Personal state descriptors for case studies

I am looking for a simple, unobtrusive method for surveying the physical, intellectual, social and emotional states of students participating in experimental teaching sessions. I have in the past done similar exercises in focus groups, however in teaching the survey methods must not get in the way of the learning process.

The simplest approach would be to present each student with a list of personal state descriptors, and get them to tick the words that represent their current state. This could be repeated at key points during the lesson. For example, when bringing the students into an unfamiliar spatial organisation. But how to choose the words? There can't be many of them in the list. I can give the student a space to add their own words. But if I get the right set of words, it just might work. Here's some ideas:

Any suggestions are most welcome.

Robert O'Toole : 13 Jul 2009 21:03 |  Tags: Ideation Methodology |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Grad School session: Risk–free online networking, publishing and communications

I've been asked to teach a session about online identity and security for the Warwick Graduate School skills programme. Here's the description that I have written for their programme:

Risk-free online networking, publishing and communications

How safe is your identity? What risks do you take when interacting with web sites? Social networking, blogging, podcasting, buying online? For many people, ordinary everyday activities. Add to that the increasing pressure upon academics to present themselves and their work through the web. For the media, this is inevitably a crisis:

Millions of people are leaving themselves open to identity theft when using social networking websites, according to the consumer group Which? Members of sites such as Facebook can join large networks which reveal personal information to thousands of others on the network. Personal data privacy ‘at risk’, BBC News website, 21st February 2008

In this session we will examine the truth behind the online identity and security panic. We will consider the trade-off between being open and staying secure. Common risks will be evaluated. Simple safety measures will be recommended.

Learn to enjoy using the web to develop your academic and professional identity and networks.

Robert O'Toole : 10 Jul 2009 15:54 |  Tags: Implementation Training |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Designing spaces for successful researchers, writers, artists, learners

Is success as a researcher made more likely by adopting certain arrangements of working space and technology? If so, are there generic patterns? How are these spatial design patterns related to those used by other successful creatives? Are they the same patterns that can help a learner to be successful?

Are there generic patterns for creative spaces that apply to researchers and learners?

Robert O'Toole : 10 Jul 2009 13:32 |  Tags: Ideation Questions |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem