Practicing what I preach...

Having written the complete draft of the "Critical Review", I have been using my findings to try and better my teaching.

From next week (week of 15th April 2013) I am beginning a new unit with my students, Multi-Camera Techniques, so I feel that it will be really easy to incorporate Digital Media into my teaching.

I will be using video clips in order to help the students gain an understanding of the way's Multi-Camera Techniques are used throughout the film and television industry as well as showing them the equipment they will be using in order to create their own Multi- Camera Productions.

I will show them how to upload their final projects online for assessment as well as having the students film me explaining the equipment.

I feel that the use of digital media within teaching and learning can benefit the learners and help them to gain a more independent approach towards their learning.... I have had trouble in the past with them being "Spoon Fed" so to speak... although it can be quite difficult not to do this as my job role is first and foremost a "TEACHER!"

I hope that undertaking this Inquiry will benefit others as much as it has benefitted me already, I feel that gaining insights into different approaches to teaching is beneficial to everyone!

e-learning meeting

Here is a clip from the e-learning meeting I attended a few weeks back. i have picked out the main information that I found useful and has helped me with my Inquiry.

It is more Digital Media incorporated with e-learning than anything else.

1st drafts done!

I have say here for four days typing away and I have finally finished the first drafts of all four sections of the Critical Review!

Now to proof read and sort out the appendices!

I'm so glad I took a week off work for this :)

What gave me my idea for my artefact

This image was part of a task set at campus session 2. We were asked to go through a magazine and select one image that may relate to your artefact. This image explains many different ways that the magazine can be viewed... Similar to the way people can be educated.

Questionnaire Graph Results

Below are the graph results for my Questionnaire.

Analysis of Questionnaire Results

I distributed 30 questionnaires to coincide with my research for my Inquiry and received 12 completed questionnaires back.

Below are the tally results from the questionnaires I received. (I have only tallied the multiple-choice questions as the comments are only beneficial for quoting in my Critical Analysis).

I am going to put all of my results into a graph.

Question	Tally
2. If you are a Lecturer, do you use any forms of Digital Media within your teaching?	Yes					No
	IIIII  IIIII  II
	Total:		12			Total:		0
3. If Yes to Question 2, what forms of Digital Media do you use within your teaching? (you may select more than one answer)	Still Images & Graphics			Video & Motion- Graphics			Audio
	IIIII IIIII  II			IIIII  IIIII  II			IIIII  III
	Total:	12		Total:	12		Total:		8
4. Do you feel that the use of Digital Media within teaching is beneficial to the learners within the classroom?	Yes					No
	IIIII  IIIII  I					I
	Total:		11			Total:		1
6. Do you believe that the use of Digital Media within teaching and learning is an essential part of education?	Yes					No
	IIIII  IIIII  II
	Total:		12			Total:		0
7. Do You use Digital Media to aide the learners outside of the classroom?	Yes					No
	IIIII  IIIII					II
	Total:		10			Total:		2
8. Do you feel that learners benefit from the use of Digital Media in order to allow them to self assess their progress?	Yes					No
	IIIII  IIIII  II
	Total:		12			Total:		0
9. Do you feel that the use of Digital Media helps to assess the learner’s progress?	Yes					No
	IIIII  IIIII  II
	Total:		12			Total:		0

Analysis of Data

Today I have decided to organise all of my research findings and analyse the data from my questionnaires.

Having done so, I feel that I have allowed myself a clearer head for when I write my critical analysis. I have also found that whilst analysing all of my research, it pays to make notes of the things that are going well and the things that aren't, this will help when writing the Critical Evaluation.

Now to make a dent in the critical analysis....

Module 3- Campus Session 2

Having only attended 2 campus sessions in total throughout my time on the course, I came to realise how important these sessions actually are.

This session in particular gave me the reassurance and confidence needed in order to succeed in the final Module. Not only this, but it allowed me to have answered the questions I needed answering.

This blog post is basically to talk people through my thoughts and findings from the campus session, and hopefully be able to help those that were unable attend understand in the way that I now do.


Tips From the Campus Session:

As it states in the Module handbook, the first part of the Module is to write "A Critical Review".

