{"id":6887,"date":"2018-01-16T16:04:10","date_gmt":"2018-01-16T16:04:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/?p=6887"},"modified":"2018-01-16T20:29:05","modified_gmt":"2018-01-16T20:29:05","slug":"the-development-of-an-accessible-library-management-system-lms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2018\/01\/the-development-of-an-accessible-library-management-system-lms\/","title":{"rendered":"The development of an accessible Library Management System (LMS)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In order to support and develop the skills of Independent Living Skills (ILS) students, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gcs.ac.uk\/\">Gower College Swansea<\/a> Information Learning Technology team has joined forces with the ILS and Library departments to create a fully accessible Library Management System (LMS). The purpose of the new system is to enable students with specific and complex needs to autonomously run their own library service.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/01\/2.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6889 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/01\/2.png?resize=1024%2C560&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Screen shot of LMS system\" width=\"1024\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/01\/2.png?resize=1024%2C560&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/01\/2.png?resize=300%2C164&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/01\/2.png?resize=768%2C420&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/01\/2.png?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The overarching aim of the project was to develop real life employment and life skill scenarios to support students in developing a range of essential core skills, such as literacy, numeracy, social communication, digital literacy and employability.<\/p>\n<p>The project team evolved the idea of a student-led library service. To support this, the need to develop a bespoke, fully accessible library management system was identified. It was essential that this would be manageable and easily used by students across a broad cognitive and social competence range.<\/p>\n<p>The main objectives were to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Design and develop a fully accessible Library Management System (LMS)<\/li>\n<li>Design a LMS that students, across a range of abilities, could manage autonomously<\/li>\n<li>Embed library activities in to students\u2019 current curriculum<\/li>\n<li>Improve students\u2019 core skills<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Staff worked with two groups of students from the ILS department. \u00a0The first group of learners were academically able, but had difficulties with social communication and interaction (typically ASD). The second group of learners had a low cognitive ability (typically General Cognitive Ability score of below 70 \u2013 putting the students on the bottom 3-8 percentile signifying a borderline extremely low cognitive ability) with very limited literacy, numeracy and communication skills.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/01\/4.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"813\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-6891\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/01\/4.png?resize=1024%2C813&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/01\/4.png?resize=1024%2C813&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/01\/4.png?resize=300%2C238&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/01\/4.png?resize=768%2C609&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/01\/4.png?w=1371&amp;ssl=1 1371w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The LMS was designed specifically with the students in mind. \u00a0The system is simple, accessible and functional. \u00a0Students are able to add new stock to the catalogue by scanning the ISBN, which allows them to access the author and title and downloads images. \u00a0The students independently add classification (a colour-based taxonomy) and keywords. \u00a0For many students, this was the first time they had been asked to analyse the different facets of a book and interpret what each means. \u00a0When adding the keywords, students were able to select from a database of predefined words or add their own. \u00a0Students also add users to the system, run overdue reports, issue and return stock.<\/p>\n<p>The skills acquired and developed by the students through running the library itself and maintaining the LMS are wide. \u00a0They have improved their:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>communication and social skills through serving their peers when issuing and returning stock;<\/li>\n<li>digital literacy skills through managing the LMS and the data it holds<\/li>\n<li>literacy skill though cataloguing items and engaging with the books themselves<\/li>\n<li>numeracy skills through managing the library\u2019s budget and keeping account of any stock that has been lost<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Students and staff love the initiative and have seen improvements in students\u2019 abilities across the core skills. \u00a0We have disseminated these activities via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jisc.ac.uk\/\">Jisc<\/a> and have been asked to speak at next year&#8217;s Wales conference; through Swansea\u2019s ASD network and College\u2019s Wales ILS Manager\u2019s network. \u00a0It is hoped that the LMS can be shared across the sector.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"info\">Kate Pearce<\/p>\n<p>Gower College Swansea<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:Kate.Pearce@gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk\">Kate.Pearce@gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"note\">If you enjoyed reading this article we invite you to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.alt.ac.uk\/get-involved\/membership\">join the Association for Learning Technology (ALT)<\/a> as an individual member, and to encourage your own organisation to join ALT as an organisational or sponsoring member<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Making our library more accessible to all our learners.","protected":false},"author":1191,"featured_media":6891,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[1189,1206,725,1207,909],"class_list":["post-6887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-case-studies","tag-ils","tag-aln","tag-altc","tag-kate-pearce","tag-lms"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/01\/4.png?fit=1371%2C1088&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7053,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2018\/04\/the-eight-pillars-of-pain-some-reflections-on-designing-an-online-information-literacy-resource\/","url_meta":{"origin":6887,"position":0},"title":"The eight pillars of pain, some reflections on designing an online information literacy resource.","author":"Hannah Mathias","date":"18 April 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Last year at OER I was carried away on a cloud of enthusiasm and promised faithfully to write a blog post. This year\u2019s OER is staring me in the face and I have done nothing about it! So here are my thoughts on designing and building a web based resource.