Lightning talks 2

Julie Willems
RMIT University
@Julie_Willems

Chie Adachi
Deakin University
@ChieAdachi

Francesca Bussey
Deakin University
@fbussey1

Iain Doherty
Deakin University

Henk Huijser
Queensland University of Technology
@hhuijser

Catch this session

Tuesday 5 December, 12pm – 12.30pm
Stream 3
Room L206

Abstract

To an international audience on 28 November 2016, and as part of the presentations at ASCILITE 2016, a ‘great debate’ on the use of social media in higher education was conducted by a team of researchers. As part of the debate, there was an opportunity to tap into the collective wisdom of our attending experienced colleagues. Approximately 150 conference delegates attended the hour-long session in order to engage with both sides of the argument. The research team carefully crafted the arguments to ensure that the debate covered key areas of interest and concern found in the literature of teaching and learning, as well as concerns within the higher education sector as a whole. The aim was to prompt the audience to participate and contribute to a discussion reflective of multiple perspectives, albeit within a specialist group cohort. Using a roving microphone to draw contributions from the floor, as captured via the live video streaming tool Periscope, and in addition to comments captured in the live debate Twitter feed from both the audience participants and beyond, rich data was captured. As both sources of data are available in the public domain, research ethics exemption was granted. While the findings of this research will be compiled for a journal publication for further exploration, this presentation summarises the findings and expands on some key ideas that emerged from the debate and broader collegial input. These findings will form the basis for further exploration.

About the authors

Julie Willems

Dr Julie Willems holds qualifications in education, the humanities, and nursing. Her research interests include media and technology in formal and informal learning, along with educational and digital equity as social justice issue. She is a Senior Lecturer in RMIT’s central unit, the Learning & Teaching Academy. Julie was a of the auDA Foundation’s national 2011 research grant for the i-Survive Project investigating the use of ‘back channel’ communications via mobile technologies and social media during Australian emergencies and disasters. Julie has a community focus and has served on a number of committees and boards relating to educational technology and social justice in education over the course of her career. She served on the national Executive of ODLAA from 2011 to 2014, and is currently in her second term on the ASCILITE national Executive. Julie is an active member of the ASCILITE 2018 conference to be hosted by Deakin University.

Chie Adachi

Dr Chie Adachi is a Lecturer within the central learning and teaching unit at Deakin University, Melbourne. She holds a PhD in Sociolinguistics and Masters and Bachelor degrees in Education (TESOL). Combined with her teaching and research experiences in the Higher Education sector for over 10 years across Japan, UK and Australia, she enjoys daily thinking about and researching within the area of digital learning, peer learning and intercultural communication.

Francesca Bussey

Dr Francesca Bussey is an academic at Deakin University working with Learning Futures, and the Faculty of Arts and Education, to lead and support innovation and capacity building in all areas of teaching and learning in higher education. Working with a small dedicated team, she specialises in curriculum development, online learning, MOOC delivery, quality assessment strategies, and the use of targeted digital technology to support learning and teaching. Francesca also teaches out of the School of Education, chairing a unit in the History and Philosophy of Education. With over 20 years’ experience working in higher education, Francesca has developed knowledge and skills in policy and planning, project implementation, outreach and student equity, academic skills delivery, building digital identities, teaching and learning, and online delivery. Francesca’s principal research interests are in the History and Philosophy of Technology and Education. Her research is informed by her academic background as an historian and her professional experience as a social equity practitioner. Special interests include social justice, feminist theory and philosophy for children.

Iain Doherty

Dr Iain Doherty heads up a team of academic, resource development and production specialists (the Pod) who work with the Faculty of Arts and Education to ensure effective course enhancement using Deakin’s Curriculum Framework. As a teaching and learning professional, Iain has a career history that has seen him develop knowledge and skills in inclusive leadership practices; strategic and operational planning; project management; and change management. Iain’s collaborative approach to facilitating change in teaching and learning is grounded in a sound knowledge of: teaching and learning theories; curriculum and course design principles; purposeful use of technologies to enhance teaching and learning; and creating effective professional development opportunities for teachers. Iain has been research active throughout his career with a publication list that reflects his areas of career expertise along with his appreciation of collaborative research.

Henk Huijser

Dr Henk Huijser has been a Curriculum Designer in the Learning and Teaching Unit at Queensland University of Technology since September this year. Henk has a background and a PhD in screen and media studies, but has worked as an educational developer in Australia, the Arabian Gulf, and China since 2005. He has published widely in both the areas of learning and teaching in higher education, and media and cultural studies. For more information please visit: http://henkhuijser.webs.com/