News Archive

Project team probe online personas – University of Reading

This is Me is an exciting new project looking at Digital Identity; how we represent ourselves online, and how others might interpret and use that information.

Technical manager Pat Parslow, based at OdinLab in the School of Systems Engineering, said: "This is very topical issue – it's becoming increasingly important to know how to present yourself on the Web, and we need to be able to develop learning materials so that students and staff can learn how do this."

Funded by charitable foundation EduServ, the 8-month project aims to collect data from staff, students and possibly a few celebrities about their use of social networking sites such as Facebook, how they present themselves in blogs, as well as their views and concerns about their online selves.

The project website, thisisme.reading.ac.uk, will encourage users to contribute their own Digital Identity stories, and contain regular news and opinion on this increasingly hot topic.

For further information contact p.parslow@reading.ac.uk or s.c.fleming@reading.ac.ukThis is Me is a joint project between the Centre for the Development of Teaching and Learning (CDoTL) and the School of Systems Engineering (SSE). The project team is headed by Senior Lecturer at SSE Dr Shirley Williams and Sarah Morey, Learning Support Manager at CDoTL. Pat Parslow, SSE researcher, is This is Me's Technical Manager, and the Project Assistant is Sarah Fleming. Further contributors are Finbar Mulholland and David Stanbury at the Centre for Career Management Skills.

EduServ is charitable organisation which supports the effective application of information and communication technology in education. Established in 2003, the EduServ Foundation offers funding for activities which promote the better use and understanding of IT for learners and researchers.