This presentation will report on “The Padlet Project”, an active learning initiative trialled with a Foundation Year cohort of undergraduate students. It had four key aims:
- To encourage students to become competent in using learning technologies to help them both consolidate and expand their knowledge of key research areas
- To develop staff-student partnerships in developing knowledge
- To provide a “live” bank of learning resources that students can take ownership of and develop outside of seminar time.
- To increase engagement and inclusion in seminars, particularly to give those who are usually too shy to speak up, a chance to contribute in a more relaxed manner.
103 Foundation Year students took part in the project over the course of a 12 week term. The project took place in two phases. In phase 1, students were introduced to a range of learning technologies and were encouraged to engage with the content of seminars via the Padlet app. At the end of phase 1, feedback was obtained from students in focus groups and online. This was then used to modify the project ready for phase 2. For example, some students felt that they would like active discussion reinstated into the seminars. This was addressed by structuring the seminars so that discussion preceded the posting of new content on the Padlet wall.
The presentation will outline how the project was implemented but also some of the results of this initiative including both student feedback and the effect on exam results. The presentation will explore how the project is going to be developed further for the next intake of Foundation Year students.
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