Dr Kirsty Young

In collaboration with colleagues at UTS I have been engaged in a research project which investigates prospective teachers as Learning Design authors.  This project was funded by the Australasian Society for Computers in Teaching and Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE).  The project encouraged pre-service teachers to use well-established learning strategies (Predict-Observe-Explain, Learners Questions and Analogical Reasoning) to develop an online Learning Design (using the LAMS platform).   Our virtual seminar on this project can be viewed at:   http://econversations.wetpaint.com/

We would really welcome your contributions to the online discussion - either through 'voicethread' or the traditional discussion forum. 

During 2008 I will present on my current work:

Young, K. 2008.  Identity creation and socialisation from the perspective of active online social  networks. 
Internet Research 9.0: Rethinking Community, Rethinking Place. Assocation of Internet Researchers. Copenhagen, Denmark.  15-18 October 2008.

Young, K. 2008. Authentic Learning Using an Online Auction Site. 15th International Conference on Learning. University of Chicago, Illinois. 3-6 June 2008.

 

I recently distributed an online survey investigating internet use.  There have been 748 respondents to date.  Initial findings reveal the following popular uses for the Internet across this group:
Email (97% using daily/weekly)
Instant messaging (47% using daily/weekly)
Banking (71% using at least monthy)
News source (82% using at least monthly)
Product searches (78% using at least monthly)
Recreational activity searches (78% using at least monthly)
How-to information searches (84% using at least monthly)
Work/study related information (97% using at least monthly)
YouTube (67% using at least monthy)
Music downloads (65% using at least once per year)
Purchasing tickets (78% using at least once per year)
Social  networking (eg. myspace, Facebook) - 68% have a profile

A little less popular:
Online auctions (47% using at least once per year)
Online games (33% using at least once per year)
Adding photos (51% using at least once per year)

While the following do not appear to be taken up significantly by this group:
Downloading movies (78% never)
Dating sites (91% never)
Writing a blog (69% never)
Social bookmarking (80% never)
Adding reviews (76% never)
Music networking (88% never)
Creating/posting videos (89% never)

Preliminary results of an online survey I am currenty carrying out into the use of social networking sites indicates that 62% of 254 respondents (aged between 15-65 years) currently maintain a social networking site.  Is this a fad or a cultural phenomenon that will forever alter social interaction and relationships?

If you would like to take part in the survey please visit:  http://surveys.uts.edu.au/index.cfm?surveyid=3355