Category Archives: Research progress

Data collection moves forward

My grasp of probability is rudimentary (as Anesa knows), but I knew it was going to be tough to get a group of 5-8 students all to consent to have their data archived, when I was contacting 634 students divided into 110 groups. Despite a response rate of about 33% yesterday, I hadn’t managed it – but today members of one of the smaller groups have all consented. Hooray!

Of course, now I have to get their two tutors to agree – but I’m moving in the right direction.

Teaching roles

I ought to consider teaching in the online environment. Could start by breaking this down into the different roles generally encompassed by the term ‘teacher’ in this sort of environment. Most of them can be passed on to someone else, but perhaps they all need to be done for successful learning to take place?

  • arbitrator
  • instructor
  • moderator
  • organiser of activities
  • supporter.

‘Educators are in the business of making value judgements about what kinds of minds people need.’

I’m sure I’ll be able to add to this list in future.

Poor little blog

There’s obviously a limit to how much text I can face entering on the Intenet at one time. Since I’m musing on SecondLife over in the schome wiki at the moment, that doesn’t give me much time to look at my blog – or anyone else’s for that matter.

I’m increasingly frustrated at the moment because my mailings to students should go out today, but I STILL haven’t had the OK from the course chair, after a couple of months of asking. It’s not a problem from the point of view of archiving conferences, but if I’m going to do epistolary interviews while the course is in progress, I want to get them well underway before Christmas which means starting on them NOW.

Oh, and whenever I go to the digilab to go on SecondLife, there’s always something wrong with SecondLife or the Internet connection, and so I waste far too much time.

Writing up

Inspired by Anesa’s recent blog posts, I have started to write up my thesis!

Karen did suggest a couple of months ago that I could bank some sections of my PhD which I was feeling confident about. Accordingly, I’ve written 1000 words on the ethics of online research, which wasn’t too complicated, as I drew heavily on last year’s U500 presentation. Then I dragged out my mini-viva presentation to use the section of units of analysis. That needs to be added to – I’ve got a couple of articles that I need to reference. Oh, and I’ve done a piece on episolary interviewing. It needs to be tidied up but most of it is in place.

That’s 3000 words or so – hey, I’ve written 5% of my thesis. How cool is that?

Hotting up

Research process is hotting up. First of all, the DZX222 help conference went live yesterday, and there’s already a lot of activity as the students get involved. There are now 701 students on this presentation, which just keeps on growing.

And I’m starting my two student pilot interviews, so that’s an important part of my research underway.

I’d feel happier if the course team had definitely said I could go ahead. I’ve emailed Kathy about that today, so hopefully she’ll get back to me soon.

And I have got SRPP approval, so that’s a move in the right direction.

Hiatus (28.11.05)

Seem to have been doing a lot recently: puting together a poster, applying to be an AL on H807, having lunch with John and Linda, organising WIP workshop, attending Knowledge Network training. Would be good if there were time to get some work done!

And now I’ve lost my PDA. Damn. Where can it be? 🙁

Gill commented:
LOL – reminds me of the day I lost my Clutter Clearing book amongst the mass of papers in my study!!!
Comment from euphloozie – 05/12/05 19:24