Where have all the laptops gone?

Some users of the Gateway will have been unable to take out a laptop recently due to an unprecedented demand on our laptop stocks. This was mainly due to a number of IT classes taking place at the same time and laptops being necessary for those teaching sessions.

We would like to apologise to any students who were inconvenienced by this and want to assure you that we are looking at ways to prevent this situation happening in the future.

Many of you gave us comments and feedback, which we value and will act upon. In the meantime, if you have any further comments or complaints, please ask to fill in a feedback form at the issue desk or alternatively leave your comments here on the blog.

Why not try videoconferencing?

The portable videoconferencing units have been put to good use recently in the Learning Gateway. Groups of students have been taking the opportunity of linking up with colleagues in Lancaster and Ambleside with great success.

Did you know it is also possible to connect the VC unit up to the laptop you are using so that students on other campuses can see what you are demonstrating or teaching at first hand?

Staff in the Learning Gateway are more than happy to help you plan and organise a videoconferencing session to take place in one of our flexirooms or indeed, in theLecture Theatre.

Please let us know if you need any further information or help.

A busy week

The Learning Gateway is enjoying record numbers of visitors for the start of the academic year. This week we have enjoyed academic staff using the VC equipment to teach students in the building and at Whitehaven at the same time. A Blackboard session saw students using the second floor open space and talking to each other online. Finally, Wednesday night was the first chaplaincy DVD and a pizza night.