Transforming learning by understanding how students use social media as a different space

Andrew MiddletonHead of Academic Practice & Learning Innovation

LEAD, Sheffield Hallam University@andrewmid

#SocMedHE15 “Finding Our Social Identity”18th December 2015, Sheffield Hallam University

We are experiencing“…a paradigm shift that requires a comprehensive rethink and reconceptualisation of higher education in a rapidly changing socio-technological context where the definition of education straddles formal and informal as well as individual and social dimensions of learning”

Megele, 2015

Social media for learning

FormalDisrupting the formalFrom Provided to Self-constructedFrom Isolated to Connected learningFrom Directed to Self-determinedFrom Instruction to Co-constructionFrom Impersonal to SocialFrom Abstract to AuthenticFrom Taught to Learnt

Social media behaviours that are transforming universities

Non-Formal

Social media transforming universities

Heterotopia - displacementHybridity – mutation or remixing different spacesLiminal – not dominantNon-formal – more than informalThird Space – neither formal nor home, somewhere in-between

Bridging spaces

Social media transforming habits

Middleton (2015) 'Introducing Smart Learning' In: A. Middleton (ed). Smart learning: teaching and learning with smartphones and tablets in post compulsory education. MELSIG and Sheffield Hallam University

RICH DIGITAL MEDIA

USERGENERATED

MEDIA

BYOD

MOBILE LEARNINGOPENNESS

SOLETransformational

SOCIAL MEDIAFOR

LEARNING

RICH DIGITAL MEDIA

USERGENERATED

MEDIA

BYOD

MOBILE LEARNINGOPENNESS

SOCIAL MEDIAFOR

LEARNING

New Learning

disrupts Models of Formal of Delivery

disruptsOne-to-Many model

disrupts Dependency on

Text

disrupts Provided Content model

disrupts Provided “Classroom" model

disrupts Provided Technology model

New Space

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Why don't 'they' understand?!! Why don't 'they' change?

Principle-based design provides our academics with the room they need to develop good pedagogy that works for them and their students (Nicol, 2015)

Social media Digital media MOOCs Personal Learning Networks Open Educational Practice

Principles for change

Nicol, D. (2015). Principles as discourse: A Blueprint for transformational change in assessment. Assessment Exchange, Sheffield Hallam University,15 September 2015 [online] Available at: https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/ltconference/assessment-exchange-media-resources/#keynote

Task setting Each group will create a set of 7 Social Media for Learning Principles Your aim is to create a set of key ideas that can be used to frame a conversation with any

academic about incorporating social media for learning into their practice. We will share all slide sets via the conference website. You will do this by touring the room individually (not in groups) Using your phone, tablet or paper you will each photograph or note 5 statements that you

think are very useful.

10 minutes

Haggle Return to your table and show other group members what you have gathered. Establish a set of 7 principle statements in your own words or by directly quoting the

principles you have gathered. Note any, Swaps Similar cards - choose the best or create a third new one Don't bring the others in at this point Look at what you've got and agree what you haven't got that is important Now fill the remaining gaps until you have something that works as a coherent set of 7 Social Media

for Learning principles

The sets should be rounded. Each of your principles should offer something new to your set. Finally, for every one of your seven principles add an example for how the principle could

be realised in teaching and learning.

20 minutes

Compile In your Google Slides:

Credit yourselves on the opening slide. Add one principle to each of the seven slides. For each principle, add at least one example

10 minutes

Present We will present as many sets as we can manage in the last 10 minutes

10 minutes

Smart LearningSee Smart Learning ScenariosPlease speak to me about your smart learning scenarios