Research Success (well shared any way)

So it looks like I am finally going to get some really good research experience. The lovely Jayne Mothersdale asked me if I would like to be involved in a large scale ERASMUS bid (c300,000 euros) and through her sheer brilliance and some graft from me we got it! It is an amazing opportunity and I am so excited!!!

The ERASMUS bid is entitled ERASMUS Multi-lateral project involving eight European countries looking at Work Based Learning (WBL) as an Integrated Curriculum: Partnership Development and Delivery by H.E. and the Labour Market (WBLinHE)and is for 2 years.

I am hoping I am going to be able to get some significant research hours to work on the project and do less teaching (as much as I love it - it is going to be immensely joyous to be dong something else) - involvement in the project will undoubtedly help me with my PhD and I am ready for the challenges ahead!

I am back!

So its been a while hasnt it? Lets just say I have been hugely busy with stuff and "the force" has just not been with me! However, I am back!

So there's been a lot which has happened since last time - I did not write my book chapter (no time), I did have a conference paper published as an e-chapter (required much less time than a whole chapter), I passed my PGCHE, got my CMALT and I am now a Fellow of Higher Education Academy- last but not least I have finally started my PhD (started Jan 2011...finish who knows?)

I was lucky enough to secure a small pot (c£1,000) of research funds for some e-portfolio work which was supposed to take place in April - However, I have been stressed to within an inch of my young life with work and my workload since before Easter - I have had an insane amount of marking and assessment related work which I am happy to say has now been completed (save for a few resit scripts in July)

I am running a workshop tomorrow - I anticipate very low numbers (I will have 10 people if I am lucky) but it is fine - I may just circulate my survey and see if people will complete it out of boredom or pity!

So anyway - I have now started a research blog http://iwiphdeventually.blogspot.com/
which will chart my progress - 5 - 7 years of it! I must be mad!!!!

Anyway, it is lovely to be back

E-book

Hi everyone

Sorry - been really busy teaching abroad and then back into the groove here in the UK. A few things have happened in the last few weeks - my ACCA bid was not accepted but I received some encouraging feedback; so will apply elsewhere for some funds for the project. It is really difficult getting funding but I will keep trying.

I have been asked to provide a chapter for SCEPTrE on mobile work based learning for an e-book which they are publishing - so I need to find the time to do that (eek!)

I am meeting Dawn Wood from the TEL team on Friday to discuss the new PUPPS programme that I am rolling out this year - I have 5 students who are interested so far and am hoping to recruit another 15 if possible - I will be organising a discussion on e-portfolios in the next coming few weeks.

So - I am still keeping busy with things and although the knockbacks are disappointing, my enthusiasm for all things research is still gleaming and I am DETERMINED to get some funding!!!!!!!!!! - because everyone tells me these ideas I have are really good but I just have very little proven experience in delivering research in the form of papers/reports etc

Ok - so more updates to follow!!!

ALT -C 2010

I am sat in a session on e-certificate for validation of experience or a portfolio - a very interesting JISC project which may have implications for the work that I am seeking to do with ACCA. Interestingly the e-certificate will have three stakeholders, issuer - learner - reviewer and there is no storage and verification happens digitally.You can go in and check for validation adn an evidence file is kept behind the e-certificate.

There is opportunity for re-cetification if required - this model requires that the student retains ownership of the evidence file and it is not held centrally - the e-certificate validates existence of the evidence but there is no back up of the file itself.


I think that this is agood idea - however, there are some real pertitent issues associated with data management, storage, accountability, employer perceptions, data flow issues etc

I am not sure that employers will really be bothered about an e-certificate which validates experience because there is such as move towards lifelong learning, potential etc which really only comes over from the evidence itself rather than the validation - there are issues with quality, consistency etc and Ithink that this would be good for professional or regulatory vocations where validation is important.


I think that this is something that could be bolted onto the PREPARE - as part of the peer review - the e-certificate could be used as validation for the point of entry by potential students.

PUPPS Showcase and stuff

Hi all

Ben Cotton from socialweb thing came to the PUPPS showcase evening in June and presented a really interesting and thought provoking session on getting a jo in a digital age - he has written about this experience on his blog which can be found here:

http://socialwebthing.com/2010/06/27/landing-a-job-in-the-digital-world/

I am going to spend the next few weeks trying to promote the project to all students who are in work, volunteering etc and see whether I can try and inspire some students to look at the project as an opportunity to develop their employability skills in preparation for the challenges of work and graduate opportunities.

