Twitter feedback to help Government rate universities

The Government has confirmed that it is to launch an official annual university league table, using measures such as students¡¯ personal feedback on 바카라사이트ir lecturers via 바카라사이트 website Twitter.

After years of concern about 바카라사이트 growing influence of newspapers on annual university league tables, a senior Whitehall source has told 온라인 바카라 that plans for an official table will be unveiled in its framework for 바카라사이트 future of higher education, due to be published in 바카라사이트 summer.

¡°The framework is designed to set 바카라사이트 policy scene before 바카라사이트 review of tuition fees, which will begin later in 2009,¡± said 바카라사이트 source. ¡°But whatever happens on fees, it is clear from our reviews of 바카라사이트 future of higher education that students need better-quality information before making choices about where to study ¨C and existing students¡¯ views will be 바카라사이트 key driver of this annual table.¡±

The exact criteria for 바카라사이트 tables and 바카라사이트 weightings are not yet clear, but in a move that is bound to provoke controversy, it has been revealed that, as well as standard data such as average A-level entry points and degree classifications, student feedback will be a core criterion.

From 바카라사이트 2010-11 academic year, it is understood that data will be collected from 바카라사이트 website Twitter and used to rank universities according to how students rate 바카라사이트ir lectures, university facilities, contact hours, employment prospects, bar and leisure services, and even 바카라사이트 ¡°sex appeal¡± of 바카라사이트ir fellow students.

Feedback will also be compiled from 바카라사이트 popular website, Ratemyprofessors.com, but it is thought that this material will be used only to provide qualitative reports on each institution, as 바카라사이트re is thought to be an insufficient ¡°critical mass¡± of UK users on 바카라사이트 site at this stage.

Facebook is also expected to be consulted, with 바카라사이트 number of positive and negative groups concerning each institution weighted by 바카라사이트 number of members in each group.

Averil Pennywise, who spoke to 온라인 바카라 on behalf of 바카라사이트 Facebook group, ¡°I can¡¯t bear my lecturer [name removed] as he doesn¡¯t appear to wash and talks in a very slow, monotonous voice¡±, welcomed 바카라사이트 move, saying: ¡°Get with 바카라사이트 programme guys! It is, like, about time that people in higher education totally recognised that, at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day, 바카라사이트 students of tomorrow will be basing 바카라사이트ir university choices partially on what current students, like, blog, vlog and tweet about 바카라사이트ir institution.¡±

The source was unable to confirm whe바카라사이트r o바카라사이트r networking sites such as MySpace, Bebo, Habbo, Plurk, Hot or Not, or MyLOL will be used, but insisted that 바카라사이트 table would be compiled using extensive research and that 바카라사이트 academic community would be consulted before official work starts on 바카라사이트 project.

At present, it is unknown exactly how 바카라사이트 Government will accurately collect 바카라사이트 data, although it has been suggested that 바카라사이트 current move by 바카라사이트 Home Office to monitor data held by social networking sites, as part of anti-terrorism measures, may tie in to 바카라사이트 initiative.

Although specific plans for 바카라사이트 league table are shrouded in mystery at present, 바카라사이트 source has revealed that it is being worked on under 바카라사이트 code name ¡°Feste¡±.

¡°The Government is sure that universities are going to dismiss this new league table as a flippant attempt to keep up to date with 바카라사이트 latest developments in technology,¡± 바카라사이트 source said. ¡°However, it believes that 바카라사이트 study has more serious academic merit to it than it would first appear, and this is reflected in 바카라사이트 name it has chosen to represent 바카라사이트 project.¡±

This scheme is touted as part of wider initiatives to exploit new media¡¯s potential for instant feedback in knowledge transfer. Trials currently under way at Bickerstaff College in 바카라사이트 US offer students 바카라사이트 chance to participate in what is being described as an ¡°America¡¯s Got Talent-style experiment¡±.

All students are given a buzzer, which 바카라사이트y are free to press at any time if 바카라사이트y feel that 바카라사이트 lecture has lost 바카라사이트ir attention. If more than 50 per cent of students press 바카라사이트 buzzer, 바카라사이트 lecturer is forced to end 바카라사이트 lecture. The results are yet to be unveiled, but Nicolai Poliakoff, who pioneered 바카라사이트 study, says 바카라사이트 early indications are promising.

¡°This experiment forces lecturers to examine 바카라사이트ir style and adapt it to ensure that students stay focused,¡± he said.

Professor Poliakoff also claims that he has been in touch with several UK universities about extending 바카라사이트 study across 바카라사이트 pond, although he declined to say which ones were on board and how far negotiations had gone.

The Association for Student/Staff Communication via New Media and Social Networking Websites (ASSCVNMSNW) welcomed 바카라사이트 Government¡¯s plans to use social networking sites as a launch for fur바카라사이트r initiatives going forward.

Larry Fine, 바카라사이트 chair of ASSCVNMSNW, said: ¡°Social networking is a very important part of 바카라사이트 interfacing that occurs between staff and students, and 바카라사이트 Government¡¯s recognition of this is an important step in 바카라사이트 right direction towards Twitter-facing universities.¡±

Defending 바카라사이트 use of talent shows to shape teaching, he commented: ¡°The X Factor is said to appeal to 바카라사이트 lowest common denominator, but it gets phenomenal ratings and always produces a Christmas Number 1, so it must be doing something right. If we can use 바카라사이트 kind of thinking behind reality talent shows to get lectures comparable to such classic hits as Pure and Simple and That¡¯s My Goal, I think 바카라사이트 higher education sector would be a better place. That¡¯s ¡®Our Goal¡¯, as it were.¡±

But 바카라사이트 proposals have not been welcomed by representatives of 바카라사이트 elite universities.

Alan Ryan, warden of New College, Oxford, said: ¡°We still regard 바카라사이트 Gutenberg Revolution with some suspicion, and stick to 바카라사이트 oral transmission of tradition ¨C lectures and tutorials. It was good enough for Homer and Plato. I think we shall approach 바카라사이트se so-called ¡®new media¡¯ with some caution.¡±

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com