[ecrea] CALL FOR PAPERS - Exploring collaborative learning in media studies programmes

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*CALL FOR PAPERS*

*Exploring collaborative learning in *

*Higher Education media education programmes*

*/Higher Education Academy Discipline Seminar/*.

Thursday 3^rd May 2012

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*School of Media and Film, University of Winchester and the Higher 
Education Academy.*

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Collaborative learning is a key pedagogic activity in many media 
education programmes at universities and higher education establishments 
in the UK.  Research indicates that when well executed, collaborative 
work enables students to learn much from each other (Gokhale, 1995; 
Johnson and Johnson 1999). Likewise, media educators argue educational 
practices and approaches should evolve and shift better to suit the 
networked nature of contemporary media (Merrin 2009; Hong and Sullivan 
2009; Jukes et. al. 2009; Christen 2009).  Though collaborative learning 
activities have raised concerns over increasing the risk of plagiarism 
and of students not contributing equally to a task, these issues these 
can be addressed through the design of the assessment process (Brooks & 
Ammons, 2003; Oakley et al. 2004).

While a variety of methods may be used to foster collaboration, one key 
way in which collaborative learning can be facilitated is through the 
use of social media and other web 2.0 technologies. Research on 
information skills education indicates that social media offer a useful 
means of building skills in students (Buzzetto-More, 2009; Sumar et. 
al.  2009; Burton Browning, 2010). Moreover, social media constitute a 
considerable element of the contemporary media environment and 
developing criticality in the use of them is now considered an important 
aspect of media education (Jenkins, 2009).

This one day seminar will allow for academic staff from different higher 
education institutions across the UK to convene and to discuss the 
benefits, problems and pitfalls of collaborative learning in media 
education. Particular attention will be paid to the sharing of good 
practice and to how technologies (including but not limited to social 
media) can be used to facilitate collaborative learning.

Papers are sought that examine:

· The theoretical underpinning of using collaborative work in teaching;

· The advantages and disadvantages of using collaborative work;

· Old and new technologies for facilitating collaborative work;

· Social media and collaborative work;

· Planning, trouble shooting and pre-empting problems in collaborative 
teaching;

· The impact of collaborative learning on other aspects of learning and 
teaching;

· Case studies of the successful (and unsuccessful) use of collaborative 
activities.

*Key-note Address:* Prof. David Gauntlett (University of Westminster) 
"Social media -- making, connecting and learning".

Selected papers will appear in an edited collection published by the 
Higher Education Academy.

The event is free to attend, coffee and lunch are also provided free of 
charge.

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*To submit a paper:*

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Please send a 250 word abstract to (marcus.leaning /at/ winchester.ac.uk) 
<mailto:(marcus.leaning /at/ winchester.ac.uk)> by Friday 2^nd March 2012.

Full papers of 4-6000 words will be required by the event.

A style sheet will be provided once an abstract has been accepted.

*To attend as a member of the audience:*

Please send an email to (marcus.leaning /at/ winchester.ac.uk) 
<mailto:(marcus.leaning /at/ winchester.ac.uk)> stating your interest in the 
topic and affiliation.

Audience places are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first 
applied first allocated basis.