Panel Talk SOL27
Embracing Social Media
Social media is all about collaboration and personalisation. Using social media tools, students can
even be creators of their own lesson plans. From applied research to concrete examples, this session will open an enriching discussion on how to harness social media in education.
Nina Ronas
Lecturer in Marketing, Norwegian Business School, Norway
Lecturer at Norwegian Business School. Nina has won several awards on how to engage and involve students and specifically large classes with up to 600 students actively.
Nina uses several tools on how to engage the students actively. Lately she has used with success Facebook, Kahoot, Instagram and other online tools.
Nina encourages the students to share knowledge, learnings, and experience on Facebook groups to become actively involved in the production of the information and curriculum of the courses she leads.
As an extension of being lecturer, Nina sees her role as a facilitator, inspirator and motivator for the students to take actively responsibility for their own learning by using Facebook as a digital learning platform.
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Herwig Erich Rehatschek
Head of Department, Medical University of Graz, Austria
Dr. Herwig Rehatschek studied Computer Science and Electronics and received his M.Sc. and his Ph.D. from the University of Technology, Graz. From 1997 until 2008 he worked at the research company JOANNEUM RESEARCH. His main emphasis was on eLearning and digital media analysis. He participated in many international EC research projects and also managed and co-ordinated some of them. In 1999 Dr. Rehatschek won the Austrian state price in the category learning, knowledge and culture. In 2008 he joined the Medical University of Graz as a head of the unit organization of teaching and learning with media with the main task to develop and maintain the virtual medical campus, the eLearning platform of the university. Since then he was actively involved in the set-up and implementation of the learning management system and the development of learning content. He introduced virtualized lessons, a new virtual microscope, and eLectures. In 2013 he won the Dr. Michael Hasiba price for innovative teaching. In 2014 open educational resources (OER) have been introduced under his leadership. In 2015 he co-developed the training programme "eDidactics" (6 ECTS credits) which enables teachers to improve their eLearning skills.
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Sam James Murungi Kaheru
Lecturer, University of Venda, South Africa
Lecturer at the University of Venda in the School of Education in the Department of Professional Studies. Responsible for the Physical science methodology for Physics and Chemistry pre-service teachers programme. One of the main focus areas is the use of ICT where use of computer simulations is used. My doctoral studies was on the use of computer simulations for knowledge and skills acquisition with the theoretical framework based on Cognitive Load and Cognitive Theory of multimedia learning, it is in Physics Education.
Educated at Makerere University, Kings College London and University of South Africa, with the following qualifications BSc (Maths Physics), Diploma in Education; MA Science Education Diploma in Science Education & PhD (Physics Education) respectively with regard to the universities.
My interests have grown with involvement in the use of ICT specifically computer simulations; social network Facebook, Whatsapp, twitter for rapid information delivery with the pre-service teachers and the previous 4 cohorts of teachers. It has developed excitement and a love of the practical approach in the teaching of physical science. Google docs changed the playing field wherein large pieces of data was easily retrieved and used for information with regard to the pre-service students.
Our groups are big and our fourth years are 511; the third years hovering at 600; second years 700 and the first years at 850 strong. It is easy to get to know their details and thereafter communciate on google or emails.
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Moderator
Foster Ofosu
Capacity Development Specialist, African Development Bank (AfDB), Ivory Coast
Foster Ofosu is a Capacity Development Specialist at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB). His core responsibilities include supporting skills and competences to support Bank-financed Projects in Africa and to support policy dialogue in Regional Member countries. He is also responsible for creating and managing the Distance and eLearning Initiative at AfDB. Foster has a background in International Business Management with special focus on Innovation and International Technology Transfer. Prior to joining the African Development Bank, Foster was a Senior Lecturer of International Business and Innovation Management at both the Turku School of Economics and Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland and at the Ghana Institute of Management (GIMPA). He has published several articles on International Business as well as Innovation Management. Foster has also consulted for European and African organizations in internationalization and commercialization of innovations in the ICT and Biotechnology industries. As an educationist, he has coached and supported individuals and institutions in Africa in innovations and application of ICT in different sectors.