This document discusses using social media and developing digital skills to enhance learning and teaching in computing. It explores using social media to develop communication skills, work collaboratively, and develop a professional online presence. Specific tools mentioned include using blogs, Google Drive, Google Hangouts, Twitter, and personal websites/videos. Developing these skills takes a scaffolded approach across the whole course. Student feedback emphasized integrating new skills in a supported way.

1. The use of social media and
development of digital skills to
enhance learning and teaching in
Computing
Sue Beckingham | @suebecks
Sheffield Hallam University

2. The focus of the seminar will be to
explore the use of social media to:
1
• develop confident
communication skills
2
• work collaboratively both
synchronously and
asynchronously
3
• develop a professional
online presence

3. 1
develop confident
communication skills

4. Trans-disciplinary Skills
New channels >>
http://punya.educ.msu.edu/2013/05/10/2-diagrams-21st-century-knowledge-synthesized-7-trans-disciplinary-skills/

5. Introduction to the concept of
blogging
Brief: Below is a link to video that introduces the concept of blogging
in plain English. This needs to be viewed in YouTube so click on the
link ‘Watch on YouTube’. Happy blogging!
http://youtu.be/NN2I1pWXjXI

6. Reflective Blogging
Brief: There are a number of blog tools you can choose from.
These include WordPress, Blogger and Tumblr. Your blog will
form the digital portfolio for your assessment. You are
expected to make a minimum of 10 posts over the semester.
Give directed topics weekly to help students
focus on an aspect of their learning whilst
encouraging additional posts
Encourage use of images, video and audio

7. Digital ‘About Me’ Video
Brief: You need to create a digital ‘about me’. This
can be a video or a screencast with voice over. It
should include both information to introduce
yourself and also a professional you. Think about
your skills and aspirations. It should be recorded
and saved as a YouTube file so that you may
embed it into your blog. The duration should be
approximately 2-3 minutes.
Note: Students selected a private setting and then
invited just myself as Tutor to view.

8. Digital 'About Me' Videos
Choice of:
• video to camera
(majority used mobile
phones)
or
• a screencast
Used http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/

9. Introducing
Video CVs
1. Shared ‘how not
to do it’ first
2. Asked Students
to research ‘good
exemplars’

10. Using YouTube video for
presentation style tips

11. Inspiration from Slideshare

13. 2
work collaboratively both
synchronously and
asynchronously
Why collaborate?
To share and develop ideas, contribute different skills.
What are the advantages of digital collaboration?
Sharing of ideas and information using online
technology
Enables the development of valuable connections
amongst people
Allows both synchronous and asynchronous
interactions removing barriers of place and time

14. Collaborative Digital Tools
Some examples.
There are many more!
Google Drive: shared
documents, spreadsheets
and presentations
Use a
#ClassHashtag
Google Hangouts
shared presentations

15. Google Forms
Digital Register
QR code leading to a Google
Form asking for name and
student number. Free form box
for questions or feedback.
Auto creates a spread sheet
Show students how the tool can
be used

16. Use of Google Drive
Students used Google Docs for
group meeting minutes and
agendas, plus collaboration on
group work diagrams.
Use filtered into other modules.

17. Online Group Meetings
Used Google Hangouts or Skype, which were captured
using screencast-o-matic and embedded in to their
individual blogs to reflect upon.

18. Twitter
Using Twitter as a search engine

19. Resource
building
10. Direct
(private)
messaging
2.
Interactive
lectures
3. Quickfire recaps
9. Survey
10 Ways
to use
Twitter in
Teaching
4. Instant
feedback
8. Reviews
7.
Research
using the
advanced
search
5.
Reminders
6. Set up a
Twitter
chat

20. 1. Resource building - tutors AND students can use a course hashtag to
share links to relevant resources. These could include websites, news
articles, videos, podcasts, images, SlideShare presentations as well as
books and journal papers.
2. Interactive lectures - ask students to answer questions during a lecture.
Or, get people talking before the lecture or the seminar by raising
questions.
3. Quick-fire recap of a lecture - ask students to summarise key points
4. Instant feedback - areas they would like to go over again
5. Reminders of deadlines and events
6. Set up a Twitter chat with an industry expert, client group or professional
community
7. Research ideas and opinions using the advanced search
8. Reviews - write a concise micro review of a book, an article, a film or
event
9. Survey - set up a poll or an online questionnaire and tweet the link
10. Direct messaging - use DM for private tutorial questions
https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/ltconference/files/2013/09/10-Ways-to-Use-Twitter1.pdf

21. 3
develop a professional
online presence
Video How
To Guides
Personal
Blogs
Personal
Websites

22. Why
It's THE
biggest
professional
networking
site
http://press.linkedin.com/about

23. However....
unlike footprints
in the sand
digital footprints
are permanent

24. !
http://www.alexa.com/topsites/global
will find your digital
footprints!

25. Social media ranks highly

29. Student Focus
Group
Integrating new skills
needs to take a
scaffolded approach and
be recognised across
the whole course

30. The use of social media and
development of digital skills to
enhance learning and
teaching in Computing
Sue Beckingham | @suebecks
Sheffield Hallam University