Using Digital Media to Enhance Reflective Learning

Teresa J. Carter, EdDTeresa J. Carter, EdDElizabeth Marlowe, MEdElizabeth Marlowe, MEd

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Commonwealth University

2010 Lilly Conference2010 Lilly Conference

School of Education

Educator as Critically Reflective Practitioner

What strategies do you use to engage learners in reflective practice?

Journal writingEnd-of-course reflective essaysBlogs as reflective learning journalsBlogs as reflective learning journalsDigital storytelling Digital storytelling

What do we mean by “reflective practice?”

Stephen Brookfield’s concept of

critical reflection

David Boud’s ideas about reflective learning through writing

Donald Schön’s concepts• Reflection-on-

action • Reflection-in-

action

How do blogs (weblogs) work as reflective learning journals?

Practices to Enhance Student Blogging

Explain the “WHY” for engaging in

reflective practice

Explain the “HOW” of reflective practice with a blog

Create some structure:

Model the process with your own blog!

How do Digital Stories

Contribute to Reflective Learning?

Steps in the Digital Storytelling ProcessFirst, write the story –

aim for 300 wordsShare the story orally in

a story circle with peersContinue to refine and

reduce the story to its key elements; peer feedback helps

Create a storyboardRemember, it’s an

iterative process

Search free digital media sites for photos licensed under the Creative Commons for remixing and Attribution/ Share Alike

Choose music to create tone and set the emotion of the story

Download Microsoft Photostory 3 and begin to arrange photos, music, transitions, and narration to create the desired effect

Photostory saves work as a movie file; can upload to YouTube

Steps in the Digital Storytelling Process

What is the Creative Commons?A San Francisco non-

profit organization founded in 2002 that has developed several copyright licenses that are free to the public, designed to expand the range of creative works for others to build upon

In Conclusion, Reflective Practice … Builds on substantial evidence from the literature

Engages students in deeper-level learning from experience

Can challenge taken-for-granted assumptions

Requires time –to provide feedback, to create assignments, to model

Generates social learning when carried out in a supportive community of student bloggers

Can be more creative and emotionally expressive when learners are engaged in digital storytelling

References for this presentationBoud, D. (2001, Summer). Using journal writing to enhance reflective practice. New Directions for

Adult and Continuing Education, 90, 9-17.

Boud, D., Keogh, R., & Walker, D. (1985). (Eds.). Reflection: Turning experience into learning. New York: Kogan Page.

Brookfield, S. D. (1987). Developing critical thinkers: Challenging adults to explore alternative ways of thinking and acting. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Brookfield, S. D. (1995). Becoming a critically reflective teacher. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Brookfield, S. D. (1997, Fall). Accessing critical thinking. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 74, 17-29.

Carter, T. J. (2010, in press). Blogging as reflective practice in the graduate classroom. In K. King & T. Cox (Eds.), Teaching with digital media: Best practices and innovations in higher education. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publications.

Hull, G. A., & Katz, M. (2006, August). Crafting an agentive self: Case studies of digital storytelling. Research in the Teaching of English, 41(1), 43-81.

McLellan, H. (2008, October). Digital storytelling: Expanding media possibilities for learning. Educational Technology, 18-21.

Robin, B. R. (2008). Digital storytelling: A powerful technology tool for the 21st century classroom. Theory into Practice, 47, 220-228. doi: 10.1080/00405840802153916

Schön, D. A. (1983). The reflective practitioner: How professionals think in action. New York: Basic Books.

Schön, D. A. (1987). Educating the reflective practitioner. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Wilson, A. L. (2009, Fall). Reflecting on reflecting on practice. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 123, 75-85.

 

© 2010 Teresa J. Carter and Elizabeth MarloweVirginia Commonwealth UniversityCorresponding author: tjcarter@vcu.edu

Lilly Conference on College and University Teaching, Greensboro, North Carolina. February 5-7, 2010.

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