LEARNING CENTRE
Section | Name | Description |
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Facilities | Computer Facilities | Computer Facilities |
Finding Information & Using the Learning Centre | Library Catalogue | By far the best way to find out what books, electronic books, dvds, etc. we hold, click the link to the Library Catalogue. As we work in partnership with West Lothian Council Libraries, when you search the catalogue, you will also find books held in the libraries throughout West Lothian, including the High Schools. You can request books from any of these libraries. For guidance on how best to use the Library Catalogue, reserve and renew your books, click the following link for: Guidance This information is provided by West Lothian Council. Please note as a student, your username is your student number (8 DIGIT NUMBER). Your PIN number is the first 4 digits of your date of birth. E.g. If you were born 4th May your pin number will be 0405.
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Finding Information | finding information |
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Electronic Resources including Electronic Books | Electronic Resources |
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What can I borrow from the Learning Centre? | borrowing entitlement |
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How to Join and Borrow Books From the Learning Centre | library card |
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Electronic Books | Ebook Central | This is our biggest collection of electronic books and covers a wide range of subjects . It offers key word and advanced search facilities. |
VLeBooks | This is currently our smallest collection of ebooks. Click on the OpenAthens tab and then select or type in West Lothian College in the Institution tab. If you are already logged into your College Microsoft 365 account the list of books will then open. If you are not, you will be asked to sign in. Use your Microsoft 365 log in i.e., student number@west-lothian.ac.uk and the password you created. |
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Ebsco Electronic Book collection | Only a few books available from this company. All these books are also available via the library catalogue. |
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Online Resources | A - N The Artists Information Company | Alternative insights into the visual arts with fast paced news, comment, debate.... |
Anatomy TV | Anatomy TV is an interactive educational resource on human anatomy. It provides interactive 3D models as well as text, slides and video clips. Anatomy TV can be used to:
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Anatomy TV - Resistance Training | Interactive and video guides to support learning anatomy for resistance training |
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Art and Architecture Image Bank | The Courtauld Institute of Art provides access to a searchable database of over 40,000 images from the Courtauld, The Conway Library, and independent photographers. |
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British Library Business and Management | The Business and Management Portal delivers high quality digital reports and other publications from the British Library’s collections to business and management researchers. You will need to register to be able to access this resource. |
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British Library Social Welfare Policy | The Social Welfare Portal provides a single point of access to our vast print and digital collections of research and information on policy development, implementation and evaluation. |
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British Standard Institute | This gives you access to a small collection of British Standards the College lecturers have chosen. Use your Office 365 username and password to access. As part our licence you are able to print and use these standards for your College work, they cannot be used for other purposes. |
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British Library Sounds | Listen to a selection from the British Library’s extensive collections of unique sound recordings, which come from all over the world and cover the entire range of recorded sound: music, drama and literature, oral history, wildlife and environmental sounds |
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Clickview | Clickview gives access to hundreds of educational videos and TV programmes. Your tutor may direct you to specific content or you can browse the content on your own. Sign in using your college Office 365 email address and password. You will find the sign in button at the top right hand side of the screen. Alternatively google search clickview uk or use the following link: www.clickview.co.uk. to take you directly to the Clickview site and use the same usernames and passwords above. |
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Cochrane Library | A series of healthcare databases.. |
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Complete Issues | This resource covers a wide range of topics such as Climate Change, Mental Health, Drugs, Alcohol and many other social issues in the form of Articles, Statistics and Related Web Links. Username: westlothian Password: westlothian |
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Curriculum Press | Good information on Psychology and sociology Username and password required. Available from Learning Centre staff. |
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Getty Open Culture | J. Paul Getty Museum's Open Content Program makes freely available over 109,000+ digital images from the J. Paul Getty Museum and Getty Research Institute. |
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Digital Commons Network | The Digital Commons Network brings together free, full-text scholarly articles from hundreds of universities and colleges worldwide. Curated by university librarians and their supporting institutions, |
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Library Hub Discover | Library Hub Discover brings together the catalogue of over 80 major UK research libraries: national, academic and specialist. |
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Digimap | Digimap offers access to a range of datasets for the purposes of education and research. Create or interrogate a map online by selecting an appropriate base map, adding annotations and customising the content, use measurement and query tools to learn more about any study area. You will need to register before use. https://digimap.edina.ac.uk/help/about/register/ |
