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).

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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.

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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.

Interviews

As stated in my previous post, I am in the process of setting up an interview with an e-learning advisor.

Within my questionnaire, I have included a disclaimer that allows people to consent whether I am able to use them for referencing throughout my inquiry.

I have also asked them to provide their contact information if they would allow me to contact them for any further information.

As I am still in the process of setting up interviews, I have found that using the questions from my questionnaire may be my best option as I am afraid of an inconsistency throughout my inquiry, is this wrong?

I am aware that several of the questions in my questionnaire are not open ended; however, I feel that I will gain the information I need in order to make for a successful interview.

I will be filming all of the interviews and including them in my final "Documentary" as well as analysing all of the data obtained from the questionnaires and creating graphs in the form of graphics (after effects will be my friend throughout this process).

I'm not too sure whether I have taken on too much work, but hopefully it will be a success.

Any suggestions? 

My SIG

Please add my SIG if you have not done so already.

http://www.facebook.com/daniel.day1989?ref=tn_tnmn

Inquiry Update

Throughout this week I have distributed my questionnaire throughout Hertford Regional College.

I shall be collating all of the information throughout this week, as well as observing several lessons in order to get a further insight into the usage of Digital Media within the classroom and how it is benefitting the learners.

I am also in the process of setting up an interview with an e-learning advisor within the college, whom of which I am sure will give me further information into this subject matter.

I have come to realise that my inquiry has varied opinions that ill add a great element within my inquiry.

I have also made sure that I am getting the permissions of every body involved.

I am aiming to create a documentary for my inquiry which I will post segments onto my blog throughout this process.

If any body has any views on the use of Digital Media within teaching and learning and any opinions on whether you feel it benefits the learners please comment.

Module 3: Professional Inquiry

I have begun developing materials, resources, research for my inquiry as well as planning to create a documentary style version of it.

I may have set my aims a bit too high for this module but I have decided this is where I need to prioritise my work load.

The topic I have decided for my inquiry is:

"How often is Digital Media used within Further Education and how is it beneficial to the student's learning?"

This question came to mind because I work as a Media Lecturer within Further Education and have recently started to notice that the use of many different forms of Digital Media are being explored to an extent that i feel looks like an obsession.

I have had e-mails sent to me at work, exploring different forms of Digital Media, whether it is Audio, Visual or interactive.

It seems as though Digital Media is becoming a "Solution" for a lot of lecturers. By this I mean there are many different ways to monitor student's work and keep a track on their progress via online sources such as "Moodle", which personally I feel decreases the contact time given to the learners and doesn't allow for full understanding on the lecturer's part, of the learners needs.

I am in two minds about the use of Digital Media within education, as I can agree with using it for teaching aides and "extended learning"however, as I stated above, I do not agree with it becoming a "Solution/ Excuse".

If anybody has any opinions about the use of Digital Media within Further Education teaching and learning, please share your thoughts. It doesn't matter what subject you teach, you don't even have to teach, you could be learning.

I will attach a questionnaire to my blog soon. Please feel free to comment.