Blogs in Action Research Robert Runt é , University of Lethbridge

Blogs as research tool inexpensive alternative to project management software establish virtual communities in area of specialization track developments in one’s field manage data brainstorm with colleagues document priority in formulation of key ideas supervise research assistants, pace one’s work disseminate results

inexpensive alternative to project management software

establish virtual communities in area of specialization

track developments in one’s field

manage data

brainstorm with colleagues

document priority in formulation of key ideas

supervise research assistants, pace one’s work

disseminate results

Project management increased productivity in collaborative projects all team members may post RSS informs when anyone posts communication not lost in sea of email

increased productivity in collaborative projects

all team members may post

RSS informs when anyone posts

communication not lost in sea of email

Project management increased productivity in collaborative projects team members report and document what has been accomplished each day backs up work in central depository track progress towards project goals /deliverables

increased productivity in collaborative projects

team members report and document what has been accomplished each day

backs up work in central depository

track progress towards project goals /deliverables

Project management increased productivity in collaborative projects synergistic exchanges everyone’s contribution documented assistants supervised remotely

increased productivity in collaborative projects

synergistic exchanges

everyone’s contribution documented

assistants supervised remotely

Concerns Accountability for commentary ‘stealing my ideas’

Accountability for commentary

‘stealing my ideas’

Private Research Blogs Personal Knowledge Management Tool

Content management Easier management of online clippings, resources, links, conference notes, musings

Easier management of online clippings, resources, links, conference notes, musings

Public Research Blogs Networking and Dissemination Tool

Content management automatic archiving; use comment function to provide updates use RSS to keep up with the latest news from colleagues or course-relevant websites

automatic archiving; use comment function to provide updates

use RSS to keep up with the latest news from colleagues or course-relevant websites

Networking with colleagues “ non-intrusive emergent collaboration” Blog attracts colleagues Readers critique and contribute updates Specialized community evolves

“ non-intrusive emergent collaboration”

Blog attracts colleagues

Readers critique and contribute updates

Specialized community evolves

Networking with colleagues Latest research speculation is in blogs not journals stay in contact with practitioners in the field (e.g., classroom teachers)

Latest research speculation is in blogs not journals

stay in contact with practitioners in the field (e.g., classroom teachers)

Blogs as Data

diary research millions of personal diaries available on-line spontaneous, non-reactive: “found data” pre-typed, formatted, date stamped, archived, and indexed RSS feed allows for easy monitoring of very large samples

millions of personal diaries available on-line

spontaneous, non-reactive: “found data”

pre-typed, formatted, date stamped, archived, and indexed

RSS feed allows for easy monitoring of very large samples

diary research snowball sampling postings hyperlinked trackback function comment function

snowball sampling

postings hyperlinked

trackback function

comment function

diary research three different types of samples blog content characteristics of the blogger linkages between blogs / bloggers

three different types of samples

blog content

characteristics of the blogger

linkages between blogs / bloggers

diary research two sampling biases digital divide bloggers literate, habitual writers factual inaccuracies drive for readership

two sampling biases

digital divide

bloggers literate, habitual writers

factual inaccuracies

drive for readership

ethical issues published data (?) anonymity designated levels of privacy choice to include RSS registered with indexing services.

published data (?)

anonymity

designated levels of privacy

choice to include RSS

registered with indexing services.

anonymity quotations and google reused aliases cummulative detail failure to use anonymizing technologies

quotations and google

reused aliases

cummulative detail

failure to use anonymizing technologies

informed consent may not understand “public” tag may be traced through links to public blogs deleted postings not gone public posting may not imply willingness to participate in study

may not understand “public” tag

may be traced through links to public blogs

deleted postings not gone

public posting may not imply willingness to participate in study

blogs as data collection tools sustained asynchronous focus group directed journal entries student assignment journals

sustained asynchronous focus group

directed journal entries

student assignment journals

Student blogs as data Unlike class discussion, comments are recorded, pretyped, chronologically archived, titled, and indexed can provide more authentic feedback on readings, teaching

Unlike class discussion, comments are recorded, pretyped, chronologically archived, titled, and indexed

can provide more authentic feedback on readings, teaching

authentic feedback Check for understanding E.g., discovered % of students did not recognize satirical readings check for student reactions E.g., discovered which readings / topic too challenging, too boring, too irrelevant (from student perspective)

Check for understanding

E.g., discovered % of students did not recognize satirical readings

check for student reactions

E.g., discovered which readings / topic too challenging, too boring, too irrelevant (from student perspective)

authentic feedback Students much more reticent in face-to-face class discussion Classes too large for more than vocal minority to speak attempt to hide if they didn’t understand or disapproved of reading /discussion

Students much more reticent in face-to-face class discussion

Classes too large for more than vocal minority to speak

attempt to hide if they didn’t understand or disapproved of reading /discussion

authentic feedback Vectored viewing -- reading between the lines of student responses Commentary on class, on classmates, family, etc., often included and provided key insights for adapting teaching

Vectored viewing -- reading between the lines of student responses

Commentary on class, on classmates, family, etc., often included and provided key insights for adapting teaching

Ethical concerns assigning blog for teaching purposes does not automatically allow use in published research need prior human subjects research approval need prior informed consent need post-course informed consent

assigning blog for teaching purposes does not automatically allow use in published research

need prior human subjects research approval

need prior informed consent

need post-course informed consent