2020
UCC launches virtual learning ‘one-stop shop’ for students
UCC has unveiled its Success Zone, a virtual learning space designed to support students as they navigate a new ‘blended learning’ environment.
New and returning University College Cork (UCC) students will have access to a brand new virtual learning space, following the launch of the university’s Success Zone.
Described as a ‘one-stop shop’ for students entering the new academic term, the UCC Success Zone is a virtual learning space designed to offer academic strategies to help them to succeed at UCC.
Within the Success Zone, students will have access to helpful and user-friendly videos and resources they will need to get started and/or prepare for a blended learning environment as they return to college life.
Delivered through the university’s Virtual Learning Environment, Canvas, this latest learning resource covers areas such as Netiquette and Approaching Online Learning – skills that every student beginning or returning to university in 2020 needs.
Each UCC student will be automatically enrolled in the Success Zone, which can be conveniently accessed from any place, at any time and from any device.
The Success Zone is the product of a collaboration between several contributors and partners across the university: UCC’s unique Graduate Attributes Programme, the Skills Centre, IT services, UCC’s library service, and the Centre for Digital Education.
Through this cross-collaboration, the Success Zone modules will not only advance the development of UCC students’ academic, specialist and technical competencies, but will also equip them with real-world transferable skills that can be applied in different contexts and environments throughout their lives.
Having this full range of easily navigable resources in one central location, available at their fingertips, will help students as they adjust to a blended learning approach, enabling up-skilling at a pace that suits them, with the benefit of additional real-time engagements.
Kathy Bradley, who coordinates the design and delivery of the UCC Skills Centre’s programmes, says cross-university collaboration was key in bringing the Success Zone from idea to reality.
“This student-centric resource offers our students a one-stop shop,” says Kathy.
“To have one space for the students to be able to engage with the skills they need to excel on their academic journey is fantastic. It takes true collaboration and connectivity for all the UCC services involved to come together to deliver this.
“The resources are backed up with lots of engagement opportunities for the students such as the Skills Centre’s virtual Drop-in Zones, Study Coaching and Writing Clinics. We are really looking forward to the students exploring this new resource at a time that suits them, from any device the choose, and from anywhere in the world”.
Eleanor Donoghue, Graduate Attributes Manager, has welcomed all students to explore and experiment with this latest learning asset:
"The Graduate Attributes Programme is excited about collaborating on this unique Student Success Zone, which will offer students a central portal to navigate your personalised journey as you transition in, through and out of UCC, and we encourage all students to embrace this new resource.”