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<strong>for</strong> different activities <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> university. The students also developed<br />

skills <strong>for</strong> apply<strong>in</strong>g Facebook tools <strong>for</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r educational purposes such<br />

as creat<strong>in</strong>g study groups. They also <strong>in</strong>dicated <strong>the</strong>ir enthusiasm towards<br />

<strong>the</strong> skills acquired dur<strong>in</strong>g VDS 3. The students agreed that <strong>the</strong>y started<br />

apply<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> skills <strong>the</strong>y acquired <strong>in</strong> VDS 3 such as work<strong>in</strong>g toge<strong>the</strong>r<br />

(team work<strong>in</strong>g) and <strong>the</strong>y used it <strong>in</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r areas <strong>of</strong> study. The students<br />

also agreed that <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g skills <strong>the</strong>y learnt <strong>in</strong> VDS 3 were<br />

help<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m when applied <strong>in</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r subject areas.<br />

7.7.2 Interviews<br />

The <strong>in</strong>terviews conducted with <strong>the</strong> lecturers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> University <strong>of</strong> Sharjah<br />

also revealed that <strong>the</strong> lecturers adopted skills <strong>the</strong>y acquired while<br />

observ<strong>in</strong>g VDS 3. The most important factor is <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> e-portfolio <strong>for</strong><br />

educational purposes. Facebook is becom<strong>in</strong>g very popular among <strong>the</strong><br />

lecturers and <strong>the</strong> students and it is becom<strong>in</strong>g a crucial element <strong>for</strong><br />

exchang<strong>in</strong>g and stor<strong>in</strong>g educational materials.<br />

Us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> blogs has also attracted <strong>the</strong> staff and <strong>the</strong> students at <strong>the</strong><br />

University <strong>of</strong> Sharjah and it is becom<strong>in</strong>g part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> assessment<br />

procedure <strong>in</strong> some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> modules taught at <strong>the</strong> University.<br />

7.7.3 Observations<br />

Us<strong>in</strong>g Facebook as an observational tool, <strong>the</strong> researcher observed <strong>the</strong><br />

cont<strong>in</strong>uous use <strong>of</strong> Facebook as a communication tool. The students<br />

make regular access to Facebook. Many events are published on<br />

Facebook and many materials are witnessed to be shared us<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Facebook tools. The students also cont<strong>in</strong>ued updat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir e-portfolio<br />

and are regularly contact<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> coord<strong>in</strong>ators <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> VDS 3 ask<strong>in</strong>g <strong>for</strong><br />

fur<strong>the</strong>r workshops.<br />

The researcher also observed <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> creative tools <strong>the</strong>y acquired<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g VDS 3. The corridors at <strong>the</strong> University <strong>of</strong> Sharjah show <strong>the</strong><br />

students use and application <strong>of</strong> skills such as metaphoric th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g by<br />

l<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir ideas to a metaphorical icon or someth<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong> nature<br />

surround<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

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