‘I Am Proud of Myself'

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-37
Author(s):  
Clare Wright ◽  
Clare Furneaux
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Negative Evaluation ◽  
Innovative Approach ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Limited Availability ◽  
Life Plans ◽  
The Uk

This paper reports on a detailed thematic analysis of learners' evaluative comments at the end of a five-week academic writing MOOC run by a university in the UK which used a novel content+process MOOC approach. The authors wanted to identify whether this innovative approach to a MOOC course worked in terms of student satisfaction and achievement in mastering both the content and process of critically-based academic writing in second language (L2) English. The MOOC use of peer feedback, and limited availability of detailed expert feedback from educators and mentors, were the primary sources of negative evaluation. However, in general, they found an overwhelming delight in taking the course, demonstrating a clear sense of pride, achievement, and satisfaction of mastering an unfamiliar and difficult skill that many saw as crucial to their future life plans.

Genre and second-language academic writing

2014 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Paltridge
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Whole Language ◽  
Process Writing ◽  
Genre Analysis ◽  
Text Linguistics ◽  
The Us ◽  
Academic Genres ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Teaching Of Writing

The term ‘genre’ first came into the field of second-language (L2) writing and, in turn, the field of English for specific purposes (ESP) in the 1980s, with the research of John Swales, first carried out in the UK, into the introduction section of research articles. Other important figures in this area are Tony Dudley-Evans, Ann Johns and Ken Hyland, who have argued for the value of genre in the teaching of L2 academic writing. ESP genre analysis is a development of text linguistics and the description of academic genres, moving from a focus on lexicogrammatical features to rhetorical moves and, later, to a focus on rhetorical context (see Swales 2001 for a review). Systemic functional genre analysis (typically called the ‘Sydney school’) is a development of research such as that of Longacre (1976) and Labov & Waletzky (1967) and their analyses of the discourse structures of texts. Jim Martin and Joan Rothery are two important figures in the early development of systemic functional genre analysis; their work became the basis for the Disadvantaged Schools Project in Sydney (see Rose & Martin 2012 for a history). As an approach to the teaching of writing, genre-based pedagogy came into prominence in the US, in part as a response to process writing, which, it was felt, did not realistically prepare students for the demands of writing in academic contexts (Horowitz 1986). Genre-based pedagogy in Australia has a similar history and was a reaction to whole language and process writing, which were dominant in the teaching of writing in Australian schools at the time.

scholarly journals The labour of place: Memory and extended reality (XR) in migration museums

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 606-621
Author(s):  
Anna Reading ◽  
Jim Bjork ◽  
Jack Hanlon ◽  
Neil Jakeman
Keyword(s):  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Innovative Approach ◽  
Place Making ◽  
Place Memory ◽  
Museum Exhibitions ◽  
Global Mapping ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Relationship

How do we understand the relationship between memory and place in the context of Extended Reality (XR) migration museum exhibitions? The study combines a global mapping of XR within migration museums, a user analysis of Cologne’s virtual migration museum, and practice-led research with the UK Migration Museum to argue that XR places in Web 2.0 constitute a multiplication of memory’s significant localities. These include a migration memory’s place of beginning (the location of a migrant experience), the place of production (where the memory is transformed into representation) and the place of consumption (where the mediated memory is engaged with, looked at, heard). Mnemonic labour involving digital frictions at each of these sites constitutes a form of multiple place-making with complex feelings, meanings, and (dis)connections. This points to an innovative approach to understanding and curating XR experiences with museums that recognises the significance of the labour of place.

scholarly journals “It’s the Attraction of Winning That Draws You In”—A Qualitative Investigation of Reasons and Facilitators for Videogame Loot Box Engagement in UK Gamers

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2103
Author(s):  
Laura Nicklin ◽  
Stuart Gordon Spicer ◽  
James Close Close ◽  
Jonathan Parke ◽  
Oliver Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Social Influences ◽  
Disordered Gambling ◽  
Qualitative Investigation ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Research Priority ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
Problematic Gambling ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Depth Interviews

Excessive engagement with (increasingly prevalent) loot boxes within games has consistently been linked with disordered gambling and/or gaming. The importance of recognising and managing potential risks associated with loot box involvement means understanding contributing factors is a pressing research priority. Given that motivations for gaming and gambling have been informative in understanding risky engagement with those behaviours, this qualitative study investigated motivations for buying loot boxes, through in-depth interviews with 28 gamers from across the UK. A reflexive thematic analysis categorised reasons for buying into seven “themes”; opening experience; value of box contents; game-related elements; social influences; emotive/impulsive influences; fear of missing out; triggers/facilitators. These themes are described in detail and discussed in relation to the existing literature and motivation theories. This study contributes to understanding ways in which digital items within loot boxes can be highly valued by purchasers, informing the debate around parallels with gambling. Findings that certain motivations were disproportionately endorsed by participants with symptoms of problematic gambling has potential implications for policy and warrants further study.

