Open Culture

Open Culture’s mission is:

• to explore the best of contemporary intellectual life;
• to connect users with free, high-quality online media - podcasts, videos, online courses, etc. - that makes learning dynamic, convenient and fun; and
• to keep users apprised of new cultural developments and resources worth their limited time.

Their motto (if we can call it that) is "Enlightened ideas and media. Served up fresh". Which is ironic in that the Gestalt Polizei of all firewalls, WebNazi, blocks any access to the resources.
See Paisley. See Enlightenment.

Source: Internet Resources Newsletter, December 2006

EOLSS Online

The Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS) body of knowledge is an integrated compendium of sixteen encyclopedias. It attempts to forge pathways between disciplines in order to show their interdependence and helps foster the transdisciplinary aspects of the relationship between nature and human society. It deals in detail with interdisciplinary subjects, but it is also disciplinary as each major core subject is covered in great depth, by world experts. Subjects covered are:

• Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Mathematical Sciences
• Biological, Physiological and Health Sciences
• Social Sciences and Humanities
• Physical Sciences, engineering and Technology Resources
• Chemical Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources
• Water Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources
• Energy Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources
• Environmental and Ecological Sciences, Engineering and Technology
• Resources Food and Agricultural Sciences, Engineering and technology Resources
• Human Resources Policy and Management
• Natural Resources Policy and Management
• Development and Economic Sciences
• Institutional and Infrastructural Resources
• Technology, Information, and Systems Management Resources
• Regional Sustainable Development Reviews

Access from college network until May 2007. No log-in. Great, eh?

http://greenplanet.eolss.net/EolssLogn/searchdt_form.aspx

The Literacy Project

Yet another Google initiative...
The Literacy Project is a resource for teachers, literacy organisations and anyone interested in reading and education, created in collaboration with LitCam, Google, and UNESCO's Institute for Lifelong Learning.
Find books, articles and videos about literacy, or start your own literacy or reading group!

More details @ http://www.google.com/literacy/

Source: Google Librarian Newsletter

Save us all from RSI

Workrave is a program that assists in the recovery and prevention of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). The program frequently alerts you to take micro-pauses, rest breaks and restricts you to your daily limit.
Workrave alerts you to take a break in an undisturbing manner. When it is time for your break, a friendly small popup window appears asking you to take a break. This window automatically moves out of the way if you keep on working. However, if you ignore these hints too often Workrave acts less friendly and pops up the break window for your own good. The break windows can be configured to completely block your computer for the duration of the break.

Download at http://www.workrave.org/

Source: JISC RSC

Calling all WebCTers!

Free eBooks from the eLearning Guild. (We like free, don't we?)

339 Tips on the Implementation of an LMS or LCMS is an amazing collection of tips from hundreds of your professional colleagues. Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your LMS and LCMS (that's VLE to us UK mortals) implementation efforts.

834 Tips for Successful Online Instruction is a wonderful collection of tips from 336 of your professional colleagues. Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your knowledge and skills in online instruction.

Source: JISC RSC

Disability Equality Duty (DED)

45,000 public bodies across Great Britain are covered by the Disability Equality Duty (DED) which came into effect on 4th December 2006.
DED is designed to ensure that all public bodies - such as central or local government, colleges and universities, health trusts or emergency services - pay ‘due regard' to the promotion of equality for disabled people in every area of their work.
The Disability Rights Commission has produced a range of guidance and information for public bodies and disabled people on the duty so for fuller information go to the address below:
http://tinyurl.com/rjm7w

Source: JISC RSC

Christmas quiz

Not the college library one. Yet.
Throughout December the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography is running three competitions based on its special online ‘Advent calendar’. Spot the festive theme that connects a selection of Oxford DNB biographies, and you could win £200 worth of books of your choice.
http://www.oxforddnb.com/public/calendar/

Source: OUP

New Virtual Training Suite tutorials

Intute has released a number of new Internet tutorials for the Social Sciences in the Virtual Training Suite.
The tutorials teach Internet research skills and are aimed at students and staff in UK universities and colleges. They are ideal for supporting research methods, information literacy or study skills courses.
Courses include:

• Internet for Business Studies
• Internet Economist
• Internet for Education
• Internet for Government and Politics
• Internet for Social Policy
• Internet Social Worker

More updates to follow in the coming year. Watch this space...

Source: Intute

Keep on running

Established in 2000 and with offices in London and Chester, realbuzz.com Ltd is an online publishing company specialising in sports and fitness-related websites. They publish their own website, realbuzz.com whose purpose is to help everyone get more out of life.
realbuzz.com has a growing number of pages on sports, health and fitness, diet and nutrition, the great outdoors, travel, entertainment and charity adventures. Users can meet like-minded people, share recommendations and stories, and discuss their favourite pastimes – all online.
Good stuff for the PE-inclined.
http://realbuzz.com

Source: Tips & Advice Internet, v.10, 21.

In my craft or sullen art...

I won't even attempt to rhyme this.
New additions to the Poetry Archive include readings by Walter de la Mare, Siegfried Sassoon, Robert Graves & Dylan Thomas.
Plus a wee Christmas bonus of some lost Philip Larkin readings. (We librarians have to stick together!)
Featured poet is Dundee's Don Morrison.

http://www.poetryarchive.org

Source: The Poetry Archive