Week 11 : Knowledge Management and the Student (pffft! no seriously!)

Knowledge Management or Too Much Information?

As mentioned by the Right Hon. Maurice Gledhil Esq, students do need access to siginificant amounts of knowledge, but are we giving them access to too much knowledge? and how can we help them organise it all....

Any form of 'management' need to have structure and order, otherwise it will be a mess....Knowledge Management needs to have structure and order or the 'knowledge' will become disorientating and lead to information overload.

One tool in the students armory is the VLE, for the duration of this posting I shall be referring to the unviersities VLE which is Blackboard.

If a student had a central repository for their knowledge, for example on Blackboard, they would be in control of what knowledge they can store, keep and digest any bits of information required. they could also store links and articles that may also be relevant to each subject that they find on their curriculum or timetable.

There are products available, such as Campus Pack for Blackboard. They have a product called Personal Learning Space which allow students to have their own knowledge management space.

One of the ways to view the organisation of knowledge management for a student is to look at their student lifecycle as a book. This book is not only a story of their progress through their degree but also shows how they have learnt new ideas and gained knowledge and while they have carried on with their studies. These ideas and knowledge are built upon over the course of there degree.

The book would start out, with such sections as a wiki, one central blog to cover what has been covered outside of the classroom and further individual blogs to help reflect upon what has happened inside the classroom. This would allow the student to build up their own knowledge base over their student lifetime.

Blackboard, if used correctly by the students lecturers, should hold key dates and information such as the modules the students are currently enrolled on, inside these moduls should be information regarding dates for assignment submissions.

The student can be enrolled into organisatiosn which are independent of their modular enrolments, such organisations as the Learning Development Unit can offer advice on how to user correct grammar, how to reference properly and other such invaluabel techniques which the student will need to know if they plan to graduate with the highest award possible.

Blackboard can become the centre of the students teaching and learning experience if utilised correctly, if any university can do this correctly then the studnets experience at university will be considerably less stressful.

Week 10 : Building a Community Resource

To view my google site, containing week 10's e-tivity content, visit https://sites.google.com/site/msctelresource/second-life

BEWARE: YOU MAY NEED TO WEAR ANTI-AWESOMENESS SHADES BECAUSE IT IS SO AWESOME!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED HUMANS!!!!

Week 9 : 'Designing Effective Resources in technology-enhanced Learning'

Web 2.0 could be best described as move from 'information superhighway' to 'interactive superhighway' from just giving out information to allows users to contribute information, a prime example of thsi would be the rise of social networking sites, these allow users to create content on the fly and also 'interact' with other users using such applications such as instant messaging.

Also aimed more towards social media (second life, virtual worlds, youtube, wikipedia, blogs, aggregator or RSS feeds) social means collaboration which can be done through google docs or facebook threads

Web 2.0 could also be described as the minimum number of people required to make it work...2 people makes it social!

Week 7: Take my quiz.....please

Week 5 - Exploring Access and Motivation Issues

For my responses please see the discussion forums on BLackboard

Week 4 : Responses

Okay....made it to week 4 (but this is like 3 weeks late! sorry J&J!) and this week it's a scenario where a student has posted on to your programme's discussion area and you will need to response to the post bearing in mind the discussion in the last face-to-face (f2f) session covering access and motivation.

The original email:

Hello Karen

Firstly I would like to say that I think anythink that improves the learning of students is a good thing and using technology and the blackboard I am sure is going to be good. But I can not find a computer in the lab to use when I want and when I do I cant log on to the VPL! When I eventually did get on to Blakcboard and into the discussion bit I found Mary had answered every question at least twice! Just like she does in the lessons I feel like putting a sock in it!

Sorry to sound naf but I really do want to get on with this stuff but CANTTTTT!

Ta

Susy


My response:

Hi Susy,

Thank you for your email, I also believe that using technology and Blackboard will make your experience here at Bucks more enjoyable and hopefully the content on Blackboard will make things easier for you.

Unfortunately I cannot help you with the problem of spare computers in the Gateway building, perhaps it may be worth your while avoiding the busy or popular times? or even investing in a laptop / notebook?

If you do have any problems with access to Blackboard then contact the IT Service Desk in the Gateway library.

Don't worry about what Mary said, she isn't answering for anyone else apart from herself. Your opinions and answers still matter regardless so don't worry about other people....whose to say those answers and opinions are correct?

If you do find yourself struggling with the course there are options for you, such as the Learning Development Unit on the third floor of the Gateway and should things get too much then there is always the Counseling service in the north block.

If you want to talk on a one to one basis then let me know when you are free and i'll see if I can arrange anything.

Chin up and carry on with the excellent work :)


My explanation:
I'm new to all this so I hope you all don't think I was short with her but I do feel that some people need to adapt and overcome problems instead of sitting down and sulking about them.....harsh yes but true!

Student at Bucks are legally considered to be adults and I do think they should start to act like them and think and act for themselves.

University should be a place where students not only learn new skills but also develop a mindset that will take them places further on in life and in their careers.

Anyways I am now off my soapbox!

Back to the email....I did feel that Susy needed reassuring regarding the Mary situation, it is hard to be heard when you are not the loudest or lack confidence in yourself or your answers.

I also thought that Susy may be struggling with the topics raised in her email and these may be affecting her more deeply so that is why I told her about the LDU and advised her about the counseling service.

Since she does seem to be down regarding her experience I let her arrange a time and date for a face to face if she wnated to.

I signed off with a small amount of praise just to lift her spirits.

Week 6 - Cheap skate google docs....