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Chosen module-Contemporary and Political Theory: Race, Class and Gender

Overview:    contemporary themes in political thought with a particular focus on anti-oppression politics.

Why I have chosen this module for the task?

Opportunity to improve its weaknesses and enhance its strengths.

Strengths of the course:

Contemporary and challenging topics

Engaging and dynamic class discussions..

Different modes of essential reading.

Photo by Maria Oswalt on Unsplash

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What digital enhancement would have improved the student experience?

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What digital enhancement would have improved the student experience?

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Bear in mind this course strengths, I think one of the challenges and best improvements would be to use digital enhancements to recreate a space which fosters student collaboration and helps create engaging discussions.

Which digital enhancements ? Microsoft Teams, Office 365 (Yammer) applications and Wakelet.

Why these platform and not others?

It is worth noting:
- The importance of innovating traditional university platforms
-Unawareness and areas not utilised enough
- Present demand to use a 'combined' technology approach to translate courses online.

Now I am going to discuss in further detail how and why I think Microsoft Teams, Office and Wakelet would have improved student experience.

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Platform for consistent small group discussions.

Digital Enhancement Features:

Breakout rooms for seminars (Microsoft Teams)

Discussion Forums (Microsoft Teams)

Yammer groups for more student discussions

Why?

Formal and informal

Enhanced the course's strength and provided interactive learning environment

Had more structure to discussions- seminar questions

Task orientated activities which motivate and encourage consistent engagement with the course material each week (assessments & assignments-Teams)

Provides the opportunity for students to ask and answer questions, debate and tackle problems with peers.

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2nd Reason: Flexibility is more convenient
No doubt on this module and many others, face to face learning is the preferred method of teaching and learning.

But, these features listed below, particularly in these circumstances and with the upcoming blended learning approach, would have definitely helped the student experience on this module.

Digital Enhancements Features:

Live/Pre-recorded lectures (Microsoft Teams)

Discussion Forums (Microsoft Teams)

Accessing further reading-Condensing handbook, Wakelet link embedded in Teams groups.

Why?

Access anytime.

So important in preparation for exams or assignments or if you are abroad (international students especially).

Share content with each other

Challenge:

Still fostering independence with student research.

Maintaining attendance with the flexibility.

Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash

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Wakelet as a way to create a catalogue of resources around a particular subject.
More visually engaging.

This Wakelet is created by Stephen Hickman.

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We built Wakelet using the latest technologies to make it faster and easier to use. Unfortunately, your browser doesn't support those technologies.

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Focus Group:
I conducted a focus group on Saturday with 8 Exeter Politics and English recent graduates for primary research which has reinforced my ideas for this presentation.

I asked the Exeter students: "If you had to conduct your degree mainly online, what digital aspects and why would have improved your student experience on your course?"

Summarised Responses:

Digital platforms need to be reliable

Digital platforms with organised video call functionality- Recommended Teams platform

Small group discussions and course leader monitoring- Recommended Slack platform

Weekly assessments to promote engagement and offer flexibility- Recommended Moodle

More seminar leader availability for course support. More platforms for seminar leader engagement with smaller groups in the class.

Wellbeing should be a bigger issue

Compulsory and Supplementary reading and materials needs to more accessible and available. Condense the module handbook.

Academics Feedback:
I asked some academics in the Business School, how they are thinking of adapting their modules to online learning and their challenges with doing so.

Main Thoughts:
Personal Development
Meaningful Engagement
Reliable Platforms

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

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Group discussions were at the heart of why this module was so interesting, particularly for a final year module.

I think learning could have been more enriching if those dynamic discussions took place in online learning environments as well, facilitated and encouraged by Microsoft Teams and Office.

Deeper collaboration, engagement, more accessibility and flexibility, would have improved student experience on this module.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash