Progress so far

Hello everyone - it has been a while since I have been on - lots going on as usual. Some news - I am presenting a poster at the ALT-C in Nottingham in September which is great - it is a fantastic conference and I attended last year, so I am really pleased my poster has been accepted.


I am also presenting a paper at IVERG conference at University of Teeside which is on virtualisation of the workplace - but much of what I will talk about is linked to the PUPPS project. I watched an intersting debate - entitled, "the vle is dead" which has given me some things to think about; http://celtrecord.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/the-vle-is-dead-debate-at-alt-c-2009/


I have been interviewing participants on the project and some of the content that has emerged from the interviews has been very interesting. It has also given me an opportunity to adopt some of the Interpretative Phenomological Analysis which worked well, providing students had blogs and artefacts to use to recall memories. I have one more participant to interview and then I will be writing up the report.

I attend a TEL event on 26th May to disseminate information about the project - it was really interesting as there was some cross over with the findings of the ALPs project which focuses on digital storytelling.

I received a phone call today confirming that the project is going to be used as an exemplar case study for the STEEL project - so this is another form of dissemination which is great.

I have submitted a HEA bid requesting a grant to fund a project to develop an avatar of a 21st century accounting and finance graduate - I dont think I will be successful but it would be great if I could get some more funds to develop my ideas.

Last but not least - it looks like I will be starting my PhD (finally) at Leeds University in September - I am going to look at the use of mobile technologies to evidence workplace learning and use ACCA affiliates collecting evidence for their Personal Evidence Records as my research population. This may involve developing an e-portfolio system modelled on ALPs e-portfolio system which is to be underpinned by the competency matrix developed by ACCA- I am VERY excited about this project and really hope that I will be able to make the contacts - so I will be meeting with the ALPS team again (!) and ACCA programme director (John Taylor) to get the ball rolling.

In terms of this project - the showcase event is penciled in for 25th June 2010. I am inviting the Placements office, employability office , PUPPS participants (though not all will attend), Business centurions and graduate trainees. Ben Cotton (http://socialwebthing.com/) is a confirmed panelist for the event - I have invited Charlotte Britton (http://www.charlottebritton.co.uk/) and Martin Edmonson (http://www.graduatesyorkshire.co.uk/about/people) to also be panelists and guest speakers.

I really hope participants are going to attend because it will be important to the credibility of the project moving forward that they do - already had some interest in the event so it will be hopefully well attended.

Ok -I am STILL marking - so thats it from me for now!