Research and evaluation

The following research projects have been recently completed or are currently ongoing:

 

Rapid Reaction and Response (R³)

The in-class use of mobile technologies to support diagnostic assessment. Funded as an HE Academy Pathfinder project, 2007–08.

The R³ project was funded by the Higher Education Academy to research the in-classroom use of mobile technologies to support formative assessment and feedback. We used electronic voting systems and tablet PCs, in combination with wireless data projectors, interactive tablets, iPods and mobile phones.

Thirteen academic staff members from seven different faculties used a series of mobile technologies in the classroom for:

  • formative assessment purposes; and
  • provision of rapid feedback to students on their knowledge and understanding.

Further details, including briefing papers, reports and presentations, can be found on the project website.

Project briefing papers:

Mobilising Remote Student Engagement (MoRSE)

Collaborative project with De Montfort University. Funded by JISC, 2008–10.

The aim of the project is to develop a situated understanding of:

  • the impact of the tools on student practice beyond the institution; and
  • the concomitant impact on institutional processes.

The two key areas of student practice we are addressing are fieldtrips and work placements. The fieldwork component of the project will be centred in the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment at Kingston University, with the school running 15 national and eight international fieldtrips each year, ranging in length from one day to two weeks. The placement component of the project will focus in the School of Health & Life Sciences at De Montfort University.

Further details can be found on the project website.

Formal project documents:

Promoting Student Engagement with Twitter

Kingston University project funded by LearnHigher, 2009–10.

This project aims to pilot the use of Twitter to enhance student engagement. Key questions the project addresses include the degree to which Twitter supports:

  • collaborative note-taking;
  • the posting of questions, comments and reflections;
  • resource sharing;
  • dialogue (student-to-student, student-to-lecturer); and
  • the development of learning communities.

Further details can be found on the project blog.

Project documents:

Ongoing trial and evaluation projects

Second Life – the ADC has a virtual island in Second Life entitled 'The Knowledge Zone'. Various trials have been run and staff have had the ability to create experimental resources and investigate its potential as a learning and teaching resource. We are currently collaborating with the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing where a number of students are developing 'The Knowledge Zone', based on design specifications submitted by staff from a number of faculties.