I love the creativity of trying to come up with the episode pictures each week, I love the laughter and debate talking about books, I love talking to our special guests, people I never thought I would get to speak to. To me Fictional Hangover is more than a podcast, it’s given me friendships and purpose, opened my eyes to books I may not have considered reading before as well as a loads of new audiobook narrators who I adore listening to.
As we plan 2021, we have some amazing stuff planned, I can’t be anything but excited. I can also say with certainty, since joining I’ve never had a fictional hangover!
Posted By NE CILIP,
21 September 2020
Updated: 18 September 2020
Reflections on being a Library and Information Professional: Tips for Progressing in your Career
CILIP NE webinar
CILIP North East held our first webinar last week (11th Sept). This was an event that was open to all and we recorded it so that we could share it with all interested. Below you'll find information about our speakers and watch the webinar recording below.
About our speakers
Phoebe Harvey-Lee - Assistant Liaison Librarian at the University of Sunderland will share her experience making the most of CPD opportunities which has enabled her to attain a role as a librarian without a traditional library qualification.
Alison Cullingford - Head of Collections at Durham Cathedral) will share her tips for getting started in the profession including reflecting on how employers look at applications.
Additional Links
Visit the Padlet to have a look at the discussions and ideas that were shared by attendees
Posted By NE CILIP,
18 September 2020
Updated: 18 September 2020
Reflections on being a Library and Information Professional: Tips for Progressing in your Career
A CILIP NE Webinar - Event Summary by Barry Hall
On Friday 11th September 2020, members of CILIP NE hosted a national webinar entitled, Reflections on being a Library and Information Professional: Tips for Progressing in your Career. The aim of the event was to facilitate an exchange of ideas regarding how to enter the library and information management sector, and how then to progress in your career and undertake continuous professional development (CPD). Two speakers were invited to present short papers followed by a participant-led discussion. The event lasted one hour.
The first speaker, Phoebe Harvey-Lee from University of Sunderland spoke about her experience of performing a hybrid role as both a library assistant, and assistant liaison librarian in a paper entitled ‘Reflections from a University Library’. Phoebe’s paper was particularly inspiring given her none-traditional progression through the profession, and shows how hard work, perseverance, and a willingness to, as Phoebe put it ‘be prepared to take a leap of fate’ can be an effective way into our profession. Phoebe shared her thoughts on the variety of roles she has performed at University of Sunderland, beginning as a shelver, then customer service assistant, and now assistant liaison librarian, as well as how these experiences informed her journey towards chartership.
This paper generated a great discussion, and I was interested to know how Phoebe managed to divide her time successfully between two roles. Her answer was striking in that each role informs the other, so Phoebe’s experiences as a customer service assistant have a real positive impact on her work as an assistant liaison librarian and vice versa. This has led to interaction between the roles that is otherwise often difficult in a busy library environment, and she mentioned how she now saw that each role is actually interdependent within the wider context of the library service – something that can be forgotten when we’re focussed on our own working ‘bubbles’.
Phoebe went on to stress the importance of the interview when applying for a first professional role, something that would be examined in more detail in the next paper. She pointed out that many applicants, particularly those coming from an academic background, will have similar experience and qualifications, so your performance ‘on the day’ can be crucial, and she mentioned the STAR (Situation Task Action Result) technique as being a useful tool when demonstrating your knowledge to the interview panel.
Allison Cullingford, Head of Collections at Durham Cathedral, spoke next about ‘Tips for Librarian Job-Seekers’, and her talk, from the point of view of a prospective employer, really reinforced what Phoebe shared about her own experiences. Allison’s presentation looked closely at how recruitment works in the library sector, and was an invaluable glimpse into what employers are looking for. She began by suggesting that a lot of the advice given to prospective recruits is focussed too much on crafting a good CV, which is something not necessarily applicable to the public sector. Applicants should rather place more emphasis on tailoring their skills to the role as advertised, and Allison made the astute point that organisations such as libraries tend to advertise jobs when there are specific roles that need filling; as she put it, ‘vacancies are advertised when there are vacancies’, and applicants should endeavour to meet all the requirements of a role when they submit an application, rather than send unsolicited CVs to institutions.
Perhaps the most pertinent point I took away from Allison’s paper was that interviewers and selection panellists score candidates against a prescribed set of criteria. The most successful candidates are the ones who best meet these fixed categories, so it’s vital you do this explicitly at every stage, particularly at interview. Allison provided an example of what a shortlisting matrix might look like, and explained the process by which candidates are selected. This involves scoring each candidate for each item on the shortlisting matrix, the ones with the best scores are interviewed.
Allison went on to provide some tips for getting shortlisted (reproduced below). As she says, ‘The application is the tool to get shortlisted’, and to get shortlisted you must address every criteria on the role profile and explain exactly how you meet them, giving specific examples. This is fantastic advice that I’m sure will prove extremely useful to anyone applying to library jobs now, or in the future.
