Further thoughts on reflection

Previously I have done some work with students on their own explanations on the process of reflection. You may be interested to see what they had to say in my previous Blog post.

Critical Reflection on The Networked Professional course reader

I thought it might be useful to signpost an example of a critical reflection, in this instance by Ross Dunning (although there are numerous others across the programme community).

I think it is really worthwhile to read and comment to Blogs to help your developing critical thinking. Blogging your ideas and then commenting builds a dialogue with yourself and others, and like any conversation, has the potential to build deeper understanding and insights.

You might like to see my comment to Ross. I have tried to indicate an area for further thinking.

Here's the link to Ross's Critical Reflection on The Networked Professional course reader.

Do try and keep up the effort in Blogging and commenting even if it seems a little artificial at times. Remmeber, what we are doing is trying to build critical reflection as an ongoing practice so it is as important to keep going as it is to produce exemplary work.

From E-Learning to M-Learning

One of the paradigm shifts appearing in the literature on learning is the shift from e-learning to m-learning. I think this might be as critically important to university learning strategy as it is to individual learners, whether they are on a university course, or engaged in professional practice.

Where the 'e' stood for 'electronic' now we are witnessing the potential of 'm' for 'mobile' learning.

Regrettably, I think there is absolutely no hope for universities, locked as they are in conventions of teaching stuck in a classical mentality where information was so scarce you had to attend a lecture to gain access to that information. E - learning has hardly impacted on that paradigm and now things speeds up again, with mobile technology providing new ways to engage in information gathering, synthesising and codifying.

For learners at university (if that actually means anything anymore) or in professional practice, mobile technology offers the means to access and use information anywhere at any time. There are many significances to this, not least of which is that the hierarchical ‘approval’ of knowledge (by say a learned journal) is challenged by newly emerging criteria, for example, whether the information is current.

However slow universities move, the professional needs every edge he or she can find, and m-learning adds to this armoury.

Bryan Alexander's Educause article set out some of the principles a whopping 4 years ago ... ancient history now I guess!

Creativity and education

If you had a chance to look at the two Ken Robinson podcasts, then do revisit my Blog post to see some excellent comments and analysis by Jo, Stephie, Laura and Cerys. I can't recommend the podcast enough, especially if you have an interest in creativity and education.

Theorising professional networks

Just a quick post to encourage you to visit the excellent professional network maps created by groups at the BAPP campus session October 2010. There are three sets so do search them out on Paula's Blog. These provide a rich picture of a variety of ways of thinking about professional networks.

A useful exercise would be to re-read the course reader of ‘The Networked Professional’ and use the theoretical perspectives therein to explore the various maps created at the session to create your own map.

During the session I was thinking about the maps and a network theory perspective seeing my network as a ‘system’ and thought this might add something:

1. My professional network may be thought of as having points (nodes) and connections. Connections can be rich in quality, frequent, have travel in one or both directions. Nodes and connections can form complex systems;

2. These may strengthen or weaken over time or be seasonal in nature;

3. My professional network may be thought of as having people, sources and resources and different distances from me. Some are close, important and which I sustain. Others are more distant, less used, and less important;

4. The quality and frequency of interaction between me and another person / information source are not the same. I may have frequent and low importance linking in my network, while important links may be infrequent;

5. While I might have all sorts of feelings about individuals within my network, I can also think of it objectively using this sort of network-systems approach, which can help me to plan and maintain my professional network?