Social media participatory CPD for nursing revalidation, professional development and beyond

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (13) ◽  
pp. 870-877
Author(s):  
Calvin Moorley ◽  
Theresa Chinn
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Design Data ◽  
The Social ◽  
Reflective Design ◽  
Professional Requirements ◽  
Social Media Tools ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Media Applications

Background: In 2016 the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK introduced revalidation, which is the process nurses are required to follow to renew their registration. This provides an opportunity for nurses to shape, develop and evolve social media to meet their professional requirements. Aims: to examine different ways nurses can use social media tools for continuous professional development (CPD) and revalidation. Methods: using a qualitative reflective design, data were gathered from content on the @WeNurses platform and activities organised with other leading health organisations in England. These data were analysed using the social media relationship triangle developed by the authors with a thematic analysis approach. Findings: analysis revealed that social media was used in six categories: publishing, sharing, messaging, discussing, collaborating, and networking. Organised social media events such as: blogs, tweetchats, Twitter storms, webinars, infographics, podcasts, videos and virtual book clubs can support nurses with revalidation and professional development. Conclusion: Through using a participatory CPD approach and embracing professional social media applications nurses have moved social media from the concept of a revolution to an evolution.

It is more different than you think: Art libraries in Germany and the UK

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 92-96
Author(s):  
Erica Foden-Lenahan
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Personal Perspective ◽  
The Past ◽  
Anniversary Issue ◽  
Language Environment ◽  
The Uk

Firstly, it is an honour to be asked to contribute to this anniversary issue. AKMB is celebrating 25 years as an organization supporting and representing art and museum librarians and libraries (1). ARLIS/UK & Ireland celebrated 50 years in 2019 and the Art Libraries Journal (ALJ) celebrated 40 years in 2016, so I have spent a lot of my 7 years as editor of the ALJ reflecting on how far we have come. The past couple of generations have overseen tremendous achievements in the profession worldwide and these milestones are an opportunity to reflect on those changes and to look forward. This is a personal perspective and is intended to be (often) light-hearted, it also is limited to what I have observed within the limitations of having attained my education outside of Germany and of operating in a second language environment.

Racing to a staffing solution: an investigation into the current staffing crisis within the UK horseracing industry

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Juckes ◽  
J.M. Williams ◽  
C. Challinor ◽  
E. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Career Progression ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Staff Turnover ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Labour Shortage ◽  
High Staff Turnover ◽  
Media Portrayal ◽  
Job Conditions ◽  
The Uk

The British Horseracing Industry has been experiencing a labour shortage since the 1970’s and despite recent improvements reported in staff retainment, the industry still reports high staff turnover. We investigated staffing challenges experienced by UK horseracing employers and employees, to formulate strategic targets to address any issues identified. Thirty UK trainers and staff (12 staff, 9 senior staff, 9 trainers) participated in semi-structured inductive focus groups lasting on average 39±9 min. Questions explored staff background in racing, perceptions of the current staff challenges, retention and recommendations for improvement. Thematic analysis revealed four higher order themes; (1) lack of skills, (2) differences in perceived work ethic, (3) job conditions, and (4) media portrayal. This study concluded that there are dedicated staff working in the industry, but significant skills gaps, high workloads, poor work-life balance and a lack of training and career progression negatively influence retention in the horseracing industry.

scholarly journals Error Analysis of Students Essays: A Case of First Year Students of the University of Health and Allied Sciences

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Benjamin Amoakohene
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Error Analysis ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Communicative Skills ◽  
Daunting Task ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
The University

Writing is considered as a daunting task in second language learning. It is argued by most scholars that this challenge is not only limited to second language speakers of English but even to those who speak English as their first language. Thus, the ability to communicate effectively in English by both native and non-native speakers requires intensive and specialized instruction. Due to the integral role that writing plays in students’ academic life, academic literacy has garnered considerable attention in several English-medium universities in which Ghanaian universities are no exception. It is therefore surprising that prominence is not given to Academic Writing and Communicative Skills at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS). In this paper, I argue for much time and space to be given to Academic Writing and Communicative Skills, a programme that seeks to train students to acquire the needed skills and competence in English for their academic and professional development. This argument is based on the findings that came out after I explored the errors in a corpus of 50 essays written by first year students of  UHAS. The findings revealed that after going through the Communicative Skills programme for two semesters, students still have serious challenges of writing error-free texts. Out of the 50 scripts that were analyzed, 1,050 errors were detected. The study further revealed that 584 (55.6%) of these errors were related to grammatical errors, 442 (42.1%) were mechanical errors and 24 (2.3%) of the errors detected were linked to the poor structuring of  sentences. Based on these findings, recommendations and implications which are significant to educators, policy makers and curriculum developers are provided. This study has implications for pedagogy and further research in error analysis. 

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