Learning and teaching about and through research: a technology-enhanced approach

Julia Davies

The School of Education

The University of Sheffield, UK

Thanks to…..

• Sheena Banks - advice and support

• Jo Gilham - technical support and training

• Paul Jinks - advice and technical support

• Jackie Marsh - course tutor

• Kate Pahl - course tutor

• Paul Wigfield - technical support and training

• Module One complete

• Module Two just starting today …

• Did not manage to cram in as much to Module One as we hoped

• We are all complete beginners in using Web CT / MOLE

A new programme

A programme to fulfil certain criteria:

• Flexibility for the learners - all professional full time workers

• Ease of Use

• Suitability of Medium and Mode for Course Content

• Platform for understanding Web 2.0

Resources from some modules shared across The School

• Experience of and enthusiasm for Web 2.0

• Awareness of multimodality

• Experience from research evaluation:» Keeping all L and T activities in the online space» Adding to the course incrementally» Keeping people in step» ‘Wrap around’» Providing an overview of the Module and each unit» Consistency of format - balanced with variety

Course Design built on:

Theoretical underpinnings

• New Literacies - Passion about making education relevant – a mission to educate in this area

• Team involved in research around popular culture; digital technologies and social literacy practices; literacy teaching and learning in a range of contexts (part of our content)

• Constructivist theories of learning (links to research into Web 2.0 etc.)

High quality Web 2.0 interactivity:

• High levels of interactivity• Collaboration over content

• Constructivist Learning• Different people, different skills and roles• Value for research and debate

• Social and Cultural Exchange and development

Online MA in New Literacies

Different modes and software we have used within MOLE:

• Slideshows – with notes• Slideshows – with sound files• Camtasia screencasts• Video• E-books• E journals• Pdfs

Links outside MOLE totted » YouTube » Blogs » Slideshare

What of the learning and the learners?

• They all seem to be having babies, moving house, having surgery and working hard.

Quotes from learners

(Quotes deleted for online audience due to ethical reasons.)

Lessons learned:• Positioning and boundaries:

» Establishing a non intrusive tutorial presence» Absence of spatial signals» Students’ notions of collaboration» Summing up versus opening a debate

• Cultural cues and clues• Students’ expectations – of tutors and each other• Wide variation in participation• Time differences – everything takes longer• Being over-spontaneous – regretting what you said!!• Discussion boards get cramped

Next steps

• You Tube• Blogs• Podcasts – probably via podbean or evoca

Second-Life

Bonuses

• It’s fun!!• Variety continues apace• Getting to know the students very well• Flexibility• The learning process is always as interesting

as the content• A record of all learning and teaching activities• Student attainment so far appears to be deeper

Bonuses

• Hooray!! You can teach without letting work disturb your ‘life-partnership’.

Thanks for listening

Julia Davies