title: New tools for a new age: An evolution or revolution in higher education?
abstract: In this paper we describe how digital technologies can be used to enhance collaboration and student engagement in a large, multicampus undergraduate science unit. Four innovations developed and implemented over a period of eight years are described: use of electronic whiteboards, on-line discussion forums, social media and blogs. In showing the intermediate steps in the evolution of the use of digital and communication technologies, we demonstrate that to be effective, good educational principles are paramount.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Roslyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gleadow
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Honeydew
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia; Peninsula Library, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Allie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Bronwyn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Isaac
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia; School of Environmental & Rural Science, University of New England, New South Wales, 2351, Australia.
authors.forename: Kirsti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abbott
keywords: collaboration; communication; higher education; science communication; social media