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Directory of Open Access Journals | DOAJ is a community-curated online directory that indexes and provides access to high quality, open access, peer-reviewed journals. DOAJ is independent. All funding is via donations, 40% of which comes from sponsors and 60% from members and publisher members. All DOAJ services are free of charge including being indexed in DOAJ. All data is freely available. |
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Directory of Open Access Books | Directory of Open Access Books is a joint service of OAPEN, OpenEdition, CNRS and Aix-Marseille Université |
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GoCitizen | Practice online for the British Citizen test. Sign up for free. |
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Google Arts and Culture | Discover artworks, collections and stories from all around the world in a new way. Explore cultural treasures in extraordinary detail and easily share with your friends. |
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Google Scholar | As the name suggests, this is a more scholarly Google . It will provide access to lots of online journal articles etc which may support your studies. If you have problems accessing the full articles, please contact the College Learning Centre staff who may able to help obtain this for you. |
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Guggenheim Art | The Guggenheim offers art catalogues, essays on art history and more all freely available online |
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HABIA Health & Safety Beauty and Nails | ||
HABIA Health & Safety Hairdressing and Barbering | An up-to-date HABIA Health and Safety Resource for Hairdressing and Barbering. A paper copy is available on the shelves of the Learning Centre. |
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ISSUES ONLINE | This is an excellent resource covering contemporary social issues such as poverty, equality, homelessness etc. Username and password are available from the Learning Centre staff Email: LeaningCentre@west-lothian.ac.uk Or it may also be listed in your course area in Moodle. |
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Jisc Journal Archive | Enables you to cross search over 600 journals in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, medicine, law and engineering. Examples of some journals are: British Journal of Social Work British Journal of Criminology Journal of Psycholoyg |
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JSTOR | online social science database You will be able to access this resource using your College Office 365 username and password. Use the login button at the top right hand side of the screen, then the "use microsoft" option. For help to make the best use of this resource use the following guide Welcome! - How to Use JSTOR - LibGuides at JSTOR Alternatively use the generic login details below: username westlothian password poloruva |
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JSTOR Open Access Journals | Growing collection of Open Access journals covering topical areas |
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Kinderly Learn | An online learning platform for Early Years Practitioners comprising of short webinars and courses that you can work through at your own pace e.g How Children Learn, Challenging Behaviour, Development Milestones etc. Simply use the search bar at the top of the Kinderly homepage to find topics that interest you. User Name and Password is required. Please contact the LearningCentre@west-lothian.ac.uk or LHartley@west-lothian.ac.uk to get your account set up. |
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Kortext: Open Access and Open Educational Resources | Kortext platform with access to approx. 10,000 curated Open Access (OA) and Open Educational Resources (OER) for the Further Education and Skills (FES) sector. |
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Knowledge Network | The knowledge network is available to students who go on placement within the NHS and selected teaching staff. Registration details are available from the above link. If you need any assistance accessing and using this resource please speak to the Learning Centre staff. |
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Napier - Edinburgh Napier University Library Search | Provides you with access to the library resources of Edinburgh Napier. You can use this as a tool when searching for information. The College Learning Centre staff can help obtaining any resource you may find. |
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Open Education Resources | Open educational resources include full courses, course materials, modules, textbooks, ebooks audiobooks, streaming videos and films that are all available free to everyone. |
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OAPEN | The OAPEN Library contains freely accessible academic books, mainly in the area of humanities and social sciences. OAPEN works with publishers to build a quality controlled collection of open access books, and provides services for publishers, libraries and research funders in the areas of deposit, quality assurance, dissemination, and digital preservation. |
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Oxford Open Journals | The Oxford Open series is a new flagship open access (OA) journal series from Oxford University Press (OUP). Journals in this series will further OUP’s mission to support excellence in research, scholarship, and education. This will be achieved by providing additional high quality, broad scope, fully OA venues for researchers to disseminate their work. |
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Pub Med. | PubMed is a free resource supporting the search and retrieval of biomedical and life sciences literature with the aim of improving health–both globally and personally. |
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SSERC | SSERC offers a broad portfolio of services, principally in support of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) areas of the curriculum. Username WLC20189 password DECHmont91 |
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VOGUE | A searchable archive of American Vogue, from the first issue in 1892 to the current month, reproduced in high-resolution colour page images. |
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VADS | VADS: free art and design images for educationvads.ac.uk
The VADS image collection provides over 100000 art and design images free for use in education, drawn from university and college art collections, museums..
