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Build networks, not destinationsBuild networks, not destinations

Alan CannAlan Cann

School of Biological SciencesSchool of Biological Sciences

University of LeicesterUniversity of Leicester

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scienceoftheinvisible.blogspot.com

microbiologybytes.com

aobblog.com

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Social media: A guide for researchersSocial media: A guide for researchers

Cann, Dimitriou

& Hooley (2011)

Social media: A guide

for researchers

Research Information

Network

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That’s the way we’ve always done itThat’s the way we’ve always done it

• Too much work

• Too many students

• Loss of quality

• etc

ww

w.flickr.com

/photos/wessexarchaeology/109591736

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Solutions?Solutions?

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Online AssessmentOnline Assessment

• Via Blackboard

• Every topic

• Summative

• Question banks

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Over-assessmentOver-assessment

• Via Blackboard

• Every topic

• Summative

• Question banks

Midterm, end of module

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Good VideoGood Video

• StatsBytes

• MicrobiologyBytes Video Library

• Not talking head! BlahBlah

BlahBlahBlah

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Video FeedbackVideo Feedback

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What’s a middle aged man doing sitting in What’s a middle aged man doing sitting in front of a video camera holding imaginary front of a video camera holding imaginary

conversations with a sock puppet?conversations with a sock puppet?

D.W. Winnicott,

Playing and Reality.

(Penguin 1971).

Play is important in counteracting the implicit threat in transitional spaces which limit learning.

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But:But:

Video externalizes "experience",

reading internalizes it.

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Peer NetworksPeer Networks

• Friendfeed = Facebook but not Facebook

• Minimalist guidance

• Reflection

• Feedback

• Discussion (object centred)

• Staff support, not lead

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FriendfeedFriendfeed

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Engagement?Engagement? 10 weeks, 134 students:

5,376 entries

8,151 comments

5,232 "likes”

199,853 words - average of 1,491 words each

(not including private messages)

~15% of students continued to use the service more than one month after the end of assessment -

( ePortfolios <1%)

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Gephi.org

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Quality?Quality?

Does online = less?

More with less - is it cheaper?

More with less - is it quicker?

Laboratory skills?

2D B

oy tinyurl.com/26

569e

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"Communications tools don't get socially interesting

until they get technologically boring... It's when a

technology becomes normal, then ubiquitous, and

finally so pervasive as to be invisible, that the really

profound changes happen."

Clay Shirky, Here Comes Everybody, 2008