Creative Hive is an online platform designed for creative students at the University of Salford to share their work and projects. It is accessible on mobile devices and allows students to create personal spaces to showcase their work. Over 200 creative students from different disciplines and institutions have joined Creative Hive so far, posting blogs and projects. Literature suggests that arts-based courses are more likely to utilize e-portfolios. While 58% of users found Second Life motivating for joining, time and technology were cited as barriers to greater participation. Recent developments include international students and connections between Creative Hive and other creative communities.

1. Alex FentonECE 2011 Alex Fenton

2. Once upon a time…

3. University of SalfordMA Creative Technology / EDinteractive

4. EDinteractivewww.edinteractive.co.uk

5. “The students we teach have never known a world without digital media and mobile, devices. They expect resources to be free …education is colliding with social networking, which is exciting, fast and very disruptive.” – Professor Martin Hall, 2010

7. 200+ Creative students posting blogs and projects

8. Creative Hive designed to work on mobile devices

9. Creative Hive designed to work with other tools

10. Example of a personalised space of a sculptor

11. A personalised space of an artist / teacher

12. Personalised Hive space of BSc Computing student

13. Example of a personalised Hive space of BA textiles student

14. “Immersive learning implies the use of multiple and more natural interfaces with the e-Portfolio than present keyboard driven inputs. Such developments may be some time off.” Graham Attwell, 2008

16. E-portfolios in the immersive world of Second Life

17. Creative Hive Exhibition Part 1 in Salford - Launches 25 July

18. Creative Hive Exhibition Part 2 in MediaCityUK

19. MediaCityUK, Salfords building, in “The Egg”

21. Many different disciplines, institutions & alumni

22. 50+ courses represented

24. Who joined? Many MSc and BSc students joined but MA and BA students contributed more posts by a ratio of three to one. Literature suggests that Arts based courses in Higher education are more likely to set up an e-portfolio. Registrations by course type Which courses made most posts

25. Second Life participation and Time 58% of people surveyed indicated that Second Life had been a motivational factor to them for joining Creative Hive. Time and technology were cited as barriers to participation in the pilot period.

27. Connections & collaborations (composers & Hives)

28. Creative Hive physical Exhibitions