ISSUE10 - 26th February 2007

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )


Feature Article - Free and easy learning ..... online (D Morrison)
There have been a number of significant developments in the range of online resources available to support your teaching:
ICT LITE
ICT LITE is an online course, produced by The LITEhouse, which aims to give staff and students at Langside College a friendly introduction to a range of basic ICT skills to help you with your work at College. The course consists of 6 modules: PC Basics; Word Processing; Spreadsheets & Presentations; Email; Online Resources and Blackboard (the College’s virtual learning environment). ICT LITE is available on Blackboard, so if you or your students don’t already have a Blackboard log in then contact Debby McConville at the Flexible Learning Centre to arrange for an account or accounts to be set up.
BlendEd project
The BlendEd project is now coming to an end. This SFC Transformational Project was funded to create resources for use within college VLEs. Although the resources were specifically for HND Business and HNC Social Care, the topic based approach means that these resources could be used in other areas. For example, a topic on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs has been developed for the Managing People and Organisations business unit but could be equally well suited for many different units taught throughout the College. A full list of all the units/topics will be added to the College Intranet. For further information about these resources contact Willie Paterson ( 3751; wpaterson@langside.ac.uk).
JORUM
JORUM is an online repository of learning and teaching materials which are broken down into individual learning objects, such as text documents, graphics, video clips and so on. Once registered as a Jorum User you can search the repository and download individual learning objects to be reused in your own teaching. You can also register as a Jorum Contributor to upload your own teaching material to the repository to make it available to colleagues in the UK Further & Higher Education community.

Skillnet
As a LearnDirect Scotland learning centre, the LITEhouse has free access to a wide range of online courses known as Learning Bytes through LearnDirect Scotland’s online learning environment, Skillnet. The courses available include ones on the following subjects: care, child care, catering, communication skills, business management, information technology, Microsoft Office programs and many more. Once again to access any of these courses contact the staff at the Flexible Learning Centre to have a Skillnet account set up.
Further details on the above online learning resources are given in an “Online Learning Update” leaflet which will pop into your pigeonhole today.

XLC Theatre Company Review “Antigone” – Independent Newspaper 20.02.07 (Extract)

Jean Anouilh’s version of Sophocles’s play is structurally simpler, but thematically and emotionally more complex than the original.
Jennifer Bates, as Antigone, is bitter, sarcastic and just the right side of insane for the part. Particularly impressive are her scenes with her sister, Ismene (Louise Stewart), and her suitor, Haemon (Matt McClure), in which she manages to draw them both to her but also isolate herself from them. Her moments of fear and isolation, juxtaposed with her indignant, bravado, are striking yet intelligently controlled. Neil Anderson, as Creon, shows avuncular understanding as he tries to avoid executing Antigone; a certain distant calculation as he describes the political necessity of his actions; and the humility of a reluctant ruler not consumed by the trappings of office. It was interesting to see Creon as anything but a broken man at the play’s conclusion, and Anderson’s performance is masterful. The guards, particularly James Kirk as the first guard, play their parts well and with just the right amount of humour. Mark Prendergas, the narrator, delivers the meta-theatrical commentary with just the right degree of intrusion, so as to put a little more distance between audience and performance. In all, the XLC Theatre Company, comprised of recent graduates from Langside College, have given an excellent rendering of probably the most enduring of Greek tragedies, in an adaptation that should be produced as often as the original.

Well done to David, David and Alan for another very successful show.

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Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact
Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

Issue 9 - 19 February 2007

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Estates Update
Terrific news for the College – the College Campus Masterplan was APPROVED by Glasgow City Council Development committee last week. The approval of the plan is a significant step towards the creation of our new estate. The Masterplan outlines the design development and how the new college will sit within its environment, dealing with important issues such as traffic plans and recycling etc. This step in the development process precedes the approval of full planning permission but is an important indicator that we are on the right lines in terms of design and our future presence within the community.
Roads update
The initial works to redirect the gas main should be complete by Friday 23 February (at the latest). A delay was encountered because of bad weather and the obstruction of a main sewer in the line of the new gas main.
Thank you to everybody for your patience and understanding during the work.
ADVANCE WARNING – On Monday 26 February work will begin on the formation of the new wider road into the Campus. This will happen in 2 phases. The first phase will involve the new road being formed from the main gate to level with the present gymnasiums. This work will take 11 weeks. Traffic Management procedures will, of necessity, be in place during construction work. Again, staff patience and understanding is asked for during this period.
The second phase – extending the new road up through the new campus will take place when Phase 1 of the new estate is completed and will form part of phase 2 (the formation of the new Sports and Drama teaching areas)

Student Escapes the Winter Blues
Joyce Miller, a student on the HNC Sports Coaching with Development of Sport is off to sunnier climates. In her role as coach to the Elite Scottish Women’s Bowling Team, Joyce will be travelling to Portugal in March before packing her bags for a competition in New Zealand. Joyce is able to balance her current studies at Langside College with her coaching. However, there was one question the Sport Section staff were asking – “Do you need anyone to carry your bags when you go abroad?”.


