learning in research mode with xerte bcur14
TRANSCRIPT
Learning in research mode:from ‘consumer’ to ‘producer’
Kety Faina, Gordon Heggie, Jade McCarroll, Neil McPherson, Paul McShane, John Melia, Donna Russell, Iqra Tusadiq
British Conference for Undergraduate Research 2014 Nottingham, April 14-15.University of Nottingham.
‘Our goal is to move more curricula in the direction of developing students as
participants in research and inquiry, so that they are producers, not just
consumers of knowledge’
(Healey & Jenkins 2009: 6)
[Encouraging]…’the development of collaborative relations between student and
academic for the production of knowledge’
(Neary & Winn 2010: 137)
[But]…’we need to move ‘undergraduate research’ from a marginal, privileged
role for a few students to make it a significant structured curriculum experience
for all students ‘
(Jenkins and Healey 2009: 1)
Reconfiguring the curriculumEngaging students in research and inquiry
Heggie, G. & N. McPherson, 2014
What is Xerte?
• Xerte is a free open source tool developed by the Information Services team at the University of Nottingham
• Xerte allows materials to be authored quickly and easily
• Xerte is an interactive learning resource
• Xerte contributes to the development of digital literacies
• Xerte promotes accessibility and inclusivity
Source: adapted from the Xerte Homepage at http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/xerte
Why Xerte?
• ‘For years people have claimed that teaching is the poor relation of research. But now, fresh approaches to the concept of students as producers are breaking down the walls between students and academics. This is enabling them to collaborate on research and create fresh, more relevant learning resources together’ (JISC Inform, Issue 37, p14)
• Can be used to support sustainable active inquiry-based learning
• Can be used to support partnership learning
• Can be used to support the learner-led production of editable, re-usable, re-purposable learning objects
• Can be used to facilitate student/student partnerships through learning ambassador/learning champion framework
Does it work?What the students say about Xerte
The feeling of creating a tangible object based on
academic research was much more fulfilling that the usual
essay, exam, presentation
I like that its different, powerpoint gets a bit boring. It is more creative
Enjoy that it is a different way to learn
and produce information
Being able to put our ideas into it to create a lesson for
others.
It allows us to be creative
The peer assisted learning encouraged me to utilisesupport from my peers, which has made group tasks more enjoyable
For critical friends
To provide feedback, comments or to ask any questions, please contact:
Dr Gordon HeggieLecturer in Social SciencesUniversity of the West of [email protected]
Dr Neil McPhersonLecturer in Social SciencesUniversity of the West of [email protected]