Jane Costello | Memorial University of Newfoundland (original) (raw)
Papers by Jane Costello
Concerns that business school graduates, program curricula and classroom teaching are lacking in ... more Concerns that business school graduates, program curricula and classroom teaching are lacking in real-world relevance have been on-going for almost as long as schools have been established. Traditional, theory-based and classroom-oriented teaching has not been leading to relevant learning. Students need to develop real-world situational relevance through learning to use their knowledge as the basis for developing their critical thinking, to search for and find information in and of the situation at the time, and to follow this with problem analysis and action planning. Strategic Management courses require students to complete business case situation analyses and make evidence-based recommendations for future strategy. Students have difficulty in doing this because they do not have the critical thinking and situation analytical process and procedures that they need to use when no-one is around to tell them what to do! Within an overall situational strategic management approach an on-...
A phenomenographic approach to case study is presented as a proposed methodology to researching g... more A phenomenographic approach to case study is presented as a proposed methodology to researching guest speakers’ impact in networked learning communities. This work-in-progress paper outlines the proposed use of case study and phenomenography in exploring learners’ experience of guest speakers’ impact on students’ in online learning communities in higher education (HE). The rationale for this chosen methodology is outlined, as well as its epistemological and ontological underpinnings. The inclusion of guest speakers in higher education courses, such that they share experience with and learn with students and instructors through synchronous or asynchronous communication, is an area little studied to date. Little is known about guest speakers’ impact on learning beyond a few documented benefits afforded by guest speakers in face-to-face learning environments. For example, guest speakers bridge theory and practice (praxis) through experiences they share with the class. Data collected fr...
As the number, type and use of technologies to support learning increases so do the opportunities... more As the number, type and use of technologies to support learning increases so do the opportunities for using these technologies for feedback in liberal arts higher education. Literature on electronic feedback (e-feedback) technologies varies depending on the type. The paper looks at feedback, technologies and their affordances which would allow instructors and designers to make informed decisions about when and how to use them for learner-centered feedback. Guidelines for feedback are also presented.
Journal of International Students, 2015
Study abroad brings an enriching experience to students’ academic and personal lives. This narrat... more Study abroad brings an enriching experience to students’ academic and personal lives. This narrative essay relays two students’ experiences with study abroad sojourns and touches upon their technology use during their study abroad as recounted in semi-structured interviews. Details of their cultural experiences and reflections thereof as well as the impact these experiences had on their lives are presented. Student participation in study abroad semesters is increasing each year. Understanding previous students’ experience studying abroad, how this impacted their studies and life afterwards can inform decision making of other students considering this option. Additionally, awareness of the technologies used to stay in touch with those at home informs administrative and technical decisions for institutions to consider.
Online Learning, 2015
During the Winter and Spring 2014 semesters students registered in the online offering of Human K... more During the Winter and Spring 2014 semesters students registered in the online offering of Human Kinetics and Recreation 1000 (N=589) were asked to participate in two Twitter events encompassing two of the course’s assessment activities. In each Twitter event, students were required to post, at minimum, one original tweet and respond to another student’s tweet. The use of a tweet feeder widget in the course’s learning management system provided a current summary of the dialogue. An aggregate tool was used to assist with tracking of student tweets for assessment purposes. At the end of the semester students were asked to complete an online survey that sought to ascertain their experience of using Twitter within the course, including its effectiveness as a component of the assessment, and as a means to enhance social presence within the class. The survey also inquired about students’ previous and current Twitter use, and requested recommendations on how to use it in future courses. Res...
Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology / La revue canadienne de l’apprentissage et de la technologie, 2018
As the use of social media in post-secondary education expands, so does the research literature e... more As the use of social media in post-secondary education expands, so does the research literature examining its effectiveness in engaging students. Studies have examined the use of Twitter as an assessment and engagement tool, and since this is a broad and growing research area, better understanding whether Twitter can promote these outcomes in an upper-level university course is valuable. This paper explores these themes based on a student survey (N=37) conducted in a Sociology Deviance course. It also reviews how students responded to the use of Twitter as a “community-classroom” engagement and assessment tool. Findings reveal that Twitter did contribute to some students’ sense of community. We offer suggestions for how instructors can successfully integrate Twitter activities into their course assessment to make them more engaging and to improve connectedness.L’utilisation des médias sociaux dans l’éducation postsecondaire prend de l’ampleur, entraînant l’augmentation de la documen...
The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 2015
While the use of Twitter for communication and assessment activities in online courses is not new... more While the use of Twitter for communication and assessment activities in online courses is not new, it has not been without its challenges. This is increasingly true of high enrolment courses. The use of a Twitter Evaluation application which leverages a Learning Management System’s (LMS’s) application programming interface (API) provides a solution which reduces the administrative overhead associated with tracking students’ Tweets and allows the grader to focus on the assessment of the Tweets’ quality. Such an application and how it improved the assessment process of grading Tweet events is described. In addition to the technological considerations, the soundness of the Twitter learning design in the course impacts the effectiveness of the Tweet events for learning and enhancing the much needed online social presence. Learning design considerations are also discussed.
Handbook of Research on Active Learning and the Flipped Classroom Model in the Digital Age
The purpose of this chapter is to present and discuss the instructional design process model -- A... more The purpose of this chapter is to present and discuss the instructional design process model -- ADDIE, and nine flipped course design principles, which when used in parallel, offer a means to support the development and implementation of a hybrid or flipped classroom. Discussion of the pedagogical terms hybrid, blended, flipped classrooms, and active learning, are followed by an overview of the instructional design process model ADDIE, along with evidenced-based flipped classroom design principles. A partial example of how these two frameworks may be applied to the re-design of a fully online course into a flipped or hybrid course is demonstrated, and emergent design-consideration questions are offered.
Phenomenography originated in the field of Education in the 1970s. At this time, a series of stud... more Phenomenography originated in the field of Education in the 1970s. At this time, a series of studies were designed to understand why some students appeared to learn more deeply and easily than others (Marton, 1994, Marton & Säljö, 1976). The researchers gathered the different conceptualizations described by the research participants, analyzed their similarities and differences, and noticed that what emerged was a qualitatively limited number of ways of conceptualizing phenomenon. Further, they discovered that these ...
Education and Information Technologies, 2019
Social media's reach has extended into our personal, professional, and educational lives. Related... more Social media's reach has extended into our personal, professional, and educational lives. Related to the latter, research has examined how technologies, such as Twitter, can be used as communication and evaluation tools in postsecondary settings. No known studies have considered students' experiences using Twitter in different course delivery formats (e.g., on campus compared to online courses), yet this can inform instructor decision-making on whether Twitter can be more effectively incorporated as an instructional tool in one format over another. This study sets out to examine whether differences existed between students' perceptions and use of this social media platform as a device for learning and "classroom" connectedness. As students' perceptions can reveal the effectiveness of pedagogical strategies given their position at the center of the learning process, the present study relied on anonymous, voluntary online survey results from 37 students enrolled in an upper-level Sociology of Deviance course delivered by the same instructor both online and on campus to ascertain students' use of Twitter and their perceptions of using Twitter in learning, as a course evaluation tool, and in connecting students. Our findings suggest there are interesting differences in the social networking platform's use between the two course formats. These differences were used to recommend strategies for how instructors can integrate Twitter into their courses, both online and on campus.
Phenomenography originated in the field of Education in the 1970s. At this time, a series of stud... more Phenomenography originated in the field of Education in the 1970s. At this time, a series of studies were designed to understand why some students appeared to learn more deeply and easily than others (Marton, 1994, Marton & Säljö, 1976). The researchers gathered the different conceptualizations described by the research participants, analyzed their similarities and differences, and noticed that what emerged was a qualitatively limited number of ways of conceptualizing phenomenon. Further, they discovered that these ...
