Getting alongside students in their learning - using wikis, i-pods and mp3

Abstract

Academic staff members from the Baby Boomer and Gen-X may be keen to understand where their Generation Y students1 are “coming from” and how to engage their just-in-time and web-wise learning modes. The School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design has initiated programs in first and second year of the Bachelor of Design Studies to get alongside students in their learning and adopt some of the GenY’s preferred tools of trade for learning and teaching—mobile phone usage, mp3 uploads to i-pods and wikis (interactive self-authored anarchic websites). In particular, the School’s Survey of commencing students has revealed that, despite many of these Gen Y students being educated almost from reception with computers, they do not have markedly greater IT skills upon commencement of their studies than students five years ago (when we started IT skills surveys). Whilst familiar with the web and online browsing, most are unable to construct web pages and are infrequent users of Discussion Boards. Abandoning these academic expectations and replacing them with activities more aligned with their everyday behaviours without ‘dumbing down learning’ is our goal. “Mobile learning” is the Gen Y mantra—just in time and wherever they are—focused around communities of learners—and anarchic—for evidence of this look at the growth of “MySpace”. They do not want to be saddled to a PC for their learning. Gen Y are ubiquitous mobile phone users and keen to communicate frequently. Saddling this desire – getting alongside them and their desired form of learning - is the initiative of this program. The commencing students’ survey, as well as student SELT feedback on wikis, the opportunity to podcast to listen to lectures and reflections on mobile phone usage in the teaching arena are explored.