The DUCKLING project D ELIVERING U NIVERSITY C URRICULA : K NOWLEDGE, L EARNING AND IN NOVATION G AINS Ming Nie Gabi Witthaus Alejandro Armellini

Project started in January 2009, funded by JISC for 2 years ( 3 programmes in 2 disciplines MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL MSc in Occupational Psychology MSc in Psychology of Work Project overview

Challenges for both teams Increase interaction Materials too ‘dry’ Feedback provision Mobility and flexibility Supportive learning environment

Pedagogical challenges Psychology – Dissertation supervision process – Threshold concepts – Research methods – Feedback provision Education – Use appropriate technology to increase engagement with course materials, e.g. audio for varieties of English and discourse analysis – Student isolation and need for interaction

3 technologies to enhance curriculum delivery Podcasting E-book readers Second Life

Psychology podcast series Dissertation podcast series – podcasts to enhance the supervision process Research methods podcast series – podcasts to address research methods challenges Threshold concepts – Currently being planned, within various modules Feedback to assignments & dissertation – 4 podcasts so far

Producing Outstanding Dissertations Key conceptsSectionsPurposeDurationWho Navigate handbook Informal supplement to handbook 1 Introduction/Inspire Get students to use handbook 1 minAndrew Socialise Help at design stage Supervisors: who they are 2 State who we are & roles 2 minsAll Structure of dissertation Different routes 3 Explain/ Discuss deliverables 4 minsSue Help you to do justice to work Procedures, advice Expectations 4 Outline of the whole podcast series 2 minsRay

Love your dissertation handbook Key conceptsSectionsPurposeDurationWho Professional development How handbook was developed Purpose & common issues Benefits for students (dissertation less stressful!) 1 Provide link with 1 st podcast Highlight utility of handbook ‘Selling’ the handbook 3 minsRay Walk through main bits Sequence of the handbook 2 Highlight content How to maximise benefit 3 mins Ray & Sue Continuous use Quick reference guide (e.g. marking criteria, plan structure) Start with the end in mind 3 How to use handbook 3 mins Ray & Sue Link to Blackboard Supervisor’s role General advice 4 Using it alongside the rest of supervision process 1 minRay

Education podcast series World Englishes series – Illustrate how English was spoken in different parts of the world – Integrated into Module 3: Language, Discourse and Society, SOCIOLINGUISTICS, Unit 3 World Englishes Middle English series – Illustrate how English was spoken in different periods in history Phonology series Student-produced podcasts for learner-learner interaction, study skills, time management, etc.

World Englishes examples Example 1 – Birmingham (6’ 30’’) Example 2 – Bulgaria (7’ 24’’)

Summary 1 st iteration of curriculum delivery changes implemented through the integration of podcasts Interventions using SL and e-readers planned Subsequent design and delivery interventions informed by action research loops

Using evaluation to Ensure project success Gabi Witthaus Ming Nie

Project evaluation External evaluator appointed Evaluation will start now and continue to end of project Project to be evaluated against agreed deliverables in WPs The Glenaffric model Interim reports will be provided to the funder

Evaluation of student experience Duckling is a research project Action Research – 3 interventions (April 09, October 09, April 10) – Results from research inform the next intervention Data source – Course team, e.g. lecturers & tutors – Students, e.g. graduates & current – Employers

Methods for data collection & analysis Methods for data collection – Interviews – Observation, e.g. sessions in Second Life – Online questionnaires Methods for data analysis – Descriptive statistics – Traditional qualitative data analysis – Cognitive mapping