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3 months to complete the draft of the curriculum

After 3 months of completing the course "Communication Concepts", Nguyen Ngoc Linh, a master's student majoring in communication at Deakin University, received an invitation to write the course's textbook. "I was really surprised when Ms. Erin Hawley - the lecturer in charge of the course - invited me in September 2023. I had 3 months to complete the manuscript. By May this year, the book was published and put into use in the new school year. This is a rare opportunity for international students like me," said this international student. In this course, Ngoc Linh contributed a case study on the topic of identity in communication. "The content of the article was inherited and edited from the final essay of the course. For me, this subject was very abstract when I first started studying. So I believe that case studies will help students understand the content and requirements of the subject, as well as complete the assignments more easily," Linh said. Linh also shared that with a general and multicultural topic such as identity in communication, it is necessary to have an article reflecting the perspective of one's country to better connect knowledge and absorb it. During the writing stage of the textbook, Ngoc Linh could not help but feel anxious and worried. "Although I can do well on my assignments, writing a textbook is a completely different matter. I am concerned that my presentation may not meet the academic standards and language style of the textbook. Besides, I have to recall the knowledge that was imparted 3 months before the writing time to apply it to my article," Linh confided. According to Ngoc Linh, the difficulties were resolved thanks to the enthusiastic help of the instructor. “As the main author, Ms. Hawley provided specific guidance on the requirements for writing the course related to language, citations, etc. She also provided detailed feedback so that I could better understand the academic requirements and how to develop the content accordingly. I realized that my perspective was a unique point that could contribute to the value of the course,” Linh said.

PHOTO: NVCC

13 co-authors are learners

Speaking to Thanh Nien , the main author of the course, Dr. Erin Hawley, Director of the postgraduate program in communication at Deakin University, said that the students were invited to contribute to the course because they came from many different fields. “Some students have worked as journalists, television producers or graphic designers. Each person’s specialized knowledge and cultural background becomes valuable when it is shared among students,” Dr. Hawley said. Regarding the “media concepts” course, Dr. Hawley said that this is a form of open educational materials (OER), in which the foundation is cooperation for educators and learners to inherit and adjust the content when needed. “It makes sense to include the perspectives of learners from multiple countries. This allows learners to understand from both their own and other cultural perspectives. No one teacher can represent all the cultures and identities of their learners. So if learners only receive one teacher’s perspective, learning will not be effective,” Dr. Hawley added. To publish an open textbook, Dr. Hawley said: “The author needs to write a proposal and have it approved by a subject expert. This is the same process that applies to open educational materials and commercial textbooks.” According to Dr. Hawley, OER is widely deployed in the world today.

PHOTO: DEAKIN RESEARCH ONLINE

“OER is therefore not just happening at Deakin University or in Australia. OER is focused on benefiting students and improving their lives and experiences. Students can access OER online for free, which reduces the financial burden, compared to commercial textbooks, which are often very expensive,” Dr Hawley said. Working with 13 student co-authors, Dr Hawley said the process went smoothly. According to Dr Hawley, the key element of the collaborative process was clarity. “Students needed to be equipped with specific information and time frames. They also needed to be given autonomy in reviewing and editing their manuscripts. In addition, students were provided with information about the Creative Commons licensing system regarding copyright issues, as well as participating in a workshop on open learning resources and copyright organized by library staff,” Dr Hawley said.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mot-du-hoc-sinh-viet-duoc-tham-gia-viet-giao-trinh-khi-hoc-thac-si-tai-uc-185241109100740115.htm