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West Lothian Council Library - Digital library | e-Books, e-Talking books, e-Magazines and digital resources accessible 24/7. All free of charge using your public library membership card. Definitely worth a look. |
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Study Skills | Essay Writing Skills | A brief introduction to essay writing skills |
Report Writing: a Brief Guide | Writing a report can seem daunting. We have broken the process down into manageable chunks that may help you understand it better. |
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Report Writing Checklist | Checklist |
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Example of a Scientific or Practical Report | Report |
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Example of a Business or Social Science Report | Report |
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Presentation Skills | During your course you will probably be asked to give a short presentation to your class or colleagues. Many people find it very difficult to do this especially the first time! Don’t despair… the following notes are aimed at not just helping you to put together a good presentation but also to improve your presentation techniques. |
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Note Taking Tips | Everyone is different and will make notes in different ways, that’s why it is important to make your own notes in your own words. The three main types of notes you take will be from handouts , during class and when doing research. Click here for further information to help you improve your note taking skills. |
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Note Taking Template | Note Taking Template |
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Exams | For most students exams are extremely stressful. In order to reduce the stress it is important to develop good revision techniques. Read on for further information. |
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Recommended Reading and Online Resources | A list of books and ebooks to help give you a better understanding of Study Skills. Also includes a list of web sites to give further tips and information. |
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10 of the Best Study Skills Apps | Recommended by the London School of Economics a list of useful apps that may help your studies. They include Study Planners , help with referencing and a flash card app for revision. (most are available on iPhone and Android). |
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Digital skills | A collection of short bitesize course produced by the Government's National Career Service. They are all free to access and cover options from beginner to advanced level. Well worth a look at. |
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Questionnaire Templates | where to find ideas for questionnaire templates |
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Create a Questionnaire - Checklist | Questionnaire Checklist |
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Questionnaire Design Video links | Links to useful video presentations on Questionnaire Design. |
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Using Google Search | Google Search |
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Using Google Advanced Search | Advanced Search |
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Using Google Scholar | Scholar |
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Tips for Evaluating Information | Evaluating information |
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Study Skills Notebook from the Open University | ||
Study Skills Handbook Electronic Book | ||
Reading Skills | Reading effectively is one of the most important skills for students and will help you perform better. Follow our techniques and tips to help you get the most out reading books, articles, reports etc. |
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Learning Styles | Learning styles are the different ways people learn. Understanding and identifying your own learning style can help you learn, problem solve and make decisions in work. Read on to find out more about each style and learn how to identify your own learning style. |
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Time Management | Managing your time for college work is about setting and following a schedule of study. This will help you organise and prioritise your studies around the competing activities of work, family etc. |
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Time Flies: Time Management Tips | ||
Listening Skills | Next to reading, listening is one of the most important skills you can develop to help you do better in college. In order to improve your listening skills in class it is important to concentrate on what is being said at all times - try not to day dream! Follow our techniques and tips to become a better listener! |
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Fake News? | To help in the fight against fake news, the BBC has compiled a collection of activities and resources to help students be more discerning when looking at the news. |
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Interview and Questionnaires | ||
Harvard Referencing | Harvard Referencing Handout | Harvard |
Harvard Referencing Examples | Examples |
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Harvard Referencing Template | Template |
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Harvard Referencing Powerpoint | A short powerpoint to support a workshop on harvard referencing. |
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Using Microsoft Word for Harvard Referencing | A brief explanation on how you can use microsoft word to create to reference list. |
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How to use Microsoft Word Reference Tab Short Video | A really good short video on the basics of using Microsoft word reference tap to do your Harvard referencing. |
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Links to Good Sites for Referencing Information | Provides a selection of useful tools and websites to help your understanding and use the Harvard Referencing System. |
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Harvard Referencing using Microsoft Help | Microsoft Help offer great guidance on how to use the microsoft tab to create your citations (in text reference) and reference list at the end of your essays. |
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Harvard Referencing Powerpoint | A short powerpoint, generally presented by Learning Centre Staff, explaining the basics of the Harvard Referencing System. |
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Harvard Referencing Sample Assignment | This provides an example of how an essay that includes Harvard References should look. As per the Harvard system the list of references are in alphabetical order and include a reference to Microsoft and West Lothian College. Both of these references are real references and worth following to provide you with a good source of further information. |
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All My Own Words - How to Avoid Plagiarism | In this interactive film from the Open University, you'll watch a fellow student grapple with a tough deadline in the midst of her busy life. Can you help her make the right decisions? |
