Pebblegogy - new book from PebblePad

PebblePad launched their book Pebblegogy last week at Wolverhampton University. The book contains a whole range of case studies detailing how different curriculum areas have introduced and used PebblePad. A number of copies will shortly be deposited in the library.

Improving Retention using PebblePad

I attended the Pebblegogy Conference last week, and heard how tutors had successfully engaged new cohorts of students prior to their arrival using PebblePad. The tutors reported that this strategy had a positive impact on retention figures. If you would like to know more drop me an email - b.haywood@derby.ac.uk or 'phone me at 01332 591316.

Stories not bullet points!

We have all been to those 'death by a 100 slides' presentations. Roger Jones*, a geologist, turned accounts executive who is now a boardroom coach and corporate storyteller, suggests that stories can have a much more powerful and lasting impact on an audience. In my experience it is often the stories I have told in my workshops that students comment on, or remember when I meet them months later.


Should we not, therefore, be encouraging our students to develop their storytelling skills and their own stories; this could involve the reflection and articulation of a learning event, and provide a great opportunity to collate evidence of their skills, attributes and added value? There is a place for bullet points, and PowerPoint slides, but often it is the colour a story brings that intrigues and interests the listener, and could help our students stand out from the crowd.
* Pragmatic Storytelling For Leaders - for more information visit www.RogerEdwardJOnes.com


Roger suggests the following 'do's' and 'don'ts':

DO

• Ensure your story has a clear point or a message to convey.




• Be specific and detailed in your telling of the story. It helps to paont a picture the listeners it draws them in.




• Create the unexpected - people like to be surprised.




• A good story creates questions in listeners' minds and they want them answered.

DON'T

• Be afraid to keep it simple. The idea is to create a story that resonates with people.




• Never start by saying "I've got a great story to tell you". Just tell it. Let the listener judge how good it is.




• Don't overdo the "moral of the story" by lecturing people about what they should take from it. A good story enables people to interpret the message for themselves.

Source: www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/appointments

Involving students in curriculum developments - Pebble Pad Case Study

Working collaboratively with students, the Learning Technology Team and the Subject Careers Adviser has helped Derby students get the best out of developing their e-portfolio using Pebble Pad.
Read about the creative way students have been involved as mentors to to help their peers develop their e-portfolio. The students also produced ''how to' videos for students on how to use Pebble Pad - you can see these by following the link below:

http://www.derby.ac.uk/news/are-eportfolios-the-key-to-boosting-employability

The Graduate Market 2011 - The good news and the important news

The Good News for this year’s graduates:

• ‘The UK’s leading employers are expecting to increase their graduate recruitment by 9.4% in 2011”


• “Three fifths of employers expect to recruit more graduates in 2011, whilst a quarter plan to maintain their intake.”


• “Employers in thirteen of fourteen key industries and employment areas expect to recruit more graduates in 2011.”
  

The Important News for all undergraduates:

• “Although the total number of graduate vacancies is set to increase in 2011, recruiters have confirmed that a third if this year’s entry-level positions are expected to be filled by graduates who have already worked for their organisations –either through industrial placements, vacation work or sponsorships- - and therefore are not open to other students from the ‘Class of 2011’.


• ‘Nearly two-thirds of recruiters warn that graduates who have had no previous work experience at all are unlikely to be successful during the selection process and have little or no chance of receiving a job offer for their organisations’ graduate programmes
  · ‘Three-fifths of employers are providing industrial placements for undergraduates (typically for 6-12 months) or vacation work lasting more than three weeks’.

Source: 'The Graduate Market in 20011', pub High Fliers Research Limited, 2011