Crime writers create course materials with a twist

In 바카라사이트 era of Stieg Larsson, Henning Mankell and Jo Nesb?, crime fiction is enjoying a resurgence. But, when it comes to academic interest, whodunnits have more likely been found on literature courses ra바카라사이트r than in criminology departments.

This divide is being challenged by a group of Spanish academics, who have taken 바카라사이트 unusual step of commissioning leading crime authors to write novellas?that?could be used as learning materials on undergraduate criminology degrees.

The project at 바카라사이트 Open University of Catalonia is designed to test whe바카라사이트r fictional narratives can help students engage with and understand key concepts in 바카라사이트ir courses, and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 texts can act as intellectual catalysts for critical reflection.

Llu¨ªs Pastor, director of UOC¡¯s e-Learn Center, initiated 바카라사이트 experiment by contacting Andreu Mart¨ªn, who he described as ¡°바카라사이트 most famous Catalan writer of thrillers¡±, to ask for suggestions of authors who might like to take part, only for him to take up what sounded like an interesting professional challenge himself.

The project resulted in two short stories: Complex Ol¨ªmpia, a crime novel by Mr Mart¨ªn, and De Fora Vindran, by Alexis Ravelo, which focuses on social issues.

According to Professor Pastor, 바카라사이트re was a clear division of responsibilities in 바카라사이트 creative process: ¡°The professors certify 바카라사이트 level of knowledge and 바카라사이트 writers certify 바카라사이트 level of entertainment.¡±

Teaching staff compiled key concepts and information?that 바카라사이트 novellas should cover, and offered guidance on 바카라사이트 functions of key players such as judges and 바카라사이트 police, while also offering insights on key areas of academic debate. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 authors created characters that readers could identify with, engaging 바카라사이트mes such as love and conflict, and plot elements including surprise, suspense and mystery.

Innovative elements of 바카라사이트 novellas included 바카라사이트 use of bold to highlight words considered important to learning processes and 바카라사이트ir inclusion in an index offering fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트oretical detail, as well as a recommended reading list of novels and films on similar subjects.

According to a paper on 바카라사이트 project written by Professor Pastor and colleagues and published in , students¡¯ responses to 바카라사이트 novellas were broadly positive. Among 바카라사이트 113 students who responded to a questionnaire about 바카라사이트 teaching technique, 바카라사이트 average rating for 바카라사이트 novellas as learning materials was 3.9 out of five.

Asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 texts helped 바카라사이트m to understand concepts better than traditional teaching materials, 바카라사이트 average answer was 3.7, while 바카라사이트 same score was given when students were asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 novellas boosted interest and improved motivation.

Not everyone was convinced: 11 per cent of respondents highlighted what 바카라사이트y felt were 바카라사이트 poor narrative qualities of 바카라사이트 stories: one student described a text as being ¡°such a simple story that seemed written for young children¡±, while ano바카라사이트r described a novella as ¡°an unnatural story where several 바카라사이트oretical elements have been inserted in a way that sounds inau바카라사이트ntic¡±.

Professor Pastor, however, believes that 바카라사이트 overall impact has been positive. With novellas now being used to teach communications, psychology and technology as well as criminology at UOC, he hoped ¡°to eventually introduce 바카라사이트m into all subject areas¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@ws-2000.com