A Leganto story from Kingston University
How can you achieve an inclusive reading experience for all students with Leganto?
A project at Kingston University in London has successfully created a new collaborative design for a reading list to make the resources on it more inclusive and accessible and representative of the diverse student body.
Additional materials
- Padlet with further project information
- Project description:
Becoming and Belonging: Supporting Student Journeys Through an Inclusive Reading List
Team:
Dr Diyan Gunasekera – Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing; Anna Englund – Library and Learning Services and Tamara Reid – Learning & Teaching Enhancement Centre.
Abstract:
For this project, we reviewed the My Reading List for Biological & Chemical Sciences (module code FX3003) with a view to embed accessibility (equality), equity, diversity, and inclusion in a variety of ways.
Through strong collaboration between academic staff, library staff, the inclusive curriculum consultants, and student contributions we were able to design a My Reading List that was more inclusive of all students and increased student engagement.
Aims:
The aim of this collaborative project was to design the My Reading List for Biological & Chemical Sciences (FX3003) to be more inclusive of all students and increase student engagement.
Method:
- Designed a structured learning resources list
- Added a variety of e-resources to maximise accessibility
- Included resources to bridge gaps in prior knowledge
- Contained resources to facilitate different type of learning of our diverse student body
Throughout the academic year
- Referred to the list and its resources
- Captured the student voice
- Monitored student engagement
Results:
- As a result of this piece of work, student satisfaction in the Module Evaluation Questionnaire (MEQ) for questions pertaining to learning resources and organisation increased by 25% and 10% respectively from 20/21 to 21/22 academic year.
- The FX3003 reading list was a list of resources. Data from the Alma analytics: 24.5% of its resources are books and 75.5% are other, to which included factsheets, podcasts, puzzles, video, web pages and animations. In comparison, the Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Computing, reading lists contained 88.8% of books and 11.2% of other resources. Note: ‘Books’ include printed books, electronic books and book chapters.
- FX3003 students commented on the clear lay out and the quality of the resources.
- The student survey carried out in May 2022 confirmed that the reading list contained resources that were accessible, equitable, diverse and inclusive.
- The reading list views in 2021/22 increased to 6,779 total views (211 students) from 2,596 total views (194 students). For 2021/22, Biological & Chemical Sciences, FX3003, was the top viewed module across all faculties at Kingston University.
Next Steps – for the academic year 2022/23:
Include a broader selection of resources to:
- Increase student engagement
- Promote equitable and inclusive learning
- Embed reading list entries in Canvas content
Takeaway:
- Diversify your reading list. Promote, review and update reading lists regularly
- Make more/better use of features and functionality of Leganto
Acknowledgements:
We wish to thank, the Biological & Chemical Sciences students (2021/22), the inclusive curriculum consultants; students, Felicia Gunawan, Nafeessa Hossain and Edom Yecola-Tecle and the Library and Learning Services colleagues, Cheryl Clark, Lyn Porteous and Faye Sisson.