ASLIB: The Association for Information Management
ASLIB Distance Learning
ASLIB Distance Learning provides an opportunity for anyone, anywhere to take advantage of the world's best courses in information skills.
You can combine the benefits of our on-site training courses with the convenience of distance learning:
- you can learn in your own time
- you are allocated a tutor who will give you personal attention and monitor your progress throughout your course
- your tutor will give you as much encouragement and direction as you need to be able to complete your training successfully
- you will be assigned practical projects which will be assessed by your tutor
- you will receive the ASLIB Certificate of Achievement on successful completion
ASLIB currently offers two opportunities for distance learning:
ASLIB's Constructing a Thesaurus
The purpose of this course is to give participants the understanding and skills necessary for them to construct a thesaurus, having decided on the appropriateness of a thesaurus for a particular purpose, and the best form of such a thesaurus.
On completion of this course, participants should be able to:
- understand what a thesaurus is, how and why it is useful, and how it compares to other tools for information retrieval
- decide when a thesaurus is appropriate, and what form it should take
- create an overall structure for a thesaurus
- collect terms, and put them into thesaurus form
- add inter-term relations and term information
- choose and create appropriate thesaurus displays
- plan for the construction and maintenance of a full thesaurus, and choose software aids
The material has been fully revised, and is compatible with the 2005 British Standard BS8723-2:2005 'Structured vocabularies for information retrieval - thesauri'.
Participants follow the course individually, with the assistance of Dr David Bawden as course tutor.
All materials are supplied in electronic form. Participants will need e-mail and web access, and a word processor; no specialized software is required.
The course is divided into eight sessions, each including session notes, a worked example, internet thesaurus examples and recommended reading, and an exercise for participants to complete and send to the tutor for feedback. The sessions cover: thesaurus basics; preliminary analysis; getting the overall structure; collecting terms in thesaurus form; adding term relations; adding term information; displaying the thesaurus; maintaining and updating the thesaurus.
From the time participants start the course, they have three months to complete it. Most participants will take, on average, between 2 and 3 hours to complete each session.
On successful completion of the course participants will have understanding, and a little experience, of all of the stages of thesaurus construction.
No prior knowledge of thesauri is necessary, although participants should have an understanding of basic ideas of information management and information retrieval.
Course fee:
£456 plus VAT (ASLIB Members)
£570 plus VAT (Non members)
Wise Words Training
Designed and produced by Wise Training & Development Limited these guides bring together skills, knowledge and experience gained over 20 years of managing, training and coaching. Nicola Wise is one of ASLIB's most popular trainers. ASLIB Members can receive a £50 discount on each package just by quoting "ASLIB01"
Available now!
- Excellent customer service
- Coaching skills
Who are the guides for?
Anyone who wants to develop their own and others' skills – whether you are experienced or a complete novice! Each guide includes everything you need to prepare and run inspiring training sessions.
Contents of each CD
- Introduction video
- Preparing & running training guidelines
- PowerPoint slide presentation
- Detailed trainer guide
- Support materials and handouts
- Reminder poster
- Attendance certificate template
- E-mail invitation sample
- Pre-course questionnaire
- Feedback form
- Relevant additional exercises
This can be yours to run again and again within your organization making it timeless and cost effective!
For more information: Wise Words Flyer
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How can the ASLIB Distance Learning programme benefit me?
A. You can learn in your own time, with individual support and guidance from your course tutor. Our distance learning programme will give you an opportunity to learn new skills and techniques without having to lose time away from the office.
Q. How long will it take me to complete this course?
A. One of the advantages of this system is that you can learn at your own pace. The only condition we set is that you must complete the course within 3 months.
Q. How can I learn new skills efficiently, working on my own?
A. You won't be on your own. Once you have committed yourself to one of our Distance Learning programmes, you will be supported by a tutor who will offer you guidance and who will monitor your progress through marking your course assignments. You will also have regular contact with your tutor via e-mail. You will be allocated as much one-to-one tuition and guidance with your tutor as you need.