The idea of co-creation is not new. However, with the development of integrated reading list platforms such as Leganto (our reading lists system), students now have the opportunity to recommend, comment and discuss reading list materials.
The Library has offered a book recommendation service for students for many years. Students at all levels value this service, which gives them the opportunity to help develop our print and e-Book collections. Please encourage students to make suggestions for books they require, especially for dissertations and projects.
The principle of encouraging students as learning partners and the value of student voice could extend into the module readings. This also provides an opportunity to diversify reading lists. Other universities have tried this successfully (see links below).
Further information about co-creation of reading lists
Boyle, L.and Mitchell, D. (2016). 'Dusting Off The Reading List: Is it Fit for Purpose?', Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 4 (1), Available at: https://jpaap.napier.ac.uk/index.php/JPAAP/article/view/164/html
Thomas, D. (2020). Democracy, Diversity and Decolonisation: Staff-student partnerships in a reading list review. Available at: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-views/Democracy-Diversity-and-Decolonisation
Invite student feedback
Within your module, why not ask for students' views on what you have recommended them to read? Are they actually reading them? Can you add in some tasks to help keep students on track, and not leave all of the reading until their assessments are due?
If you carry out 'temperature check' feedback during the module, think about adding some questions about the reading list. Have your students found a text which is particularly helpful or unhelpful? Have they found something else which was engaging? Do you want to include that on the reading list?
Student comments are enabled on our reading lists system, so they can let you know what they think about any reading, and/or make suggestions for other relevant sources. Module leaders/instructors are notified when a comment is submitted.