With regard to the interview, Allison iterated the importance of being similarly explicit in how you answer the questions – don’t rely on what you say on your application, and make sure you back up everything you do say with specific examples at every point.
This presentation generated a great question and answer session and discussion, and it was pointed out how nervous interviewers can get – there is a great deal of responsibility involved in appointing new staff members, and candidates might not be aware how nerve-wracking interviewing can be!
Participants were invited to contribute to a PADLET, sharing their own thoughts and experiences, and it was great to see so many people taking the time to contribute to this.
As Social Media Officer for CILIP NE, I was tasked with providing a commentary of the event via Twitter using the hashtag #cilipnewebinar. I published live tweets during the event, and responded to feedback from followers after the event closed. This was the first time I’d done ‘live tweeting’, and found I was particularly attentive during the sessions, and really felt I’d made the most of the event because of this. I will certainly be more comfortable engaging with social media in this context in the future, and this experience has cemented my enthusiasm for my role as Social Media Officer.
This webinar was a really successful event, and I’m glad that both speakers were so well received, and that their insights provoked so much discussion. The participants were really engaged and, as you can see from the screenshot below, a lot of people contributed some sound advice and thoughts to the PADLET. Thanks must go to Phoebe and Allison for giving up their time and being so generous in sharing their experience and advice on being library and information professionals.
The webinar was the first organised by CILIP NE, and I’m sure that, given how well-received it was, there will be many more to come.
Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained - Becoming a Student Again
This last year has been unbelievable. I am Claire Eastaugh, the CILIP NE Network Student Representative, currently studying at Northumbria University to achieve my MSc Information Science Library Management. I’ve just competed my first year of study and heading into my second after being in full time employment for 15 years. The decision to pursue a career in Information Science and Library Management has been gradual, structural changes by my previous employer provided an opportunity for me take the leap and re-enter study.
When I was younger, I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. When I first entered graduate and later post-graduate learning it was because I love books, I adore the richness of the written word and the magic they hold. I love to learn, to dig into a subject finding new information and consider different interpretations and how it may be interwoven. It was also natural to attend University straight from College though I didn’t know how I wanted to apply it, so I achieved my BA (Hons) in English and American Studies and MA in World Literature without a clear career path.
My professional experience has been varied, often challenging but always interesting, I’ve been a tutor, a learning facilitator, worked in customer service, quality assurance and compliance. It feels like it has taken me a long time to know what I want to be when I grow up, a Librarian. In the last year I’ve maintained my studies while also co-hosting a book discussion podcast Fictional Hangover, and volunteering at the GNM: Hancock Library until lockdown forced closure. More recently I’ve volunteered at The Common Room to perform online cataloguing.
It’s scary. My first semester, I was filled with worry; would I manage the workload? Would I understand the assignments? Could a write an academic report? I was filled with imposter syndrome and still a year later with an average grade I am very proud of I’m still concerned. Some of it is questioning if this is real, more if I maintain my grade average, but most is whether I will be able to get a foothold into the industry. I didn’t think it would be possible to make such a huge change in my life and how it would affect my family as I’m also a mother and wife. It always seemed that making these big changes was something that happened to other people but then I thought, what would I tell my son if the positions were reversed? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I know I will need to start at the bottom, and I’m actually excited to do that. I want to work my way up; I want to learn from professionals in the industry; it’s one of the reasons I volunteer at GNM: Hancock Library, The Common Room and CILIP NE Network. I want to be surrounded by books, information and incredible people. I want to help people access information. I don’t want this to be a pipedream.
I’m not going to pretend it hasn’t been hard and COVID-19 has made it more difficult. First semester it was trying to get my brain out of ‘work’ mode and into ‘education’ mode, I felt overwhelmed and culture shocked as it was so different than my previous university experience. In semester two, the pandemic hit. I’ve built a support group with fellow distance leaners via WhatsApp and these people are lifesavers. We are a mixture of existing professionals from across the sector to those like me trying to break into it. We are also spread across the world so when you’re having a 2am breakdown over an assignment there is a particularly good chance someone is awake and ready to talk you down or you can’t remember what reading was relevant there is someone who made a note. We all want to be or are information professionals so understand and appreciate the sharing of information, communication and supporting each other.
Lockdown hit as assignment deadlines loomed, this group became lifeline to sanity. There were other people in the same situation who now needed to home school their children, who could no longer access information to complete assignments, who struggled with concentration levels and anxiety who were also scared. There were many pep talks, anxiety offloads and virtual hugs. As a distance learner I didn’t know this type of support and community was available, its thanks to my fellow student Kathy who set the group up initially that I have it.
I’ve been trying to document this past year on Instagram as a sort of photo memory book. I want to be able look back on this year, to the people I meet on the way, or when my son is older, and proudly say that I took a leap. So, while I continue with my assigned reading, write re-write and probably re-write again my assignments I will continue to try and break into the library and information sector. It’s intimidating but it’s a future that crave. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
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