Using Facebook to enhance collaborative learning for Media

Law students in Journalism

Dr David ClarkeJulie Gillin

Journalism subject groupSheffield Hallam University

Research timeline

• CCRC funded research 2013-14:• Pilot study: identified a gap in provision for journalism

Media Law students @ levels 6 & 7• FB site created with Julie Gillin (ECR) in September 2014• Student survey April 2015• Summer 2015: analysis of data• Presenting @ AJE Greenwich 26 June to journalism

educators• Research bid 2015-16:• Writing up paper on findings for AJE Journal/Journalism

Practice

Objectives• Essential Media Law (core

knowledge)• NCTJ syllabus: Contempt/

Defamation/ anonymity• Regulatory guidelines • Ethical practice

• Journalism students reporting from court

• Understanding of media law in practice

• Examples of good/bad practice

• Teaching/Learning• Theory & practice• Applying theory to practice• Court reporting

• Social space• Collaboration• Community of Practice

• Staying safe (legally & practically)• Appropriateness• Social media protocol

Breaking News…2014-15

Je suis Charlie

+ Feedback (86%)Very useful! Great! Fast communication between teachers + students and also a great place to share relevant stories: worth reading. Helps expand court story writing knowledge

Having the page made it easier to apply my media law knowledge in real life.

It helped as people could organise to go to court together + people could share their experience at court. It helped to keep up to date on assignments + on-going court trials.

Easier way of keeping up with information than Blackboard.

Had interesting stories to keep up to date with current stories in the news, especially the je suis charlie coverage

- Feedback (13%)Could have been more advice on sourcing best stories when @ court

I would have liked to see more tips for court story writing rather than links to new stories

I didn't really look at anything posted on it. I felt I didn't have time and that it was not relevant to the actual assignment.

What we learned

• easy to set up• team effort encouraged sense of 'community'• created a safe, secure communal space for learning• places Media Law as central to journalistic education• External examiner commended the Media Law FB page:

"...[it] increased student engagement...example of excellent practice, reflected in student feedback'

• Invited to share good practice with colleagues @ Teeside University

Issues?

• FB as a 'learning space' not recognised by timetabling

• Staff input not recognised by AWP

• Requires time commitment from staff• Concerns about security• Concerns about staff/student boundaries

Future?

• Writing up outcomes for AJE Journal/Journalism Practice

• FB page rolling over into 2015-16 academic year, retaining current students

• Potential for model to be adopted by other educators

• Potential to tap into graduate experience as part of the community of knowledge