New literacies and future educational culture

The paper draws attention to three developments that are crucial to online education. First, the new literacy required by group discussion in writing, i.e. by computer‐mediated communication ('e‐talk') is discussed Educators are urged to delimit and structure their courses so that online conversations in writing are successfully framed for effective discourse. Second, new literacy arising from the merging of multimedia with text is considered It is maintained that this will enhance communication, not debase it. Third, the way that increasing ease of information retrieval is eroding boundaries between traditional disciplines is discussed It is argued that this may create new difficulties in education. The paper recommends various ways of overcoming the problems that arise from the three developments

Effective use of learning technologies (ICT) with campus-based students

Article about a project to use learning technologies (ICT) with campus-based students. Led by Anita Pincas, University of East London

Effective use of CHAT in online learning

A proposal to encourage more usage of CHAT software in online learning

The role of musical possible selves in supporting subjective well-being in later life

There is now an accepted need for initiatives that support older people's well-being. There is increasing evidence that active engagement with music has the potential to contribute to this. This paper explores the relationship between musical possible selves and subjective well-being in later life. The research reported here formed part of a larger project that focused on how active music-making could support positive cognitive, social and emotional outcomes. The research comprised three UK case study sites, each offering diverse musical activities. A sample aged 50+ (total N = 398), some of whom were novices and others who are more experienced, was recruited to complete questionnaires that included open questions and measures of well-being. In addition, individual interviews (n = 29) and focus groups (n = 15) were carried out, where participants in musical activities reflected on the meaning and function of music-making in their lives. The interpretation presented here suggests that through music many older people found a means by which they were able to formulate well-understood and highly esteemed versions of their possible future selves. This, in turn, may have been a significant factor in helping to navigate the process of ageing in later life with enhanced subjective well-being, including a sense of purpose, a significant degree of autonomy and a strong sense of social affirmation

Report into the use of Chat in education

The potential for region-wide, national and international, live, inter-active online learning using CHAT - a synchronous textual communication - has been under exploited in both distance learning and to support on campus delivery. This proposal suggests some small scale research that may serve to redress this under utilisation. The research will take account of wide public experience of internet CHAT, especially by the younger generation, and will seek to show how this, now common, public mode of communication can be incorporated into educational provision, so as to benefit learner motivation and participation in the study process either on campus or onlin