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Quiz | testing Kahoot |
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Cite Me | some free access to this information. |
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Social Information File | Aids and HIV | Aids
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Alcoholism and Drug Abuse | Alcohol |
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Alzheimers and Dementia Services | Alzheimers |
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Arthritis | Arthritis |
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Autism Spectrum | Autism |
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Babies, Young Children and Families | Babies |
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Bereavement Support, Cot Death and Counselling | Bereavement |
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Big Picture | Big Picture |
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Cancer | Cancer |
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Carers | Carers |
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Cerebral Palsy | Cerebral Palsy |
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Child Protection | ||
Counselling Services | ||
Cystic Fibrosis | Cystic Fibrosis |
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Depression | Depression |
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Diabetes | Diabetes |
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Disability | Disability |
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Discrimination | ||
Down's Syndrome | Down's |
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Dyslexia | Dyslexia |
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Eating Disorders | Eating disorders |
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Elderly Support | Elderly |
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Epilepsy | Epilepsy |
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Health and Counselling | health and counselling |
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Health Conditions | Health |
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Hearing Impairment | Hearing |
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Heart Care and Stroke | Heart Care |
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Homelessness - Housing Support | Homelessness |
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ME/CFS/PVFS | ME |
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Men's Support Groups | Men |
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Mental Health | ||
Multiple Sclerosis | MS |
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Safety | Safety |
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Sexual Health | Sexual Health |
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Smoking | smoking |
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Spina Bifida | Spina Bifida |
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Vision Impairment | Vision |
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Voluntary Organisations | Voluntary Organisations |
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Women's Support Groups | Womens Support Groups |
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Youth Support Groups | Youth Support Groups |
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Digital Literacy | Student Login Details | How to Log in to Microsoft 365, College Wifi and Moodle for the first time. |
Using Microsoft Office 365 Courses for Students | ||
Using Microsoft Office for Students - You Tube | You Tube video help to use Office 365 |
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Using Microsoft Teams Tutorial in under 10 minutes | What is Microsoft teams? Shows you the basics on how to use it. |
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Using Teams: A short video | Created by Diane Mitchell from the College Workforce Development Team, an excellent resource covering the basics of using Teams in a brief and easy to use manner. |
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Microsoft Teams for Students | Free for studentsGet started watching the video to see how you can use Teams for group work.
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Introduction to One Drive | Introduction to OneDrive OneDrive provides you one place to store, share, and sync your work or school files. It is the Microsoft cloud service that connects you to all your files and gives you the ability to access them from anywhere and on any device. |
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Introduction to Powerpoint | PowerPoint is a presentation application that creates a slide show of important information, charts, and images to display during a presentation. Recent advances in PowerPoint include subtitling on slides, Presenter coach, and other enhanced interactive features. |
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Connecting Scotland | Useful videos from Connecting Scotland covers: How to choose a device and internet How to use your device How to stay safe online How to do things Computer terms and jargon. |
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Digital Literacy: Ethical Computing | Short videos covering various aspects of ethical computing: Protecting Your Online Data How Your Online Data Is Used Turning Data into Knowledge Importance Of Your Online Data |
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BT Skills for Tomorrow | Free courses to help you develop your confidence and develop your digital skills. A mixture of short videos, games and courses covering many aspects of using digital devices safely and effectively. Covers basics for beginners and digital wellbeing Broken down into two sections, Home Life and Work Life, so also includes sections on getting a job and launching a business. |
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Technology Guides from Digital Unite | Our award-winning range of 400+ how-to guides covers a whole host of digital topics. Written by subject matter experts and updated daily, the guides are perfect for supporting others with digital skills or improving your own knowledge. |
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Young Scot - Digi Know | Whether you use websites and social media or chat to your pals online and do a bit of shopping... Find out why it's important to keep yourself and your data safe with 'Digi Know?' |
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Internet Matters | Supporting families onlineGet expert support and practical tips to help children benefit from connected technology and the internet safely and smartly. |
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SQA Digital Skills | A range of learning guides. You can work through the guides at your own pace using the 'Play' and 'Pause' buttons. You may find it helpful to print out the documents below which give step-by-step instructions to getting online using a PC or tablet. |
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AbilityNet | Free ResourcesGet the most from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone |
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Student Information A-Z | Student Information A-Z | New to the College? Feeling Confused? Need Information? Use this guide to help answer those questions e.g Where do I find the College holiday dates? Can I Borrow a Laptop from the College? How Do I report Absence? etc |
