Our agenda

1. Technology in Careers Work8 July 2009Jane StandleyDirector Placement & Careers CentreBrunel University

3. Our agenda • Why use technology? • Higher Education in a Web 2.0 World • Definitions • Use of technology at Brunel PCC • What we wish we’d known • Positive outcomes • Other obstacles and how we overcame them • Engaging Generation Y

4. Why use technology? • It can be attractive and high profile • It can add value • It might save time • ‘Competitors’ do it • Students are used to it/expect it • Universities (will) expect it

5. Drivers for changeHigher Education in a Web 2.0 world • “Students are looking for traditional approaches, notably personal contact, in a modern setting, ie web supported.” • “Learning that is active – by doing – undertaken within a community and based on individual’s interests is widely considered to be the most effective” • “There is a match between what are seen as 21st – century learning skills, 21st – century employability skills and those engendered by engagement with Web 2.0 – communication, participation, networking, sharing.” http://www.clex.org.uk/

6. Effective Practice in a Digital Age Press release: JISC launches a new guide Effective Practice in a Digital Age Not sure about a website and a wiki, a podcast and a sound recording, or how best to use them for teaching and learning? www.jisc.ac.uk/practice

7. Preparing for practice in a digital age Startingpoint e-Learning = enhanced learning Defining effective practice in a technology-rich context Writing about practice Designing for learning Approaches to learning Learning activity design Learning activity design in context 1 Preparing for practice in a digital age Effective practice planning activity Conclusion Key principles for designing technology-enhanced learning Glossary Sharing effective practice Effective Practice Resource Exchange - supplementary online resources

8. Popular examples of: • Social networking • Blogging • Media sharing • Virtual world • Social bookmarking • Syndication • Wikis

13. Use of technology at Brunel What we haven’t done • Audio podcasts • SMS (but wondering about it for workshop reminders) • Email management system Marketing/information • Networked plasma screens for marketing • Fairs video for students and employers • VLE sites for all the placement info for specific disciplines • Social networking – Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn (latter being explored) • Virtual PCC tour • Interactive section on the website including streaming of AGCAS and other videos under licence • Placement blog stars • Brunel @ work videos – placement students, graduates and employers • Email student vacancy alerts • RSS feeds about significant new website features Careers education/guidance • Use of VLE for postgraduate distance learning module • Discipline specific VLE sites incorporating Destinations • Employer Web chats on VLE and commentary on videoed interviews • Videoed careers workshops/employer interviews • Individual application feedback with screen capture software • e-tutorials with screen capture software • InterVisual Administration • Online event booking and email reminders • Online vacancy form for all but graduate training schemes and sandwich placements • Swipe keyboards for student registration • New database • Online surveys

14. What we wish we had known … Dangers of: • Underestimating workload/timescale • Underestimating technical problems • Inappropriate use of tool • Inappropriate purchasing decision • Forgetting the sound bite • Being reliant on one expert • Not everyone makes a good interviewee • Production control

15. Interview with an employer

16. Positive experiences • Student involvement • Student feedback • Personalisation • Interactivity and immediacy • (Semi) permanency • Staff interests and skills • Funded projects as a springboard • Piggy-backing on other projects • One thing leads to another …

19. VLE Discussion Board

20. Blogging – an internet-based journal or diary in which a user can pose text and digital material while others can comment, eg blogger; technorati; twitter Media sharing – uploading or downloading media files for purposes of audience or exchange, eg flikr; YouTube, Daily Motion, Vimeo Virtual world – themed environments that invite live interaction with other internet users eg Second Life, Open Sim Social bookmarking – users submit their bookmarked web pages to a central site where they can be found and tagged by others, eg del.ic.ious, Digg, Yahoo! Buzz, StumbleUpon, reddit Syndication– users can subscribe to RSS (Really Simply Syndication) feed-enabled websites so that they are automatically notified of any changes or updates in content via an aggregator; eg bloglines; podcast Wikis – a web based service allowing users unrestricted access to create, edit and link pages, eg wikipedia

21. Obstacles … and how we overcame them (if we did) • Lack of co-ordination within the institution • Need for clarity for students • Too much direction within the institution • Changing stories • Unreliable systems • Old rules • Cost • Need to keep it fresh • Staff skills • Staff security • Disability • Crystal ball

22. Engaging Generation Y • Signpost to engage • Give them the vision • Short is sweet • New ways of talking • Involve influencers • Give them a voice

23. Screen Capture

24. Intervisual • http://intervisual.brunel.ac.uk/intervisual/

26. Sample InterVisual videos • http://www.brunel.ac.uk/pcc/videos/6245042.wmv • http://www.brunel.ac.uk/pcc/videos/8902804.wmv

27. Moving on Use the technology to: • Share knowledge • Share successes • Avoid duplication • Avoid costly mistakes