Scotland’s Colleges Marketing Awards 2007
The annual Scotland’s Colleges Marketing Awards were held on Thursday 8th February at Dunblane Hydro Hotel. This year Langside College was short listed in the prestigious category ‘Main Prospectus’. Our submission was The Guide 2006 and we won the bronze award behind Ayr and Jewel and Esk Valley Colleges. There were 30 colleges entered for this award so a bronze is a terrific effort by the Business Development Unit.
Last year Langside College was successful at these Marketing Awards, winning Gold in the category ‘Other Prospectus’ with our Evening and Lifestyle Guide September – August 2005. The Evening and Lifestyle Guide 06/07 was also a winner at the recent Marketing Network FE First Awards where it scooped the ‘Highly Commended’ prize in the ‘FE First Award for Part-time Prospectus’ category. This competition is open to colleges throughout the United Kingdom.

2006’s winning streak did not stop there! Langside College also won ‘Highly Commended’ in two categories – ‘Professional Development and Enhancement’ and ‘Student Learning’ – at the Scotland’s Colleges Annual Awards dinner organised by SFEU. Our submissions were the CPD Programme at Langside College and the Vocational Access Programme delivered through our Glenwood Campus. Langside College were ‘Runners-up Highly Commended’ by ESF Objective 3 in their ‘Best Practice’ Awards held in November at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow. Langside College’s submission to the category ‘Targeting a Thematic Group’ was the Hospitality Achievement Programme delivered by the Food Studies section of Education, Care and Sport.

So far 2006/7 has been a tremendous year for the College in terms of winning awards – congratulations to all staff involved in marketing, managing and delivering our portfolio.

UK Skills Challenge – Skills Challenge is a UK wide skills competition for young people and adults covering various areas of expertise and consists of regional heats with the winners going on to compete nationally. The contest covers various subject areas at different levels and entry requirements. Langside College is looking for students to participate in this exciting opportunity. For further details, please visit www.ukskills.org.uk or to nominate a student, please contact Kim Turkington on ext. 3737 or email turkington@langside.ac.uk.
All submissions to be made by 9th March.

_______________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact
Robert­­ Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

Issue 8 - February 2007

60th Anniversary
By the time you read this Blog you should have received the 60th Anniversary pin which has been distributed to all staff. We hope this is a suitable small commemoration of the actual birthday date – 3 February 2007.
The 60th Anniversary Committee met again this week to confirm and update the programme of events to mark the Anniversary year. Full details will be available shortly. As part of the planning for the various events two working groups have been set up – a birthday party group consisting of Billy Brown, Linda Faulkner, Declan Fallon, Debby McConville, Margaret MacKenzie, Margaret McClintock, Robert Paterson, Carol Ann Swindle, Fiona Weir and Margaret Wright. Probable date of the party is June 28 (to be confirmed). You will recall, from a previous Blog, that this is a party with a difference, instead of bringing a present we give you one at the party to commemorate being a staff member in the College Anniversary year! If you have any ideas for the party please contact one of the working group members with your thoughts.
The second working party will organise a week long series of events to showcase the College. This will take place 29 May to 1 June 2007. The working group consists of Elaine Proudfoot, Catherine Taylor, all Heads of Faculty/Development Units, David Cooper, John Forbes and John McAdams. This group will be responsible for the Open Day, Student Showcase event and a College Partner visit and lunch event. Again if you have other ideas please let us know.

Good Luck
Anastasia, from the International Office, begins her maternity leave on
7 February. Good luck and best wishes from all at Langside.

Child Protection Training
The CPD Conference has given us an opportunity to update our Child Protection knowledge across the College.
The SFEU have already delivered a session for the LDT in January and are providing Child Protection training during the conference. Training is being delivered on Wednesday 14th February for academic staff and on the morning of Thursday 15th February for support staff.

XLC at the Citizens Theatre
Langside students, past and present, will be performing Antigone from Tuesday 13th to Saturday 17th February 2007 at 7.30 pm in the Circle Studio with a matinee on Saturday 17th at 2.30 pm. Tickets cost £10 for adults, £6 concessions and are available from the Citizen’s Box Office, 0141 429 0022 or book online at http://www.citz.co.uk/.
Antigone, originally by Sophocoles, has been adapted by Brian Elsely to create a contemporary, yet timeless version of this classic. It examines the eternal questions of freewill versus fate and of idealism versus pragmatism but it is also a very human story of a young girl who is prepared to defy her king in order to honour burial rites for her brother.
XLC is Langside’s post graduate company created to give our newly qualified actors an early professional platform. Antigone involves XLC actors along with existing students from each of the 3 years of the national Dimploma course.
Please go and support them. It would be great to see you there.

Health Promotion Events
NC Social Care students (two different classes who are not in on the same day) are holding a small Health Promotion Event in the main concourse of the Langside Building on Monday 5th and Thursday 8th February over lunchtime. The topics covered will be Health Eating (samples of food given out), Sexual Health (goody bags for students), Drug and Alcohol awareness (quizzes for all), Dental Health (this is mainly for the nursery children and they will be given toothbrushes etc). On Thursday the students will focus on Breast Cancer Awareness (the pink ribbon campaign) and Testicular Cancer.
This is a practical assessment that lecturer Marion McCusker has organised which meets one of the Learning Outcomes for the unit Health Promotion. Marion is evaluating different ways of assessing the students and making it more interesting for them. The events are staged as a result of hard work by Marion and her students. Please support the event and encourage other staff/students as well.
______________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact
Robert­­ Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________