Author: George Roberts

Academic Practice in practice?

What is the model and purpose of academic practice development? Producing 21st C Cardiff graduates in your discipline? There are two pillars of Welsh Government policy: Social justice is as important as a buoyant economy. Nationality is an issue. Language is an issue. A concept of privilege pervades the process. Much is made of the Welsh context. A … Continue reading Academic Practice in practice?

The “enhancement debate” and TEL

Beginning a critical exploration of "enhancement". The “enhancement debate” clearly (to me) must be addressed within the scope of technology enhanced learning (TEL) debates. TEL is largely seen as an instrumental means of making the individual person (human being) more effective and efficient in the information economy, maybe more compliant to employability and managerial norms … Continue reading The “enhancement debate” and TEL

QAA Quality Enhancement Network 12/11/2015

Fiona Handley from University of Brighton uses the term "Graduate Attribute" for digital literacy, where blended learning is the starting point. Focus on the learning and then ask about the technology that "suits me". As an aside, it is interesting to note that at an event devoted to digital literacies, the connection to the internet … Continue reading QAA Quality Enhancement Network 12/11/2015

Mark Childs on learner experience of distributed collaborative working

Mark reports on one international project in the built environment with Architects and Structural Engineers, working in three universities: Ryerson (Toronto), Loughborough and Coventry. BIM3 is about co-creating online. Argues that BIM3 is not properly implemented. When it comes to training we train people on the minimum technical skills not the wider social context of … Continue reading Mark Childs on learner experience of distributed collaborative working

Towards a new education?

I asked Richard Murphy a question on Twitter after reading his post, "It’s not just a new politics we need: we need a new economics too." "And a new education?" He replied "Almost certainly". @georgeroberts Almost certainly — Richard Murphy (@RichardJMurphy) October 7, 2015 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js This "new education" has to lie in what Murphy calls … Continue reading Towards a new education?

Jisc Digital Leadership Workshop

Semi-live blogging from the Jisc Digital Leadership project Workshop (Twitter #JiscDigLead. in Bristol at the Hotel Mercure, 22-23 October 2015. Day 1 Lawrie Phipps opened the day mentioning the "dynamic online offer" from the Jisc Digital Capability service appearing maybe January time: "Online service moving into beta in the new year," says Lawrie. I wonder … Continue reading Jisc Digital Leadership Workshop

Sharks and TELephants

  The challenge for technology enhanced learning (TEL) is that it not be used to impoverish people. Let me begin to explain. I can help you teach. I may be deluded, of course, but it is none the less something I believe and something that I can act on with an established and evolving repertoire. … Continue reading Sharks and TELephants

Tealab? TEL me about it

Reviving Tealab: Tealab is explicitly a Teaching Laboratory and discussion "space". There are a number of excellent initiatives across the university that lap over the territory. When Tealab was set up it was intended to replace the Learning and Teaching  Forum (LTF),  with a focus on people (possibly "younger" whatever that might mean) interested in … Continue reading Tealab? TEL me about it

Education for all: a public good?

This is still the question to be addressed as the consequences of less and less certain funding are felt in actual institutions with payrolls and contracts and food service and students. While the recharged Labour Party debate suggests there is political risk, there will be at least four more years of opposition and for institutions … Continue reading Education for all: a public good?