I met two lovely ladies, Janine and Nadine from Leeds College of Art at the IVERG conference and they are keen to do some collaborative work together on e-portfolios, blogging etc

I have written a bid for IAESB which incorporates a lot of the work of PUPPS and ideas for my PhD into a research project called PREPARE - I will post further details when I have finalised the project bid - suffice to say I have taken a collaborative approach and am working with Bob Croft, our excellent learning technologist, a former student now working as a graduate trainee , Lisa Walker and am getting help from the lovely Dr Junjie Wu who is an expert on all things research!

I have contacted Janine Sykes from Leeds College of Art who specialises in collaborative online learning spaces to see whether she would like to be involved.

The deadline on this is 1st September so whilst I should be working on my report for SCEPTrE and my poster for ALT-C 2010, I am working on another bid! Well, that is the life of an early career researcher I suppose.


I have had a few requests for examples of e-portfolios that have been created - students' work is hosted on a private gateway which you can only access through me, so if you are interested in viewing it, please get in touch.

Here is one of the portfolios I have created during the project

http://www.pebblepad.co.uk/pilot/viewasset.aspx?oid=60988&type=webfolio

I am on finally on leave!!!- but as ever, have lots to do - am definitely going to get some leisure time in!

Later!

CMALT

So I find out on Friday that I have been awarded CMALT which is great. I intend to use my portfolio for my PGCHE submission and I am in the process of applying for HEA Fellowship status.

Here is a link to my e-portfolio

http://www.pebblepad.co.uk/pilot/viewasset.aspx?oid=60988&type=webfolio

I am currently working on two things - e-portfolio review for HEA and also the poster for ALT-C 2010.

I really, really need a break and am soooooooo looking forward to taking off August - all though I have dissertation students booked in to see me.

Two ladies I met at the IVERG conference, Janine and Nadine from Leeds College of Art have expressed a wish to work with me in the area of e-portfolios and do some cross inter-discplinary work so I am currently looking for funding opportunities.

I need to edit and amend the paper for IVERG which is to be considered for publication and write up the interviews from the PUPPS event - However, I am determined to have some time off and my week in September will be completely work free - I am not taking my phone or laptop in a bid to get in some real leisure time - Until then - still stuff to do, with more marking of the resit exams and assessments next week.

Working on the poster as we speak - need to change images etc as the resolution is not high enough and the picture quality is poor - technology - you have got to love it haven't you?

Update on the project so far

OK - so I am now trying to transcribe the interviews and will be using open coding to try and put them into a relational hierarchy - eek - the lovely Dr Junjie Wu has offered to help me with this and I feel I am going to learn a lot from this process - not least how to use Nvivo!

I have nearly completed the poster for the ALT-C 2010 which is fab - found out yesterday that the prize giving for the my winning module is when I am at the conference so I wont be able to receive it in person - I will have to ask someone to collect it on my behalf - a blessing really as I dont really like being visible at these things!

My report for SCEPTrE has to be in at the end of September sometime I think - it should be quite straightforward to do as the journal papers and conference papers I have submitted based on the project means I have done a lot of the leg work already - I just need to focus on the data analysis bit now.

The iVERG conference at Teeside University was really good - it was really interesting and everyone seemed really interested in my work with mobile and biographical learning - many had said that they had not come across biographical learning before (including a Professor) - so found it really interesting.

My work on virtualising a workplace has come to a bit of a standstill as I need to finalise the mod. spec for FOG (more revisions) and then I will need to pick up some momentum with businesses etc again

I was hoping the e-portfolio showcase would pull in some business contacts but bad timing on my part (I am still REALLY BUSY!!!) meant that not many attened - though as ever expressing what a great project it is etc

I feel the teaching fellowship may have helped open some doors on this - but I am a great believer in things happening for a reason, and though it may be more of a challenge without the contacts etc, I am sure that if I stay determined and focused I will achieve what I want to with this project and beyond.

So what is next? Well I need to finalise the report, submit a journal paper on the findings of the PUPPS project, develop the virtual workplace (lots of liaison with media services and placements needed!), finish the PUPPS ALT-C 2010 poster and of course work on next years modules - after this is all done I am going to take a break!!!

Ok - so I have a presentation for Friday on e-portfolios that I am giving in Headingley to prepare for - so as usual lots to do!!!!