Using Google Classroom to Enhance Engagement and Academic Conversation - Advance HE 2018 - Higher Education Academy

Using Google Classroom to Enhance
Engagement and Academic Conversation
          Advance HE 2018

  Dr Heather Ingram & Dr Christopher Little

Overview

• Learning tool
• Aid to changing learner/academic dynamics
• Improve student learning through a stronger
  learning culture
• Forum outside classroom hrs/face-to-face
  contact
• Collective community: share concerns,
  misunderstandings, problem solve, suggest

CONTEXT
 Distance between
 staff/students:
 timetable, KLE, email,
 tutorials
     Facebook,
     ↑anxiety, lack of
     joint problem
     solving, poor
     performance

Drivers for Change
Nature of
health               Learning styles
programme             & approaches

                                Generational
            Employability
                                 adaptions

Jones, Warren and Davies 2015 Mind the

Dawning

• New world order
• Use different learning
  platforms
• New culture
   • Participatory
   • Openness
   • Responsive

Pedagogy in support of
     this move…

Ryan and Tilbury (2013) – Flexible
pedagogies
• Technology as a “significant
  positive enabler”.
• Opportunities for learning that s
  participatory, boundary-crossing
  and social.
• Inclusive, multi-platform and
  empowering (Barnett, 2014).

Guidance ?

• Mirror communities of practice
• HEA (Marshall, 2017 pp 5&7):
  ‘’.... new learning platforms and schedules.’’
  “Foster a culture of quality and enhancement, through
      dialogue and collaboration.”
  ‘’….our best teachers will be those that have a capacity
      to seamlessly integrate technology into complex
      adaptive learning environments.”

How?

                                           Team outlook
                             Team
                          discussion

                Offered
                options

                                   Pilot –
Supportive                      evaluation –
colleagues                      pilot roll out

             GOOGLE CLASSROOM

Implementation

• Pilot: one
  assessment/ x1
  group

• Not the best pilot
• Could see potential

• Implement with each
  group for whole year

How it works

• Staff set up Google Classroom – takes a small
  number of clicks
• Restrictions – formatting, embedding, branding,
  analytics
• Students access the Google Classroom – can
  be invited or join themselves
• Classroom used for a range of purposes
• Week to View
• Shared Q&A

Your turn – Step 1

•   Go to www.classroom.google.com
•   Sign in with an email address
•   Select the + icon or ‘Join’
•   Enter room code: myh22z3

Your turn – Step 2

• Say hello and share one interesting fact about
  yourself on the thread called Step 2.

Your turn – Step 3

• Complete the time-released task

• Task:15:00
• Spend 60 seconds thinking about what you
  would want a platform like this to do for you
• Mark it as completed by 15:05

Your turn – Step 4

• Complete the time-released question

• Q: 15:10
• Would you consider using Google Classroom in
  your own practice?

• Runs parallel with face-to-face
  contact
    – Supportive secondary learning platform
•   Accessible & open
•   Mirrors social media modes
•   Range of topics
•   Trail clear 24x7
•   Adds a new dimension
    – Sets the temperature for the learning climate
• Easy to implement – no cost

• Can be ‘quirky’
• Need staff buy in                    This Photo by Unknown
                                       Author is licensed under
                                       CC BY

• Overcome digital fear
• Be clear what needs to announced on KLE vs
  GC
• Needs regular feeding
• All members need equal status

Student feedback

•   Different ‘feel’
•   Good to see students supporting each other
•   Can clarify misunderstandings
•   Respond to issues/suggestions

This Photo by
                                                      Unknown
                                                      Author is

• Use it – it needs exercise & feeding                licensed under
                                                      CC BY-NC-SA

• Be open to different ways of using,
  e.g. bad weather
• Keep a track on content
  – Feed into other forums, i.e. is there a problem
    emerging
• Listen to feedback
• Be creative

Using this tool: The rub

• Engaging with students to enhance their
  learning experience and achieve their potential

  –   What does this mean practically ?
  –   How can academic staff engage with students ?
  –   How do students engage with education ?
  –   How can we support and promote their well being
      through a programme?

References
Barnett, R. (2014). Flexible pedagogies: preparing for the future. York: Higher Education Academy
Dunne, E. & Owen, D.(editors) (2013). The Student Engagement Handbook. Emerald Group
    Publishing Ltd, Bingley.
Higher Education Academy. (2012a). A Marked Improvement- transforming assessment in higher
    education [online] https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/marked-improvement Accessed
    4.12.16
Higher Education Academy. (2012b). Dimensions of Student Engagement. [online]
    http://heacademy.ac.uk/assts/documents/studentengagement/Frameowrkforaction_institutional.pd
    f Accessed 4.12.16
Jones, K., Ingram, H., Mustafa, N. (2017). Narrowing the Gap: considering the gen-gagement. Report
    summary report from Birmingham and Solihull Local Education and Training Council Every
    Student Counts Project [online] https://hee.nhs.uk/hee-your-area/west-midlands/our-
    work/research-innovation/mind-gap/narrowing-gap Accessed August 2017
Marshall, S. (2017). Rising to the challenges of Tomorrow [online].
    https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/rising-challenges-tomorrow. Accessed 11.6.18
Nursing and Midwifery Council. (2009). Standards for pre-registration midwifery education. NMC,
    London
Ryan, A. & Tilbury, D. (2013). Flexible Pedagogies: New pedagogical ideas. York: Higher Education
    Academy

Thankyou