#CClasses at HCA

I’m really excited about a project we’re about to participate in at HCA.

#CClasses is a collaborative venture– an ‘open’ initiative designed by Jonathan Worth, of Phonar and Phonar Nation. Jonathan has created a learning framework that uses social media as a tool to support (and open up) learning in less formal digital spaces.

The format supports notetaking skills (important in themselves) by using tweets to catch learner impressions of the session content. The tweets are then gathered through shared hashtags into a ‘storify’ which is used as a basis for whole-class discussion. Thinking about the process it strikes me that already, students have received useful feedback, many voices have been heard and an overall analysis informed and supported. All this in an environment that seems ‘low stakes’ and might encourage confidence.

Looking further at the process followed to run a connected class, it seems to me to support (amongst other things):

• reflection-in-action through note-taking
• less-formal tutor-student and peer discussion using social media
• face to face tutor ‘validated’ peer-supported discussion
• deep learning through reflection-after-action using journal entry (blogging platforms)

This is before we even get to ideas of meta-cognition and the roles Jonathon have devised, which provide an inclusive language of how students might learn on the internet. The more I think about this the more I find it very, very exciting. Jonathon’s own rationale for the classes and the roles he’s devised is even more interesting – I can’t wait to see how this unfolds and remakes itself with each different perspective and class.

You can find out more and see the process in action by following Grant and his insightful students (@UNofPhoto), by reading his storify here:

https://storify.com/unofphoto/connected-classes-part-1

or following the hashtags #EAPP1 and #EAPP2. I am very, very grateful that Grant is trailblazing – I found it hard to visualize the learning until I saw his student response. I’m equally looking forward to following everyone else involved in the project. Laura Ritchie has blogged about #CClasses more eloquently than I could manage here:

https://www.lauraritchie.com/

so if you’re interested in more detail, please read her post.

My classes will start at #HCACS1 #CClasses as soon as I’ve found my 12 students and we’ve decided on a subject after looking at our ‘big questions’ next week.

Let’s take a risk. Let’s reflect on and in-action. Let’s open up our world.

Sarah (@sarahjfc on twitter)