Presentation delivered to the 2013 e-learning summer school in the Dublin Institute of Technology.

1. @topgold
Reflective Audio Journaling

2. @topgold
I’m Bernie Goldbach.
Teaching e-crits at Limerick School of Art & Design
(The backgrounds in these slides remind me of my neglected garden.)

3. @topgold
I Like Enable Ireland.
Joined by Nadine and Quartz with VoiceOver.
Nadine’s first Audioboo.

4. This #ELSS13 presentation invites peer review to an evolving process of
audio journaling (audiologs) as part of critical reflection.
We know:
-- Reflective learning enhances personal development.
-- Audio journaling challenges creative students.
-- Our Bring Your Own Device World reduces one barrier to entry.
-- Shared audio sparks development of community artefacts.
@topgold

5. @topgold
Good Habits
Help You
Learn
-- Reflective learning achieves
greater results when integrated
with audio blogging.
-- Effective audiologs rarely fit a
universal timetable.
-- Reflective audio journaling
augments but does not reduce
the primacy of written work.
-- Spoken thoughts offer a 360
feedback loop.
Begin with self-directed
analysis for reflective learning.

6. @topgold
Reflection
Described
-- Thinking with a purpose.
-- Being critical but not being
negative.
-- Analysing how effective your
learning is.
-- Questioning an probing.
-- Making judgments.
-- Drawing conclusions.Reflective learning plays an
important role in learning and
personal development.

7. @topgold
Embracing
Reflection in a
Bring Your Own
Device World.
Reflective audio
journaling can leverage
our personal media
production devices.

8. @topgold
A Digital Skill.
An Acquired
Literacy.
A Near Horizon
Activity.

9. Audiologs
Leverage
New
Literacies.
You probably didn’t learn
audio journaling in a traditional
curriculum.
@topgold

10. @topgold

11. @topgold
Reflection
Enticements
-- Reflection complements
study.
-- When you reflect, you clarify
your thoughts.
-- Think out loud about difficult
assignments.
-- Use your audiolog to think
about how academic topics
relate to other areas of your
experience.
Some factors may entice
students to embrace reflective
audio journaling.

12. @topgold

13. @topgold
What is
Audio
Blogging?
The best samples share very
memorable personal stories.
@documentally @mydolans

14. @topgold
Essential
Characteristics
of Audio Logs
-- The process should be quick.
-- They capture initial thoughts,
unformed opinion or personal
responses to events.
-- Themes emerge after several
dozen episodes.
-- When bundled, the thematic
collection can enhance an
ePortfolio.
-- Recordings should be in the
first person.
Several characteristics identify
an audiolog.

15. @topgold
We Trust the
Human
Voice.
"Levels of trust, commitment,
and satisfaction from users all
appear to be positively affected
by the use of the human voice in
social media.“
Doctoral research by Hyojung Park,
University Missouri.

16. @topgold
Identifiable
Characteristics
of Audio Logs
-- Explore events, don’t merely
list them.
-- Share eureka moments.
-- Expect feedback from an open
community.
-- Listen to related textual and
audio commentary.
-- Commit to a regular schedule.
-- Follow listeners to their main
hunting grounds.
Several characteristics identify
an audiolog.

17. @topgold
Audioboo
gives
everyone a
voice.

18. Reflective Journaling Meets Social Audio
I am Audioboo.fm/topgold.
@topgold

19. @topgold
Audioboo is free.
You get three minutes
of recording with a basic
account.
I paid £60 to get 30
minutes of time for each
recording.
Audioboo allows an
unlimited number of
recordings.

20. You also need to be on Google Plus.
@topgold

21. @topgold
Getting
Started
-- Write down an honest
thought.
-- Forget about assessment.
-- Revisit earlier audio segments.
-- Listen to others.
-- Reflect about your past
actions, decisions and learning
events.
-- Know that getting into a
groove takes time.
Everyone can talk. But it takes
time to get your real voice.

22. @topgold
Getting
Started:
Events
Talk about something big.
Like running out of water.

23. You Contribute to a Global Sound Map.
@topgold

24. @topgold
Getting
Started:
Your Accent
We all talk funny.
Especially Brits.

25. Your Environs Tell Stories.
@topgold
Every line of text forms part of a narrative.

26. Share Scrapbook Thoughts.
@topgold

27. Sharing Life Stories.
@topgold
Sassycat, Bus Driver, with her man-child, Bigfoot.

28. @topgold
Look for the
Narrative.
-- Why did it happen?
-- Who was there?
-- When did it unfold?
-- Where were you?
-- How does it fit in?
-- What was said?
The segues are the glue.

29. @topgold
Where to
Create
Audio.
-- Comfortable corner.
-- Mindfulness session.
-- Immersive birdsong.
-- Tasting salt water spray.
-- Touching aromatic textures.
-- Feeling wood chips underfoot.
-- Holding a mug of coffee.
-- Plugged into the sound track
of your life.
People have their own creative
spaces.

30. @topgold
Grading the
Work
-- Are you collecting objective
and reflective data to make
sense of the experience?
-- Do you recognise the
recurrence of learning events?
-- Is your interpretation a logical
outcome of your observations?
-- Do you reflect on a concept
you learned in class or while
reading?
-- Are your reflective sessions
about the same length of time?
We grade the process of
reflection and not the content
in the reflective audiolog.

31. Be Aware of
Social
Sharing.
Audio rarely remains in its own
silo.
@topgold

32. Emergent Creative Collaboration
Social Audio enhances Google Hangouts.
@topgold

33. In-Hand
Conversations
This is one of the most
engaging and active forms of
communications that I’ve ever
used in-hand.
@topgold

34. @topgold
Where
Reflective
Journaling Fits
-- Cognitive coaching
-- Emotional Literacy
-- Action Research
-- Adolescent Literacy
-- Standards-based instruction
-- Emergent Curriculum
-- ePortfolio
-- Constructivism
-- Formative Assessment
Learning the skills required in
effective reflection journaling
applies to the real world.

35. @topgold
Basic
Equipment
-- A small notebook.
-- Short outline of thoughts.
-- Rough sketches.
-- Smartphone with data
connection.
-- Last generation iTouch.
-- Unlocked smartphone with wifi.
-- Recording app.
-- Audioboo.
-- Soundcloud.
-- Voicebo.
-- Micbud with windshield.
Many students come
equipped.

36. @topgold
Helpful
Oases
-- LinkedIn Group “Let’s Talk Here”.
-- Study Skills Suggestions from Open
University.
-- DCU handout on reflective learning.
-- King, Keeping a Learning Journal,
2001.
-- The Audio Community on Google
Plus is bit.ly/audiog.
-- Listen to @documentally,
@topgold, @boydjane, @braillesnail
and their cross-talk.
-- Ira Glass and This American Life.
-- Radiolab.
-- Kristal Norton’s blog
It’s easy to find inspiration.

37. Conclusion
Learn to use the tools you’re carrying.
@topgold

38. Circle me.
Or follow me @topgold.
@topgold

39. Let’s connect and share.
@topgold
Bernie.Goldbach AT LIT.ie
InsideView.ie