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Dr Katharine WelshUniversity of Chester
[email protected]. Derek France (University of Chester)Prof. Julian Park (University of Reading)
Prof. Brian Whalley (University of Sheffield)Dr Alice Mauchline (University of Reading)
Using technology in fieldwork: Practitioner’s perspectives and experiences.
Website: http://www.enhancingfieldwork.org.ukTwitter: @fieldwork_ntf
To enhance fieldwork learning through use of technology
Photo: W.B.Whalley
Photo: W.B.Whalley
Aims
Rationale
HEFCE, UK (2009, p.6) states that, ‘focus should be on student learning rather than on developments in technology per se, enabling students to learn through, and be supported by technology’
“only building upon the possibility opened up by digital technology can we ensure that education will triumph ” (Lord Putnam, Handheld Learning Conference, 2008)
On using technology in field courses, practitioners have
reported “greater enthusiasm, greater engagement, deeper
preliminary learning and time saving benefits for students”
(Fletcher et al. 2007)
“digital wisdom and digital enhancement” (Prensky, 2009)
Aims of survey
• To gather information about quantity and nature of fieldwork
• To gather practitioner perspectives on using technology in fieldwork
• To identify specific practice• Interested in how perspectives & technology had changed since Fletcher et al. 2007 (data collected in 2002)
• International Practitioner Survey
Methodology
n = 92
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Geography Biosciences Other Earth Science
Subject
Perc
enta
ge o
f Res
pond
ents
Results
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
Pre-Field
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
During the Fieldtrip
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
In the Field
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
Post-Fieldwork
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0 = no usage, 5 = high usage
Technology use across a fieldtrip
n = 92
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
Pre-Field
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
During the Fieldtrip
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
In the Field
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
Post-Fieldwork
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0 = no usage, 5 = high usage
Technology use across a fieldtrip
n = 92
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
Pre-Field
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
During the Fieldtrip
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
In the Field
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
Post-Fieldwork
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0 = no usage, 5 = high usage
Technology use across a fieldtrip
n = 92
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
Pre-Field
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
During the Fieldtrip
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
In the Field
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5
Post-Fieldwork
Freq
uenc
y
Rating
0 = no usage, 5 = high usage
Technology use across a fieldtrip
n = 92
Median Scores
Fletcher et al. (2007) Enhancing Fieldwork Learning SurveyData from 2002 Data from 2011
Pre-field 1 3During fieldwork 2 3Post-fieldwork 3 4
Increase since 2002
Pre-fieldwork: e-mail, web browsing, Office tools, Facebook
In the field: e-mail, web browsing, Office tools, digital storytelling
During fieldwork: e-mail, web browsing, Office tools, podcasting, photo-sharing websites, Facebook
Post fieldwork: e-mail, web browsing, Office tools, podcasting, photo-sharing websites, Facebook,
video-sharing websites
Type of technology used
What hardware is used?
Pre-fieldwork: Desktop, laptop, mobile phone,
In the field: Netbook, laptop, Smartphone, Digital camera
During fieldwork: Laptop, Digital Camera, netbook, mobile phone
Post fieldwork: Desktop, laptop, digital camera
Tablets are not yet popular for use in fieldwork.
1. Increase speed and volume of data collection
2. To enable students to begin analysis during field trip
3. Improve digital literacy of students
Why was this technology introduced?
1. Lack of time to implement new technology2. Cost of technology/limited resources3. Limited staff/student skills ( & reluctant colleagues)
What are the barriers to using technology in fieldwork?
What technologies will be used in fieldworkin the next 5 years?
Social network sites as real-time data loggers
Smartphones for GPS, mobile mapping & geotagging
Photo-recognition for plant identification
Augmented reality
Gigapan
Conclusions
• Barriers remain the same as Fletcher et al. 2007: cost, time and lack of staff/student skills
• Use of technology in fieldwork has increased since 2002 pre, peri and post fieldwork.
• Emergence of mobile technologies being used more during the fieldtrip e.g. Smartphones, netbooks, laptops
• “App”-driven technologies are being used.
Questions to consider
• Why is technology low-use “in the field”? How can we advocate the use of more technology at this stage of the fieldwork?
• How can we encourage reluctant colleagues to bring in more technology to their fieldwork ?
• Is technology integral to either the learning outcomes or the student technology skills? (or both?)
• Will student-owned mobile devices be used to overcome resource/cost issues? What challenges will this bring?
• To follow up survey results with telephone interviews
• To collect and share a series of detailed case studies of good practice.
• Continue trials of new technologies and evaluate their suitability for fieldwork (with focus remaining on pedagogy)
Future Work
Website: http://www.enhancingfieldwork.org.ukTwitter: @fieldwork_ntf
Questions?
