Suki Goodman Section of Organisational Psychology School of

Suki Goodman Section of Organisational Psychology School of Management Studies DFAQ Simple interventions for complex problems

Outline � Context � What was the teaching or learning problem? � How did you use a teaching and learning technology as part of a solution? � How well did this work? � What are your reflections and ideas about improvements?

Context Organisational Psychology Third year: BUS 3002 F Organisational learning and wellness & BUS 3003 S Labour relations and organisational change Honours: BUS 4066 W Organisational Learning module

What was the teaching or learning problem? Standard educational concerns: Large classes; demographic diversity; differential skills and knowledge background; self-efficacy Org Psych related concerns: Applied discipline, limited experience and exposure to work & organisations

How did you use a teaching and learning technology as part of a solution? For standard educational concerns: Facilitate learning conversations outside of the formal programme Facilitate “safe” space for shy/self-conscious students to participate and collaborate Keep academics in touch with how students managing on the course and with the material

� Attempt to shift the learning responsibility � Attempt to create community of learners beyond formal class setting � Increase engagement with material � Increase communication � Increase lecturer/coordinator availability � Offer improved service

Org Psych (organisational learning) related concerns: � Opportunity to experience learning technology first hand � Difference btw theory and theory + application

E. g. honours course outcomes � Understanding role and importance of technology in training and development in 21 st century organisations � Mapping how learning happens in organisations/systems, how institutional memory is developed, stored, used and revised � Indentifying steps in scaffolding learning architecture in organisations

How well did this work? Standard educational concerns: Undergraduate: It worked well BUT Postgraduate: It worked well BUT

Org Psych related concerns: Excellent opportunity for students to engage differently with material Opportunities for application and reflection

Evidence? � Evidence from own experience and focus group interviews with undergraduates & postgraduate � Analysis of focus group transcripts � Illustrative quotations

Theme 1: How and why students used the DFAQ ? “I think for me I do not have a lot of confidence in my own thought processes like I don’t believe that the things that I think are right or particularly innovative or smart so I am very withdrawn when it comes to expressing what I think and like DFAQ was helpful… because I did not have to go and expose myself…”

“ I think DFAQ is heading towards a sort of collective way of learning and that we could actually learn together and all of us improve our skills and abilities, so I think if we changed our mindset of what learning is about then it is not about only personal achievement and learning but if we could collectively learn then I think the DFAQ would become more affective because people would then share information and not actually hold onto it. ”

Why students found the DFAQ helpful? “It was a good learning tool, I think and also it was just different as well and think that sort of helps like you sort of get struck in the rut of learning sometimes and just to have a different avenue to go to and a different way to get information…it was just different and it just was more useful. ”

Theme 3: Affective responses to the DFAQ � “. . . I loved it – I have often thought why can’t we have it for this course or that course or why can’t this be such a nice resource for this person to use for that thing… and it is a nice thing to lean on and to have there as a resource, so I have often found that it was missing in other areas” � “I think it was great. We are always in close contact with each other and always in contact with lecturers and stuff so it aided our learning and communication and I think in other courses it would be even more beneficial. ”

What are your reflections and ideas about improvements? � Experimentation � Lecturer and the possibility of failure buy-in � Commitment of key individual � Balance editorial prerogative with open forum for debate � Integrate with other aspects of the course/other technological learning supports and tools � Ear to the ground