Activity 4: Group project

I worked through ideas from the Red Group and came up with the following. Now subject to group editing:

Idea to Develop:

An induction week groupwork research exercise for students that helps orientate them to Higher Education in terms of social software toolsthey may use during their studies.

The groupwork element is part of the induction week 'getting to know you' process. Importantly, as this is an induction week activity it will be 'across disciplines'. Similarly, the research element also works to introduce students to what they can expect over the course of their studies. Mick Healey (University of Gloucestershire) in his 'Mainstreaming research and enquiry through the Curriculum' paper as pointed to the value that research exercises can have for animating students during induction week. This induction week research exercise will focus on the 'digital divide'.

Addressing the 'digital divide' will present students with opportunities to reflect on their own opportunities in relation to social software and how this connects with global access (and non access) to ICT and education. A key aim is to foster critical, reflective thinkers within the HE context from the first week.

Target Group of Learners:

Undergraduate students across disciplines.

This would be organised on an institutional basis.

Context of Use:

Two sets of documentation will be needed. Firstly, on the use of blogs, and secondly, on the digital divide.

The blog will be set up by students within a group and students will post materials and ideas on the site. Blogs are often used as a way to disseminate research and to maintain a discussion. In this respect, students will use the blog as a research platform, as a hub during the presentation if appropriate, and a post-presentation forum for other groups to post comments. This is a crucial way to move beyond a 'final output' approach and to encourage ongoing debate and peer review.

In terms of the digital divide, the following points will underpin the discussion.

Students look at OECD website (www.oecd.org) and look for countries with reduced access to ICT.

Students look at countries have a lower participation in home computer ownership and broadband access.

Which countries are they?

Choose 1 country (not your own home country) from the lower end of the list and research the following:

Why is this country towards the bottom of the list?

What are the implications for:

• the economic development

• education of the people

• employment opportunities for the people

of the country?

Is the government trying to improve the situation? Either way, why?

If the government is working towards improvement in this area what measures are they taking and/or programs are they putting in place?

Intended Learning Outcomes:

1. Develop understanding of different social software tools and how these can be used within a collaborative research project.

2. Reflect on the implications of the digital divide

3. Work blog materials/discussion into

4. Present presentation to other groups and use blog as means to extend the discussion beyond the presentation

5. Work in groups to provide and receive peer review (via postings to other groups blogs)

6. Present a final 'report' including peer review comments.

Feedback and Assessment:

The blog offers a place for others to post feedback, (one group feeding back to another group after viewing one another's collaboratively created resource). Thus, peer feedback would replace tutor feedback and be delivered via a blog.

Motivations and Expected Benefits:

1. Developing friendships during the induction week period

2. Familiarising oneself with specific skills within HE context (social software, groupwork, research, peer review)

3. Engagement with a contemporary global issue