Nicol's research topic and abstract

Topic: Pedagogical bodies & technological spaces: a critical study of ‘learning commons’ as a site for both collaborative learning and social interaction

Abstract: This study will investigate how the designated sites/areas carrying the function of ‘learning commons’ are used by teachers and students at the University of Hong Kong. The purpose of the study is to provide an in-depth and comprehensive review, examining aspects of usage, satisfaction, culture, and pedagogical effects arising from the experiences of teachers, and students who use and dwell in such a space. The study will address issues within four research foci, namely: pedagogical practice, cultural practice, social interactions and techno-spatial framework.


Definition of Learning Commons: ‘Learning Commons’ is described by the University of Hong Kong’s Knowledge Team as “an emerging concept in university communities around the world. In some places, they are called Information Commons. Learning Commons serve a one-stop shop location where students can study, learn, discuss, interact, and relax. The basic components of Learning Commons usually include reference and student workstations, collaborative learning rooms, electronic classrooms, multimedia workstations, consultation stations, writing lab and lounge. They are also open for extended hours, sometimes 24x7.” Also stated in the Executive Summary of the Knowledge Team’s report and recommendation (2006), the major goal of a Learning Commons is “to transform the educational experience given its undergraduates, to give them opportunities to learn skills needed to compete in our rapidly changing environment, to be able to engage in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaboration, to be able to interact with the world outside the University, to learn democratic values, and to learn critical language and ICT skills.” (p. 2). The Learning Commons is therefore, envisioned by the University governing bodies as a physical facility that support the above mentioned kinds of ‘student-centered’ or ‘learner-centered’ approach to teaching and learning in higher education

Greetings and my goal from 1st, Jan ---6th,Jan

Dear All:

How are you? Haven't met you for quite a long time. Wish all of you a nice new year!

In the past 10 days, i actually idled a lot, and i feel much guilty now. I will meet my supervisor on 8th, Jan, so i guess i'd better post my goals for next week here and make learning a daily routine.

My goals are as follows:

1.Finish a refined chapter of possible research methodology.
2. Finish reading a book which will soon be overdue.

Please ask me whether i have achieved my goals next time when we meet:). Thanks.


JESSICA

Report for the Writing Group Meeting (1:00-2:00pm, 28th December)

Dear my friends

Nice to have a pleasure time with all of you! And it is very wonderful to exchange ideals and experiences!

Now I just simply use my awkward English to try to record some interesting proposes and topics rising in this discussion. Hope all of you can benefit somewhat from it.

(1) Review and Give comments to one’s writing through email or blog
This is an excellent way to know other’s opinion to both our research and writing, then to improve our writing skills greatly. If you have anything wanted to share with us, you can just put it on our blog or circulate it through email.
By the way, Nicol has her own blog http://nicol2007.edublogs.org and welcome you to give comments on it.

(2) Put an abstract on your research topic on our blog
We would know more about your research direction which would pave a better way for our discussion.

(3) What is a good academic writing and what is its difference from other writings?
Need it be as simple, logic as possible? Or with “literary grace”?

Karri said that “different author have different flavors”, and Nicol said that “a good academic writing is trying to make a good framework to convince your audience”. What are your comments on this idea? Feel free to let us know!

(4) Many times we need to trace back the original sources of our literature (books and journal articles), even though there are a good review of them.

Please contribute on the possible missing points of this summary!!

Best Wishes
Wenyu

My goals: Dec 18th-28th

Hi Super Writers:

I wish you all enjoy Christmas Break and refreshed yourselves for your writing goals.

I initially set up my goal as finishing my paper draft. Now, it was achieved already. So I would like to add another goal: to write up a summary of a few papers on narratives & identity.

Cheers

Issa

My goals and best wishes

Dear friends,

Thank you all for your warm welcome and insightful experience sharing!

In view of the fact that I didn't reach the goal I set last week, I believe it will be good for me to target a much more realistic and reasonable amount of work in this week. Hence, two aspects of specific objectives are expected to be completed:

1) Qualitative: Keeping reading and making notes everyday;
2)Quantitative: Reading at least 4 papers and writing a review with more than 1000 words before next group meeting.

Hope I can finish these on time!

Wish you have a carefree holiday in the joyous mood of Christmas and a fruitful new year!

Emily

Super Writer Today

Hi everyone,

I wanna thank you for your active participation and review what we have discussed today.

I think as a first year student in a new academic environment, most of us are still at a loss for what ours study and research shall be at the moment. But just as Issa said, this is a process everyone needs to go through. And fortunetely, we got such a warm supportive group to help each other which our senior colleagues might not have before. So enjoy the unique jumbled period, you gonna miss it later:)

I just collected some sensible sentence as follow:
* Writing is a way of thinking.
* Let reading follow your thinking.
* Start out with a mind-map when writing.
* The rationale of presenting an argument is just like those trivial things in our daily life.
* A judgement is based on an extensive and intensive reading.

Please make a supplement if I left out anything. And if you have some experience, please don't hesitate to post your opinion. :)

Here I got a question: What is the appropriate load for us to read and write per day?

Writing goal from Wenyu (from 18th December to 28th December)

Dear all superwriters,

I am trying to set a realistic writing goal for the next week (about 10 days).

I will try to write one subtopic in my literature review which is supposed to be about 3 pages.

This time my strategies is concerning more on the quality than quantity of the writing!

By the way, the communication in this group meeting gave me a lot of inspiration and encouragement. Thanks for all of you!!!

Best Wishes

Wenyu