Examples of authentic learning in Internet Communications III: NET204
See also other posts including the first one, on Web Communications 101, which explains more of the context.
Internet Communities and Social Networks 204
One of the most authentic learning experiences we try to offer students in the BA (Internet Communications) is the network conference, the focal point and driving force for the unit NET204. In this unit, the whole learning journey is designed around a 3-week online asynchronous conference in the latter stages of the study period: the first part of the unit involves writing the conference paper, improving it after feedback, and also designing and discussing how to run the conference and promote it.
Because every element of the unit is designed ‘around’ the conference, this unit is more than just an authentic assessment task: rather, it is an authentic learning experience, with the assessment almost ‘blending’ in with that experience. For example – the ‘conference paper’ is submitted, assistance given and then students can improve it, rather than in traditional approaches simply being done and marked. Very few activities in the real world involve submission of intellectual work that can’t be improved once completed.
While we set up the website and managed submissions, the academics were not the only ‘producers’ and users of the web for knowledge networking, producing a Youtube video, using a NIng group and promoting the conference through Facebook and Twitter.