The critical review (also stated in the handbook) should be completed in four sections:

Introduction-----Evaluation of the Inquiry Process-----Analysis of Findings-----Critical Reflection

I have written my introduction and I did this prior to the campus session, however, I googled dissertation introductions in order to guide me on how to write this to the 500 word limit.

Some tips that should help you write the introduction

The Introduction has a 500 word limit.

• Establish the context, background and/ or importance of the topic.
• Indicate a problem, controversy or a gap in the field of study.
• Define the topic or key terms.
• State the purpose of the essay/ writing
• Provide an overview of the coverage and/ or structure of the writing.

Writing your Evaluation of the Inquiry Process

The Evaluation of the Inquiry Process has a 2500 word limit.

This section is literally what it says, an evaluation. You need to evaluate everything to do with the process of your inquiry, including the ways in which you have researched and the methods you have used.

Analysis of findings

The Analysis of Findings has a 2500 word limit.

I have understood that this section is "Your Inquiry". You will analyse all of your data and also include appendices. Use the appendices for evidencing your findings; for example, graphs to backup data, permission forms, sample questionnaires etc.

Critical Reflection

The Critical Reflection has a 500 word limit.

The Critical Reflection is a reflection on your work throughout the Module. (The same as always done at the end of the previous Modules).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Professional Artefact

The professional Artefact was the one thing that I had no clue about.

From the campus session I wrote the following points about the artefact which seems to have given me an idea about what it is:

• Something that is available to be used by others in order to gain certain information.
• The Artefact is not your Inquiry.
• A physical, useful piece of work that is beneficial to others that has been formulated from you doing your inquiry.

An example is: 

I am doing my Inquiry in how digital media benefits learners in further education, therefore I could create tutorials about how certain digital media work or can be uploaded to the internet in order to benefit the learners.

The artefact can also be a working process and remember the 3000 word limit for this is just an indicative word count.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is all of the information I have for now, but if you have any questions I would be happy to help.

Add my SIG (Daniel Day) on Facebook as I will try to update this regularly also.

"What Future for Digital Media?" A Dischromentary.

I have been constantly doing research about the use of Digital Media within Further Education and came across this "little gem". Although it is not specifically related to my inquiry, I found it both useful and interesting at the ways it picks out the problems with Digital Media as well as Glamourising it.

This has clarified what I have found out so far, that although a lot of people disagree with the takeover of Digital Media, they cannot argue with the fact that it may possibly be a better way in order to have films, images, books, music etc.

Is Digital Media really as timeless as predicted?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5daimJ1rqE&feature=youtu.be/

Questionnaire Questions

I have just realised I sent my last post without providing a list of all of the questions within my questionnaire.

They are as follows:

1.     What is your job role within Further Education? (If you specialize in a specific subject area, please state)

 

2.     If you are a Lecturer, do you use any forms of Digital Media within your teaching?

Yes☐       No☐

3.     If Yes to Question 2, what forms of Digital Media do you use within your

Your teaching? (you may select more than one answer)

Still Images & Graphics ☐      Video & Motion- Graphics ☐

Audio ☐

4.     Do you feel that the use of Digital Media within teaching is beneficial to the

learners within the classroom?

Yes ☐      No ☐

            Please give a brief statement explaining the reasoning behind your answer.

 

5.     If you use Digital Media within your teaching, what specific Digital Media do

Incorporate into lessons that benefit different learning styles, such as kinesthetic, audible and visual learners?

 

6.     Do you believe that the use of Digital Media within teaching and learning

is an essential part of education?

Yes ☐      No ☐

7.     Do you use Digital Media to aide the learners outside of the classroom?

Yes ☐      No ☐

8.     Do you feel that learners benefit from the use of Digital Media in order to

allow them to self assess their progress?

Yes ☐      No ☐

9.     Do you feel that the use of Digital Media helps you to assess the learner’s progress?

Yes ☐      No ☐

If Yes, please give a brief statement outlining the way you use Digital Media in order to help you assess your learners’ progress.

 

     

10.  If you have any opinions based on the use of Digital Media within education

and whether it is beneficial to the learners’, please state below.