Author: DavidWebster
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Open for Business?
Today, I have been lucky enough to be attending the EduTech Symposium of our Business and Computing School. I was part of the initial panel, then helped colleagues in the Adobe Connect session. The opening session was fascinating, and largely consisted of a Q&A with staff. It is a large academic School, with some very…
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Critiquing Discourses of Resilience in Education
Sat at the Association of National Teaching Fellows one-day event in sunny Birmingham, I found myself engaging in passive-aggressive tweeting about bloody ‘resilience’. On my return, I complained about my disquiet with the way the term, and what it has come to stand for, have become pervasive in some parts of education. With great relief,…
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Memes? Srsly? Can memes carry wisdom: neo-Haiku, cute kittens & social media.
Originally posted on Dispirited: At the CESNUR (Centro Studi sulle Nuove Religioni) 2015 conference, I presented a very brief, conversational, paper about memes. It was rather speculative, but may interest/amuse readers of this blog. I am working with a friend on adding a more scholarly tone -but till then… — This talk is a cry…
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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…
Dave Webster 