Steeringteaching and learning through Google Drivein the Health Sciences Faculty

Veronica Mitchell, Ian Schroeder and George Draper

University of Cape Town, South Africa

http://uidynamics.deviantart.com/art/Google-drive-icons-298235532

@ UCT Teaching and Learning Conference21st October 2013

New curriculum initiative

Obstetrics practical rotation15 deliveries = competence

Year 4 student

s 2 student groups in 2013

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

New curriculum initiative

Blended Learning

Authentic Learning

Flexible Learning

/

It was empoweringempowering for us as well as the students

Our reflections as educatorsI valued the team approach team approach and

recognized how students appreciated sharingsharing their experiences

The surprisesurprise factor … students’ excitement

…the digital fluency digital fluency of students

Google Drive

??

educators should consider using technology

to enhance communication to enhance communication and provide richer,

more meaningful more meaningful platforms for the social construction of knowledge

Rowe, M., Bozalek, V. & Franz, J. 2013. Using Google Drive to facilitate a blended approach to authentic learning

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Cloud computing

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Cloud computing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hikingartist/5726834773/sizes/s/in/photostream

Synchronous&

Asynchronous

CollaborationDialogue

Why Google Drive

Collaboration - expanded potential Net generation learnersNew opportunities / affordances

??

An affordance An affordance

..is the action potential action potential of a technologySiemens

..refers to the perceived and actual properties of the thing, primarily those fundamental propertiesfundamental properties that determine just how the thing could possibly be usedBower

Bower, M. 2008. Affordance analysis – matching learning tasks with learning technologies. Educational Media International. 45:1:3–15.

Siemens, G. 2005. Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning. 2:1. Available http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm Accessed

20 May 2013.

Affordances

A changing educational landscape

Anytime / AnywhereAgency and choice re sharingAccessible on mobile AppAffordable because Google is FREEStudent managed rather than institutional LMS

??

Obstetrics in Year 4

Weak health system

Kalei

doscope

of

studen

t exp

erie

nces

Curriculum challenges??

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hikingartist/5726834773/sizes/s/in/photostream

Approach taken

Using reflective practice

•

Active self-assessment in a line

Wordle using Google forms

Google docs in class

Away in placements

Feedback & sharing

ProcessProcess

Engagement in the vacuum

Using Google forms & Wordle

http://opencontent.uct.ac.za/Health-Sciences/Probing-Professionalism-Towards-Positive-Practice

Students’ feedback…

Very helpful / beneficial

New online skill

Learnt to respect the work of others

Importance of sharing information

Student buy-inTrust in sharingTime commitment re online feedback

Challenges

Logistics

Google accounts in placeSharing of docs and foldersDigital fluency of studentsVariation in internet connectionPreparedness for the unexpected

e.g. Cuban students with Spanish G DriveTeaching resources – assistance

Introducing Google Drive in all years

Promoting blended learning approaches

Self-organization / Self-regulation

Looking ahead

The shifting educational landscape

is opening up new opportunitiesthrough emerging

technologies

Conclusion

Technology enhanced learning spacesTechnology enhanced learning spaces

Online engagement

… universities will need to manage the look, feel, and overall

characteristics of virtual and online environments

with as much deliberation and care as

we manage physical space.

Katz, R. 2008, The gathering cloud: Is this the end of the middle? The tower and the cloud: Higher education in the age of cloud computing.

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Thank you