The GAELS project is an investigation into two areas which were summarised in the original proposal as:
	rationalisation of current teaching practice to provide high quality generic information skills material as CAL material using the existing infrastructure provided by ClydeNET and the Clyde Virtual University an investigation of the issues to be resolved in providing joint research teams with a more seamless information support environment over ClydeNET
	Rationalisation of current teaching practice is manifested as a practical intervention which seeks to produce courseware and teaching materials in information retrieval skills which can be used by both Glasgow and Strathclyde students:
	developing joint course-ware within a World Wide Web environment investigating Clyde Virtual University and ClydeNET as hosts for ‘virtual’ IT classes designing training in information handling skills which can be easily tailored to the demands of individual courses and can be run in either institution at undergraduate or postgraduate level ensuring that the competencies and skills needed for providing courseware in this way are passed on to library staff in order to provide a base for further development
	Investigating issues in providing a seamless information support environment involves the following:
	reviewing the electronic services (CD-ROM, datasets and electronic journals) provided by each institution in support of Engineering investigating and producing a report on the possibilities of making them available jointly e.g. considering the implications for the technical infrastructure and for copyright and licensing arrangements designing a joint World Wide Web reference and information service for engineering, based around the general virtual enquiry service under development at CVUL, and incorporating and building on other engineering information providers such as EEVL (Edinburgh Engineering Virtual Library)  More detail of the background to the project can be found in the original project proposal

GAELS is a collaborative project run jointly by Strathclyde University and Glasgow University, and funded by a SHEFC Strategic Change Initiative grant. ©  University of Glasgow/University of Strathclyde 1999. 
Last updated: 20 June 2001
Please address comments and queries to: s.ashworth@lib.gla.ac.uk