Subject Resources (A-C) | Accounting | A list of Books, EBooks, Videos and Online Resources to support this topic |
Addiction | A list of Books, Ebooks, Videos and Websites to support this topic |
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Anatomy and Physiology | A list of Books, Ebooks, Videos and Websites to support this topic. |
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Aromatherapy | A list of Books, Ebooks, Videos and Websites to support this topic. |
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Beauty Therapy | A list of Books, EBooks and Websites to support this topic. |
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Built Environment | A List of Books, EBooks and online resources to support this topic. |
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Business Administration | Content will be available in the near future. |
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Challenging Behaviour | A list of Book, Ebooks and websites to support this topic. |
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Chemistry | A list of Book, Ebooks and websites to support this topic. |
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Child Development | A list of relevant Books, EBooks, Videos and websites to support this topic |
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Child Observation | A list of Books, Ebooks, Videos and Websites to support this topic |
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Child Protection | A list of Books, Ebooks and online resources to support this topic. |
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Civil Engineering | A list of Books, EBooks and online resources to support this topic |
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Coaching (Sports) | A list of Books, Ebooks and online resources to support this topic. |
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Construction | A list of Books, Ebooks and web based resources to support this topic |
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Contemporary Arts | A list of Books, EBooks and online resources to support this topic |
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Cookery (Professional) | A list of Books, E-Books and online resources to support this topic. |
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Counselling | A list of Books, Ebooks and online resources to support this topic. |
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Criminology | A list of Books, E-books and online resources to support this topic. |
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Subject Resources (D-F) | Discrimination | A list of Books, Ebooks and Websites to support this subject. Have a look at 'Equality' in our Subject Hub for further information. |
Engineering Mathematics | A list of Books, Ebooks and Websites to support this subject. |
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Family | A list of Books, Ebooks and Websites to support this subject. |
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Subject Resources (G-L) | Hair Removal | A list of Books, EBooks and online resources to support this topic. |
Human Resource Management | A list of books, ebooks and electronic resources to support this topic |
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Human Biology | A list of books, ebooks and electronic resources to support this topic |
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International Business | A list of Books, EBoooks, Videos and electronic resources to support this subject |
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Leadership (Early Years) | A list of Books, EBooks, Websites and Videos to support this topic. |
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Leadership (Management) | A List of Books, EBooks, Videos and Web Links to support this topic |
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Subject Resources (M-P) | Make-up | A list of Books, Websites and Videos to Support this unit |
Mathematics and Numeracy | A list of Books, E-Books, Websites and Videos to support this topic. |
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Mechanical Engineering | Content will be available in the near future. |
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Medical Conditions | A List of Books,EBooks and Online Resources to support this topic |
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Mental Health | A list of Books, E-books, Videos and Websites to support this topic. |
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Nails | A list of Book, Websites and Online resources to support this subject. |
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Nursing | A list of Books, E-books, Videos and Websites to support this topic. |
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Nutrition | A list of Books, E-books, Videos and Websites to support this topic. |
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Outdoor Play | A list of Books, E-books and Electronic resources to support this topic |
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Philosophy | A list of Book, EBooks, Weblinks and online resources to support this topic. |
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Play | A List of Book, EBooks, Websites and Online Resources to support this topic. |
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Plumbing | A list of Books, EBooks and Electronic Resources to support this topic. |
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Psychology | A list of Books, E-books, and Electronic Resources to help support this topic. |
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Subject Resources (Q-Z) | Rights of the Child | A List of Books, EBooks and Online resources to support this topic |
Sociology | A list of books, e books and other resources to support your course work |
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Sport & Fitness | A list of Books, E-books and Online Resources to support this topic. |
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Study Skills | A list of Books, EBooks and Electronic resources to support this topic. |
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Theorists (Child Development) | A list of Books, E-books and Online Resources to support this topic. |
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AI (Artificial Intelligence) for Students | What is AI, it's limitations and How best do we use it | Provides an introduction to AI (Artificial Intelligence), how AI systems are created and their benefits and limitations for users This information was provided to the College by Jisc, Oct 2024. |
Using AI Responsibly | This section considers how we as end users of AI tools and systems can act responsibly and use AI to support our work mindfully. |
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Using AI to Support your Education | This set of resources provides a series of examples of practical uses of AI tools in education by learners. A practical example: A practical scenario and explanation of how a learner can work with an AI tool. All examples are focused on using AI as a supporting tool to enhance learning, not to replace the learner’s work. Examples provided include: Preparing for interviews Translating languages Reading & Writing: Summarising Reading & Writing: Text to audio |