Comments on: Blogging to extend the classroom

By: Robert Green

Robert Green — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 11:46:35 +0000

Throughout my time in academia – I have aimed to use social media, primarily to develop and enhance the student experience. I think we have had a number of successes demonstrated by seeing the circulation increase. Accepting that circulation is not everything it does appear to me that the first principles of such initiatives must be to focus all of our activities on our students.
Having been involved in this for some time now it does seem that social media provides a real opportunity to keep all of our students (and other interested participants) up to speed with the most recent events in forensic science. The speed at which policy, research and other commentary is being delivered makes it rather problematic to (always) embed these materials into coursework – as its being delivered. This year alone we have seen policy from the Government Office for Science (only yesterday). Earlier this week, the results of a study into the decision-making at the scene of unsuspected death were published. There have been several more codes of practice and conduct which were published by the Forensic Science Regulator – most recently on BPA but previously on the topic of bias. In summer, we saw the publication of ENFSI guidelines and a series of guides published by the Royal Statistical Society. Although some of this material can and should be used to update our modules – simply the speed of some of this makes a dedicated social media site and effective way of sharing the latest information quickly.
Accepting of course that social media is not a panacea it does however help us to add the ‘context’ which is so essential but sometimes so hard to get the right balance. Being able to post news items from around the world really helps to add context to a student’s academic work and helps them to appreciate how the science is applied.
I’ve tried to use social media in a number of other ways in order to post jobs, as well as providing interview advice and trying to help the students with employment. Social media also provides an efficient platform to post short video clips; podcasts and a number of books and other academic papers – again, all focused on enhancing the student experience as well as sharing and enthusiasm and passion for forensic science.

By: Robert Green

Robert Green — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 17:44:40 +0000

I’ve had an idea for some time now to see how we could construct a FB site where we could post all jobs to all forensic students as well as job tips. I’ve tried to do this a bit piecemeal but maybe there’s a way of linking so we can post to all
Maybe something we could develop further
Best wishes
Bob

By: Dr Tom Bassindale

Dr Tom Bassindale — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 16:57:23 +0000

In reply to Robert Green.

Thanks Bob. I think the comments from other professionals, such as yourself, on articles, tweets, FB posts are all part of the resource for students to learn from – it gives them exposure to the ‘industry’ and wider than ‘academic’ content. Let me know if I can help you in any way. Regards, Tom

By: Robert Green

Robert Green — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 16:50:44 +0000

Some good ideas here Tom and I’ll take these on board. I try to use FB (and to a lesser extent Twitter) to share news, key events, e-books and articles as well as podcasts and jobs. Seems a great way of keeping students current and adding the important context to studies. I’d like to develop further and will use your ideas to develop further. Best wishes to all at SHU. Bob