®

Using Student–centred Communication to Improve Engagement and Success

Kahiwa SebireSolutions Engineer

Who am I?

Context

• Trainee teachers

• Full-time on placement (16 weeks)

• Masters level study concurrently

The problem

• Trainees are full-time on placement

• Trainees feel isolated from the university

• Trainees are unused to academic writing

• Trainees struggle to find time for reading, do not critically reflect

Photo CC-BY NC ND http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpott/5762135670

The solution

• Scaffolded and supported reflection

• Targeted four key readings

• 4x 24hr interventions

Students are ‘expecting academic staff to take a lead’ in supporting them with ‘learning on the move’

Bradley & Holley 2010

Photo CC-BY SA http://www.flickr.com/photos/idhren/9385792458

How?

Initial survey revealed:

• Facebook – some

• Twitter – some

• Email-compatible – some

• Data connectivity – some

• SMS - all

Knew:• 95% of text messages are read

• 75% of text messages are read straight away

Method - SMS

Text sent to all students

prompting critical reading

Student response

to study group(3-4)

Students read responses generated

by others in their study group

Student now has to re-read

the reading to gain further

insights

Photo CC-BY http://www.flickr.com/photos/english106/4358500584

Example

Results

What the trainees said:

• Immediacy: Texts are good to prod or remind you.

• Convenience: “The thing with the text is that it goes wherever you are.”

• Forced conciseness ‘pro’

• Useful and helped for writing assignment – look at answers and elaborate on them.

• Shared reflection, builds community “I really enjoyed reading some other people’s responses”

Educational benefits

• Encouraged deep reading and concise reflections

• Maintained community of distant learners

• Engaged learners

• More critical reference to literature

The messages helped to bridge the ‘time and space’ barrier by offering them a structured

learning experience.

Other uses at Anglia Ruskin University

• Weekly study tips

• Encourage discussion during classes

• Generate and manage backchannel

• Used in Teacher Education, Nursing, Social Work

Photo CC-BY NC http://www.flickr.com/photos/clemsonunivlibrary/6123473401

Other uses

• Engage at-risk students with text messages about tutoring services

• Feedback – live and after events

• Application reminders to prospective learners

• LMS announcements

• Staff/tutor availability

Photo CC-BY NC ND: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpott/5597870429

How?

SMS Involve [first name]

[last name] to 0427 933 112

e.g. Involve Kahiwa Sebire

ConnectTxt

®

Thank you

Kahiwa SebireSolutions Engineer