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Researching Dialogue & Communities of Enquiry in eLearning in HE |
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Researching the immediate world 16 March 2006 at The University of Leeds The focus of this seminar will be the challenge of researching communication in newer communication spaces. Young people entering Higher Education prefer immediate communication, such as mobile phones and synchronous discussions, and there is increasing use of blogs and wikis. All of these create challenges for researchers. Welcome by Professor David Cottrell, previously Director of Teaching and Learning and acting Head of the School of Medicine, University of Leeds Dr John Sandars and Dr Catriona Morrison The Net Generation Abstract This presentation describes the important features of the recent Educause review of learning approaches by young persons, especially the high use of newer technologies. The results of a recent survey of the use of blog and instant messaging in first year students in medicine and psychology at the University of Leeds is also presented. Dr John Sandars is Senior Lecturer in community based education in the Medical Education Unit, School of Medicine, University of Leeds. John has a teaching and research interest in the impact of new technologies on learning by students and graduates. Dr Catriona Morrison is Lecturer in Experimental Psychology, Department of Psychology at the University of Leeds. Catriona has an interest in using new learning technologies to enhance the student learning experience. International Speaker, Professor Rich Ling, Oslo University Mobile Phones Abstract This presentation will consider the impact of mobile phone use, including text messaging, on communication by young people. The methods and challenges to research in this area of communication will be highlighted. Professor Rich Ling is a sociologist at Telenor's research institute located near Oslo, Norway and he is also the Pohs visiting professor of communication studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is the author of the recently published book on the social consequences of mobile telephony entitled The Mobile Connection: The cell phone's impact on society and along with Per E. Pederson the editor of the book Mobile Communications: Renegotiation of the Social Sphere. Dr Nicky Shaw and Dr John Sandars Mobile phone use – a social network perspective Abstract This presentation describes an investigation of student networks in first year management and medical students for peer-learning and socialisation. The use of different communication media (from face to face, to internet live web-chats) is contrasted. Initial analysis illustrated two interesting findings. Firstly, certain technologies were much more popular than others (e.g. mobile phone text vs. live web chat respectively), though face to face communication was the most highly cited. Secondly, the management student networks were substantially denser than those of the medical students. Dr Nicky Shaw is lecturer in operations management at Leeds University Business School. She conducts research in performance management and innovation using social networks analysis. Dr Aisha Walker, University of Leeds Synchronous online discussions Abstract This presentation will consider the approaches, and challenges, to researching synchronous discussions in computer-mediated communication (CMC). It will be illustrated by her recent research Dr Aisha Walker is lecturer in ICT in education in the School of Education, University of Leeds. She is also programme manager MA ICT in Education, ICT in Education Research Group coordinator and e-KT project leader (building capacity through development of e-learning). Will Stewart, JISC Regional Support Centre for Yorkshire and Humberside Podcasting Abstract This presentation will look at the potential impact of podcasting on teaching and learning within the HE sector and the challenges it raises. Will Stewart is an e-learning advisor with the JISC Regional Support Centre for Yorkshire and Humber. He advises on the use of Information and Communications Technology to enhance teaching and learning, supporting teachers and managers in their use of e-learning and the provision of personalised learning experiences for students. Dr Terry Wassall, School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds Blogs and Wikis Abstract This presentation will consider the use of blogs and wikis as a method of online communication. The work is based on the use of blogs and wikis to support communities of learners on several undergraduate courses. Dr Terry Wassall is Principal Teaching Fellow in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds. Panel discussion - The impact of newer technologies for communication spaces International Speaker – Professor Caroline Haythornthwaite, University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign The challenges and approaches to researching communication in new communication spaces Caroline Haythornthwaite, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will lead the discussion on the various challenges and possible solutions. Caroline Haythornthwaite is Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on social network aspects of online work, learning, and knowledge distribution, and computer media support for such interactions. This is followed by small group sessions to discuss the issues raised in the presentations and discussions. Plenary - Where do we go from here – The challenge and the solutions! Professor Caroline Haythornthwaite and Dr John Sandars download Grand Theories presentation Coffee, lunch and tea will be provided.
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