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case studies&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case studies","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/case-studies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/04\/bent-stubbings-rebuilding-the-seven-pillars-the-sconul-research-lens-7-728.jpg?fit=1030%2C728&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/04\/bent-stubbings-rebuilding-the-seven-pillars-the-sconul-research-lens-7-728.jpg?fit=1030%2C728&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/04\/bent-stubbings-rebuilding-the-seven-pillars-the-sconul-research-lens-7-728.jpg?fit=1030%2C728&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/04\/bent-stubbings-rebuilding-the-seven-pillars-the-sconul-research-lens-7-728.jpg?fit=1030%2C728&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8466,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2019\/12\/employing-a-student-intern-to-make-a-library-video-what-can-go-right-or-awry\/","url_meta":{"origin":6887,"position":1},"title":"Employing a student intern to make a library video &#8211; What can go right (or awry)?","author":"Monica Chavez","date":"4 December 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"We employed an ARU student (Kate Laver, MA Film and Television Production) as an intern for an employability initiative and working closely with us she produced a promotional but educational video for the library. The 12-week, part-time internship was a fantastic opportunity for students either finishing or part way through\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Project learning&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Project learning","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/project-learning\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2019\/12\/image-3-1.jpg?fit=634%2C391&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2019\/12\/image-3-1.jpg?fit=634%2C391&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2019\/12\/image-3-1.jpg?fit=634%2C391&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9569,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2021\/07\/thank-you-to-our-sponsors-for-supporting-altc21\/","url_meta":{"origin":6887,"position":2},"title":"Thank you to our sponsors for supporting #altc21","author":"Christina Vines","date":"29 July 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We really appreciate the support of our Sponsors and Partners in organising our events and are pleased to announce our current conference sponsors for #altc21.\u00a0 We currently have a limited number for some of the different pathways available to organisations. Headline Sponsor Canvas LMS by Instructure The Canvas Learning Management\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;ALT news&quot;","block_context":{"text":"ALT news","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/alt-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"altc21 artwork","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2021\/06\/Screenshot-2021-06-28-11.42.16.png?fit=658%2C364&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2021\/06\/Screenshot-2021-06-28-11.42.16.png?fit=658%2C364&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2021\/06\/Screenshot-2021-06-28-11.42.16.png?fit=658%2C364&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2329,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2013\/08\/developing-digital-champions\/","url_meta":{"origin":6887,"position":3},"title":"Developing digital champions","author":"ALT","date":"15 August 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Building a TEL agenda through local 'champions' is not a new idea: a network of ILT champions was established by FERL as early as 2000 to spread new ideas among teaching staff in FE. The approach worked because individuals on the ground are best placed to understand and progress change\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2013\/06\/Learners.jpg?fit=514%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8390,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2019\/10\/the-importance-of-induction-courses-in-online-international-programmes\/","url_meta":{"origin":6887,"position":4},"title":"The importance of induction courses in online international programmes.","author":"Cat Hallam","date":"10 October 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A common assumption when launching online programmes aimed at global audiences is that, provided the potential applicants fulfil the entry requirements (e.g. English language requirements, academic qualifications, etc.) they are already well prepared to start their online studies. Yet this is a dangerous assumption. My experience leading the delivery of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Community&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Community","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Image of a blue plastic frame desk globe by Pixabay.com. Available on Pexels.com","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2019\/10\/cartography-continent-earth-2.jpg?fit=350%2C344&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5273,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2015\/10\/with-power-comes-great-responsibility-how-librarians-can-harness-the-power-of-social-media-for-the-benefit-of-library-users\/","url_meta":{"origin":6887,"position":5},"title":"&#8220;With power comes great responsibility&#8221;  How librarians can harness the power of social media for the benefit of library users.","author":"Teresa MacKinnon","date":"27 October 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the annual conference of the CILIP Multimedia, Information and Technology Group\u2019s (MmIT) held at the University of Sheffield in mid-September. The opening keynote from Marie Kinsley (Professor of Journalism, University of Sheffield) discussed the core of some of the issues the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Conference reviews&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Conference reviews","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/reviews\/conference-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"social media library","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2015\/10\/social-media-library-e1445688681744-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6CxU9-1N5","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1191"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6887"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6894,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6887\/revisions\/6894"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}