H818 Conference Presentation: Mobile Blogging - A Course for Educators
The potential of mobile technology
to enhance learning and teaching practice has been recognised in various
academic studies (Xiao (2020); MacCallum et al. (2017); Mohammadi et al. (2020)) and the learning opportunities afforded through the use of
mobile devices are complimented by a number of learning theories including connectivism (Siemens, 2004 as cited by Manchester University, ND) and social constructivism (Vygotsky, 1978 as cited by McLeod, 2019) .
In contrast however, policies on
learner behaviour management coupled with issues relating to the individual and
collective identities of educators have led to resistance in the adoption of
mobile technology within learning and teaching practice. Indeed removal of mobile devices is still
used as a punitive action against learners where the devices themselves are
deemed a classroom distraction by educators.
Yet, studies addressing the use of
mobile devices have shown a disparity between the values and practices of
educators compared to those of learners. Recent research has suggested that the
nature of this disparity lies in a lack of appreciation by educators as to how
much learners (and especially younger learners) invest of themselves in the
online space. Indeed it has been argued
that such punitive action curtails youth agency in online spaces.
Blogs are one means by which
learners can express their identity online.
Moreover, blogging is shown to be effective in enabling literacy
practitioners to model an effective range of digital literacy skills. Yet, frequently this approach is used
ineffectively, if at all, in order to document learning experiences which take
place within the classroom, despite the aforementioned opportunities created by
mobile technology.
It is suggested here that, coupled with the features
offered by mobile devices, mobile blogging has the potential to
enable learners to not only document learning that takes place within the
classroom, but also to document the impact of students’ learning beyond the
classroom, creating a culturally responsive curriculum by reflecting on the
relationship between their lives, their learning and their work.
This project sets out to create a
professional development resource for literacy educators working primarily in
the Further Education (FE) sector in Scotland.
The aim is to provide a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) hosted on the
Open University’s OpenLearn Create site in order to enable openness and
inclusion through social construction of knowledge and open sharing of best
practice. The resource itself is
designed to promote behaviour change within the educational community. How that might be achieved was very much a
central consideration in the design of the course. Finally, an evaluation of the effectiveness
of the course, what constitutes effective professional development and how to
measure such a variable was also considered in the course design.
This conference presentation will highlight the origins of the project, key considerations that informed the development of the course and emerging themes within the feedback received. The theory and research which forms the central content of the course will be explored and the openness of this course will be presented as a mechanism to promote ongoing and inclusive access to a resource which enables other educators to engage in the scholarship of learning and teaching practice for what may be the first time.
Follow me on twitter @McintoshMclean.
My Conference Presentation
The video below was one of the most nerve wracking experiences ever, but so enjoyable. The whole process of planning, preparing, executing and evaluating a project was a formidable, but enjoyable learning experience. I had never presented at any kind of conference before, so to be voted by my peers to have won the Star Award for my presentation was a massive surprise. Again, I just wanted to thank you all for supporting, encouraging and inspiring me. It's been a pleasure to be part of the class of 2021.
References
MacCallum, S., Day, S., Skelton, D. and Verhaart, M. (2017) Mobile Affordances and Learning Theories in Supporting and Enhancing Learning [Online]. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315392914_Mobile_Affordances_and_Learning_Theories_in_Supporting_and_Enhancing_Learning (Accessed 6th December 2020).
McLeod, S. (2019) Constructivism as a theory for teaching and learning [Online]. Available at: https://www.simplypsychology.org/constructivism.html (Accessed 15th January 2021).
Mohammadi, M., Sarvestani, M. S. and Nouroozi, S. (2020) Mobile Phone Use in Education and Learning by Faculty Members of Technical-Engineering Groups: Concurrent Mixed Methods Design [Online]. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2020.00016/full (Accessed 15th January 2021)
University of Manchester (ND) Connectivism by Siemens [Online]. Available at: http://www.ceebl.manchester.ac.uk/events/archive/aligningcollaborativelearning/Siemens.pdf (Accessed 15th January 2021).
Xiao, Z. (2020) Mobile Phones as Life and Thought Companions [Online]. Available at: https://www-tandfonline-com.libezproxy.open.ac.uk/doi/pdf/10.1080/02671522.2019.1601757?needAccess=true&; (Accessed 4th December 2020).
Hi McLean
ReplyDeleteThese are the questions you received following your conference presentation, for you to respond to as you choose.
Best wishes
Simon
how did networking influence your project?
What do you use micro blogging for - as opposed to blogging at your computer?
Who did expect would you be the audience for the blogging course? And is it actually this audience in practice?
what has been the impact of your course in your own practice?
Do you think punative punishments will affect use of mobile devices? is it not better think how we can embrace their use?
From developing the course, what is a key takeaway in terms of what can we do to better support colleagues to share practice - especially as formulating ideas or whilst things are in motion!
Hi Simon, These are all interesting questions. I'll try my best to answer:
Delete1. How did networking influence your project?
It was crucial! Not only did it inspire my direction for my project, but it expanded the resources I could access and exposed me to the peer review process... I actually can't imagine now what life as an academic would look like without a network.
2. What do you use micro blogging for - as opposed to blogging at your computer?
I think of microblogging in a different way. Microblogging such as on twitter presupposes a willingness to share. By default what you post on social media is shared. My blog gives me more control. I can use it as a space to write, reflect, vent even and it doesn't get shared unless I choose to publish. However, given the prevalence of social media, I use these platforms to share my blog quickly to a broad audience.
3. Who did expect would you be the audience for the blogging course? And is it actually this audience in practice?
Yes, the course was designed for Scottish educators working in FE (primarily my own colleagues) and the vast majority of participants are in that group.
4. What has been the impact of your course in your own practice?
Its given me the confidence to engage with an international community of academics. I blog regularly and I enjoy blogging and I enjoy interacting with people who respond.
5. Do you think punative punishments will affect use of mobile devices? is it not better think how we can embrace their use?
Yes!! One of the writers I cite in my course, Zhimin Xiao, asserts that by curtailing the use of mobile devices we are effectively curtailing youth agency in online spaces.
6. From developing the course, what is a key takeaway in terms of what can we do to better support colleagues to share practice - especially as formulating ideas or whilst things are in motion!
For me, a key take away is in recognising that the behaviours of our colleagues are rooted in attitude and social norms. So in order to change practice we have to identify these issues and challenge them. Sharing and openness doesn't come easily. Hoy and Tschannen-moran (1999) cite openness as one of the five facets of trust. So building trust can really go a long way.
In terms of formulating ideas on the move, for me its about recognising the power of mobile devices, and the convenience they provide us with. Recognising the capabilities of mobile devices to capture our best learning moments is the key.
H818 Presentation Star Award
ReplyDeleteCongratulations McLean!
Your presentation at the H818 Online Conference 2020 has been voted by audience members as one of the most effective presentations, and you are one of the winners of this year's Presentation Star awards!
You may download your award certificate from
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g_JoLRZVdwSuR5mtzbN8NEgFjMtaGdm1
Well done and many Congratulations!
Simon Ball
H818 Conference Organiser
Wow!! I'm so pleased. This means the world to me. Thank you ❤❤
DeleteA big thank you to you and my fellow H818 students who inspired and drove me to work hard.