Stòr Cùram FAQ
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1.0 Basic facts | 2.0 Accessing the Stòr | 3.0 Contributing content and IPR
1.0 BASIC FACTS
1.1 What is the Stòr?
The Stòr is a digital repository – or web-based library – of learning resources for social work education that will, from November 2005, be accessible by Scottish social work educators and practice teachers teaching on the new honours degree programmes. The Stòr is a non-profit, educational service managed by the Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education.
1.2 What does Stòr Cùram mean?
Stòr Cùram is Gaelic. ‘Stòr’ means ‘Stòrehouse’ and ‘Cùram’ means ‘care’: our strapline is a storehouse of learning resources for social care.
1.3 What kind of materials will be contained within the Stòr?
The emphasis will be on bite-sized pieces of learning materials – sometimes called learning objects - that can be used in teaching and learning: including short explanations of key concepts; case studies; and learning activities. You can also access educational video clips; and links to external websites with relevant social work content.
1.4 So will the Stòr be a library like my university or agency library?
No, the Stòr is not a replacement for the university or agency library service. It will not contain e-books or e-journals.
1.5 How will I be able to find what I’m looking for?
You’ll be able to search the content of the Stòr using a key word or words; or browse the content using one of several classification systems or browse trees – including the SiSWE standards, and a specially designed social work taxonomy.
1.6 Will I need any special software to view the contents of the Stòr?
Most of the content of the Stòr can be viewed and presented using an ordinary web browser. However, all multimedia material requires a browser plug-in or player of some sort, and the Stòr multimedia content is no exception. To ensure that you can access all of the content of the Stòr, and take advantage of the accessibility features of some of the contents, we recommend you browse the Stòr with a broadband Internet connection, using Internet Explorer, and ensure that you have the latest versions of all of the following free plug-ins and players: Macromedia Flash Player (version 7); Macromedia Shockwave; Apple QuickTime; Windows Media Player; Real Player; and Adobe Reader. Links to all of these can be found on the Stòr Cùram website.
Links to plug-in downloads:
Macromedia Flash version 7
Macromedia Shockwave
Apple QuickTime
Windows Media Player
Real Player
Adobe Reader
2.0 ACCESSING THE STÒR
2.1 How can I get access to the Stòr?
In the initial stages the registered users of the Stòr will be the nine Scottish universities offering social work education and users will use their ATHENS user names and passwords to gain access to the Stor. Contact the relevant staff member in your University library re obtaining an ATHENS username if you don’t have one already. The universities will be asked to give the Institute a list of individual users who will then be sent a user name and password. From November 2005 individual users will be able to access the Stòr from the link on the Stòr Cùram website.
2.2 Can practice teachers access the Stòr?
Yes, it’s our intention that practice teachers involved in managing the practice learning opportunities of students undertaking the new degree should be amongst the first tranche of users. In order to gain access the practice teachers will need to be issued with an ATHENS account from a University. Practice teachers involved in providing practice learning opportunities during 2005-06 should contact the relevant University and enquire about an ATHENS account.
2.3 Will the Stòr be made available more widely?
Our initial user group will be Scottish social work educators supporting students undertaking the honours degree. However, the Institute recognises that the Stòr could play a valuable role in supporting learning for the whole social care workforce across all educational levels. During 2006 the Stòr will be rolled out to the FE sector, and during 2007 all Scottish social work agencies will be offered access. So, during 2005-06 we will be in discussion with the SSSC, the FE sector, and social work agencies about the prospects for wider access.
2.4 How do I give my students access to the material inside the Stòr?
To make the resources available to your students you will first search and find the resources you want, then download the content to your own computer. You can then distribute the resources in a number of ways depending on the resource type and their individual conditions of use. If the resources are text based you could print them out and distribute by hand; or you could place the resources on your institutional virtual learning environment; or in the case of multimedia or PowerPoint you might use a projector to present in a classroom; or you could burn the content to a CD and distribute the CD to students.
If the materials are in the form of an external website then you can distribute the relevant web address to students or place the link on a web page within your virtual learning environment.
2.5 Can I make the content available on the open Internet?
Some of our content consists of links to sites on the Internet so some material is already on the open Internet (albeit with some restrictions on use). However, much of the content of the repository is subject to specific conditions of use and can only be distributed to students for non-profit educational purposes. This content cannot be placed on the open Internet and so, if placed on a network, will need to be placed within a closed, password-protected Intranet or VLE.
3.0 CONTRIBUTING CONTENT & IPR
3.1 Will the Stòr be a complete library of learning resources covering all aspects of social work education?
No. The Stòr will have a complete classification system with a fairly comprehensive list of virtual shelves but the shelves will be far from full when it opens in November 2005. The collection will build over time as we continue to develop and acquire new content; and as our users submit their own teaching and learning materials. We invite you to spot the gaps and make suggestions for additional content, or send us your own materials.
Can I contribute materials or suggest new content for the Stòr?
Yes. We actively encourage our users to get involved in this way and are interested in everything from a single learning activity, to a PowerPoint presentation, to a case study.
Also, if you know of good learning resources produced by third parties that you think we should include then let us know and we’ll try to negotiate access.
Can I adapt the material I find in the Stòr?
Yes, in some cases you can. Each resource contained within the Stòr will have particular conditions of use which will inform you whether the resource can be adapted or not. Normally, if a resource can be adapted, you will be required to attribute the original author (e.g. Adapted, with permission, from a resource by….) and to submit to the Stòr a copy of the adapted resource – thus adding to the collection.
3.2 What happens to copyright and moral rights if I contribute material to the Stòr?
In all likelihood the rights over intellectual property produced as part of your work will be owned by your employer. We would be asking the rights owner (probably your employer) to license the Institute to allow us to distribute the material for non-profit, educational purposes and also ask whether you would to permit users to adapt the material or not. In other words the rights owner retains copyright but would license us to distribute to registered users, who would agree to the conditions of use.
In addition, as the author of material, you would retain your moral right of paternity (to claim authorship in the work) and integrity (to object and prevent your work being subjected to any distortion, mutilation or other derogatory action which would ultimately be prejudicial to your honour or reputation).
Please contact SIESWE to discuss any concerns or issues over intellectual property rights.
Any other questions visit www.storcuram.ac.uk
Or contact neil.ballantyne@strath.ac.uk