a visual and interactive handbook for international students paul denison principal lecturer...
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A visual and interactive A visual and interactive handbook for handbook for
international studentsinternational studentsPaul Denison
Principal LecturerInternational Recruitment and Collaboration
School of Arts and Media
Teesside University Teaching and Learning Conference
2011
AimsAims
To describe a pilot visual and interactive handbook for international students in SAM
To expose an alternative presentation format would will have many applications across various contexts
To describe how internationalisation of ‘service’ might be approached
Teesside University Teaching and Learning Conference
2011
BackgroundBackground
Cross-functional role of PL (recruitment and L&T )
Rapid expansion of SAM’s International student numbers
The need to convey information efficiently
An assumption that this would be done via a handbook or a website
Corporate and centralised nature of institutional communications
Minimum standards in respect of regulations
Visually literate and media- savvy students
Teesside University Teaching and Learning Conference
2011
Assumptions and starting pointsAssumptions and starting points
That international students are overwhelmed with information and regulation(s).
That both handbooks and websites have the potential to alienate rather than to acculturate
That students like shortcuts and alternatives
The need to create a sense of ‘home-ness’ or ‘school-ness’
That students wouldn’t want to be treated differently or according to groupings
But that extra sensitivity can be appropriate in given contexts
Teesside University Teaching and Learning Conference
2011
Development Phase 1Development Phase 1
Started as meetings with ADs
Establish the brief and audience
Establish the valuesBrainstormingDuplication
Teesside University Teaching and Learning Conference
2011
Development Phase 2Development Phase 2
SerendipityThe Discovery of ‘Prezi
™’ExperimentsAn emergent themeCritiqueThe hard truthMSR- more hard truthThe DesignerRebriefingDrafting and editing
Teesside University Teaching and Learning Conference
2011
Development Phase 3Development Phase 3
The revelationTweaking and fine
tuningMore serendipity-
the moviesReporting backMore critiqueReady to go?The first students
Teesside University Teaching and Learning Conference
2011
Development Phase 4Development Phase 4
What next?L&T funding to test and develop
and quantifyLaunch as an addition to a
website and/or to send to students as they apply or upon arrival
Teesside University Teaching and Learning Conference
2011
Lessons learnedLessons learned Teesside University Teaching and Learning Conference
2011
The Prezi™ reveals itself to have advantages
•Everything is in one place- one page- little disjuncture
•The feel is softer and more playful
•Invites interaction and return custom
•The page is text-light- it gently coaxes rather than prods
•The aesthetic speaks to students in a neutral (not corporate) language
•It’s not universal but is appropriately tailored
•The content is made meaningful through the visual metaphor
•The themes can be extended to other projects- Learning Log