Concerns that business school graduates, program curricula and classroom teaching are lacking in ... more Concerns that business school graduates, program curricula and classroom teaching are lacking in real-world relevance have been on-going for almost as long as schools have been established. Traditional, theory-based and classroom-oriented teaching has not been leading to relevant learning. Students need to develop real-world situational relevance through learning to use their knowledge as the basis for developing their critical thinking, to search for and find information in and of the situation at the time, and to follow this with problem analysis and action planning. Strategic Management courses require students to complete business case situation analyses and make evidence-based recommendations for future strategy. Students have difficulty in doing this because they do not have the critical thinking and situation analytical process and procedures that they need to use when no-one is around to tell them what to do! Within an overall situational strategic management approach an on-...
A phenomenographic approach to case study is presented as a proposed methodology to researching g... more A phenomenographic approach to case study is presented as a proposed methodology to researching guest speakers’ impact in networked learning communities. This work-in-progress paper outlines the proposed use of case study and phenomenography in exploring learners’ experience of guest speakers’ impact on students’ in online learning communities in higher education (HE). The rationale for this chosen methodology is outlined, as well as its epistemological and ontological underpinnings. The inclusion of guest speakers in higher education courses, such that they share experience with and learn with students and instructors through synchronous or asynchronous communication, is an area little studied to date. Little is known about guest speakers’ impact on learning beyond a few documented benefits afforded by guest speakers in face-to-face learning environments. For example, guest speakers bridge theory and practice (praxis) through experiences they share with the class. Data collected fr...
As the number, type and use of technologies to support learning increases so do the opportunities... more As the number, type and use of technologies to support learning increases so do the opportunities for using these technologies for feedback in liberal arts higher education. Literature on electronic feedback (e-feedback) technologies varies depending on the type. The paper looks at feedback, technologies and their affordances which would allow instructors and designers to make informed decisions about when and how to use them for learner-centered feedback. Guidelines for feedback are also presented.
Journal of International Students, 2015
Study abroad brings an enriching experience to students’ academic and personal lives. This narrat... more Study abroad brings an enriching experience to students’ academic and personal lives. This narrative essay relays two students’ experiences with study abroad sojourns and touches upon their technology use during their study abroad as recounted in semi-structured interviews. Details of their cultural experiences and reflections thereof as well as the impact these experiences had on their lives are presented. Student participation in study abroad semesters is increasing each year. Understanding previous students’ experience studying abroad, how this impacted their studies and life afterwards can inform decision making of other students considering this option. Additionally, awareness of the technologies used to stay in touch with those at home informs administrative and technical decisions for institutions to consider.
Online Learning, 2015
During the Winter and Spring 2014 semesters students registered in the online offering of Human K... more During the Winter and Spring 2014 semesters students registered in the online offering of Human Kinetics and Recreation 1000 (N=589) were asked to participate in two Twitter events encompassing two of the course’s assessment activities. In each Twitter event, students were required to post, at minimum, one original tweet and respond to another student’s tweet. The use of a tweet feeder widget in the course’s learning management system provided a current summary of the dialogue. An aggregate tool was used to assist with tracking of student tweets for assessment purposes. At the end of the semester students were asked to complete an online survey that sought to ascertain their experience of using Twitter within the course, including its effectiveness as a component of the assessment, and as a means to enhance social presence within the class. The survey also inquired about students’ previous and current Twitter use, and requested recommendations on how to use it in future courses. Res...
Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology / La revue canadienne de l’apprentissage et de la technologie, 2018
As the use of social media in post-secondary education expands, so does the research literature e... more As the use of social media in post-secondary education expands, so does the research literature examining its effectiveness in engaging students. Studies have examined the use of Twitter as an assessment and engagement tool, and since this is a broad and growing research area, better understanding whether Twitter can promote these outcomes in an upper-level university course is valuable. This paper explores these themes based on a student survey (N=37) conducted in a Sociology Deviance course. It also reviews how students responded to the use of Twitter as a “community-classroom” engagement and assessment tool. Findings reveal that Twitter did contribute to some students’ sense of community. We offer suggestions for how instructors can successfully integrate Twitter activities into their course assessment to make them more engaging and to improve connectedness.L’utilisation des médias sociaux dans l’éducation postsecondaire prend de l’ampleur, entraînant l’augmentation de la documen...
The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 2015
While the use of Twitter for communication and assessment activities in online courses is not new... more While the use of Twitter for communication and assessment activities in online courses is not new, it has not been without its challenges. This is increasingly true of high enrolment courses. The use of a Twitter Evaluation application which leverages a Learning Management System’s (LMS’s) application programming interface (API) provides a solution which reduces the administrative overhead associated with tracking students’ Tweets and allows the grader to focus on the assessment of the Tweets’ quality. Such an application and how it improved the assessment process of grading Tweet events is described. In addition to the technological considerations, the soundness of the Twitter learning design in the course impacts the effectiveness of the Tweet events for learning and enhancing the much needed online social presence. Learning design considerations are also discussed.
Handbook of Research on Active Learning and the Flipped Classroom Model in the Digital Age
The purpose of this chapter is to present and discuss the instructional design process model -- A... more The purpose of this chapter is to present and discuss the instructional design process model -- ADDIE, and nine flipped course design principles, which when used in parallel, offer a means to support the development and implementation of a hybrid or flipped classroom. Discussion of the pedagogical terms hybrid, blended, flipped classrooms, and active learning, are followed by an overview of the instructional design process model ADDIE, along with evidenced-based flipped classroom design principles. A partial example of how these two frameworks may be applied to the re-design of a fully online course into a flipped or hybrid course is demonstrated, and emergent design-consideration questions are offered.
Phenomenography originated in the field of Education in the 1970s. At this time, a series of stud... more Phenomenography originated in the field of Education in the 1970s. At this time, a series of studies were designed to understand why some students appeared to learn more deeply and easily than others (Marton, 1994, Marton & Säljö, 1976). The researchers gathered the different conceptualizations described by the research participants, analyzed their similarities and differences, and noticed that what emerged was a qualitatively limited number of ways of conceptualizing phenomenon. Further, they discovered that these ...
Education and Information Technologies, 2019
Social media's reach has extended into our personal, professional, and educational lives. Related... more Social media's reach has extended into our personal, professional, and educational lives. Related to the latter, research has examined how technologies, such as Twitter, can be used as communication and evaluation tools in postsecondary settings. No known studies have considered students' experiences using Twitter in different course delivery formats (e.g., on campus compared to online courses), yet this can inform instructor decision-making on whether Twitter can be more effectively incorporated as an instructional tool in one format over another. This study sets out to examine whether differences existed between students' perceptions and use of this social media platform as a device for learning and "classroom" connectedness. As students' perceptions can reveal the effectiveness of pedagogical strategies given their position at the center of the learning process, the present study relied on anonymous, voluntary online survey results from 37 students enrolled in an upper-level Sociology of Deviance course delivered by the same instructor both online and on campus to ascertain students' use of Twitter and their perceptions of using Twitter in learning, as a course evaluation tool, and in connecting students. Our findings suggest there are interesting differences in the social networking platform's use between the two course formats. These differences were used to recommend strategies for how instructors can integrate Twitter into their courses, both online and on campus.
Phenomenography originated in the field of Education in the 1970s. At this time, a series of stud... more Phenomenography originated in the field of Education in the 1970s. At this time, a series of studies were designed to understand why some students appeared to learn more deeply and easily than others (Marton, 1994, Marton & Säljö, 1976). The researchers gathered the different conceptualizations described by the research participants, analyzed their similarities and differences, and noticed that what emerged was a qualitatively limited number of ways of conceptualizing phenomenon. Further, they discovered that these ...