Author: DavidWebster
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Some LinkedIn advice in response to student questions
I spoke yesterday to one of my colleagues, Lucy Cadbury, who teaches a module on New Media Literacy (which I appear on as a tutor from time to time). Her students had some questions about LinkedIn, and if students, as they graduated, needed to use it, and how best to do so. So she brought…
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Chatting about cheap tech, breaking things and teaching
When I was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship, the lovely people at Unit 1 films, on behalf of the University of Gloucestershire, came and bothered me in my office, and asked me, while I as chatting to colleague Dr Adrian Long, about my overall approach to teaching, and the use of technology. It is only a…
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Field Trips: In defence of reality, why ‘being there’ matters, and a serious point
In an age of augmented, virtual and simulated realities, where we can video-conference into meetings, and on-line tutors can work for universities that they’ll never set foot in, I was wondering about the benefits of Field Trips. Can’t we make a VR trip, and allow students to engage from their learning location of choice? I…
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Why I Write Such Excellent Blogs.. Upper deck reflections on a ‘Will-to-System’
Talk is always easy Practice always hard It’s no wonder people try to make up for their lack of hard practice with easy talk But the harder they try, the worse things get The more they talk, the more wrong they go It’s like pouring on oil to put out a fire Just foolishness and…
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Personalised Learning in the University, and what it might be.
In a recent post, I looked at an ACE report that identified the key factors that helped determine student success in HE. The report also noted that these factors are rarely practised in HE. I looked, in passing really, at one of these (alignment) in another post, but here wanted to ponder just an aspect…
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Interview with teacher Lori Grata about her Selfie Project
Lori Grata is doctorate student at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. She currently resides in Seattle and teaches full-time at a one-to-one school. Lori has a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Secondary English Education. She has a Master’s Degree in Special Education. She was worked in both the public school system in South Carolina…
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Narcissism, Selfies, and Student Engagement
If we engage with our more sceptical colleagues about technology, and its place (or not) in education, it won’t be long before a familiar trope elbows its way into the conversation. Narcissism. I use twitter. “Dave, no one cares about your updates on your stupid running obsession”. I have an Instagram presence. “Dave, why would…
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Moldovan Visitors to Gloucestershire
Today I had the privilege of welcoming guests from two Moldovan Universities: Cahul State University, and the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova. These colleagues were visiting as part of an Erasmus+ project, where they are working with the University of Gloucestershire to help facilitate their development of Problem-Based Learning. I was talking with them…
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No Sleep Till Bloomsbury.. Learning small lessons from big lectures
In the Summer of 1981, I was 13, and living in rural Leicestershire. I have quite a clear memory of cycling my steel-framed racing bike to the new-ish, big Co-Op supermarket at a few miles away, where they had a small record section. I then rushed back with Motörhead’s No Sleep Till Hammersmith live album…
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ACE Report: “The most effective methods for ensuring student success are not widely practiced in higher education”
I was recently browsing articles on Inside Higher Ed, and came across one of their ‘Quick Takes’ pieces, about a report from the American Council on Education, entitled Unpacking Relationships: Instruction and Student Outcomes Two things struck me as I ‘quickly took’ the content. The first was the opening statement: Student success depends, in large…
Dave Webster 