Qual 2/Dissertation Fieldnotes

I have GOT to dig up literature. 

And here are the questions I need to address as I sift through everything...

1. What research has been done with teachers' perceptions of online classess?...of the transfer from onland to online?
2. What research has been done that explores the building of community -- the chemistry -- the bonding (or lack of) in online classrooms?
3. What does the  research say about the narratives of regarding online courses?

At least that's the way I interpreted my jottings and scribbles from the meeting.

Other issues and notes from the same meeting:

• perceptions - identity deception (song 'So Much Cooler Online' and recent issue in news of students creating false identities for their teachers)
• types of attitudes toward online teaching (resistant, positive, unsure)
• academic integrity
• learning
• learning on the fly
• resistance to teaching online

Maybe some instructors are asking 'How do I make my classes do-able online?'

After my interview with Brian, and after working through my proposal, I am realizing that my work is sifting into two piles:  meeting objective and faculty perceptions.  In fact, here's what I just sent to my professor:

Read the rest of this entry ... (556 words left)

I finally got the electronic file of the interview and I spent the next 16 hours typing when I had moments here and there.  I got it done, thank heavens.  But in the typing I had thoughts emerge...(emic?)  I am thinking that when people consider if objectives are being met, they also have to consider what KIND of class is being taught!! Is it a lecture class?  Is it based on discussion or community? 

Read the rest of this entry ... (1263 words left)

Still waiting on my interviewee to send me the electronic copy of our interview.  For two reasons, I realize now that I shouldn't have agreed to let him send it to me -- I should have just said "That's okay.  Let's burn this quickly and I'll be ready to type"  -- or something diplomatic like that. (1) He's going the extra mile and 'cleaning up' the audio so I can transcribe it easily.  (2) I am dependent on him to send me the file when he is done -- and that might be AFTER my assignment is due. 

Read the rest of this entry ... (140 words left)

Well, I had another interview with an instructor that teaches onland and online.  I am not sure how I feel about this research now. Brian (psuedonym for the person I interviewed) is extremely articulate and exact in his thoughts and words. When others listen to the audio recording, it will be very clear how commanding his voice is.  He's a thinker and he speaks authoritatively.  He knows what he thinks...he's a philosophy guy for god's sake.  He keeps records like crazy.  He's "seen this online trend coming since 1999."  After the interview I feel totally overwhelmed by my research/dissertation topic.  Intimidated. Not that my topic is too large, but that my research is not interesting or needed.

Read the rest of this entry ... (112 words left)

In preparation for revising my proposal for Qual 1, I talked with a friend of mine that was traveling with me in Belize.  She and I were taking a class together in Belize via OSU.  We suffered so...  I think that everyone should go to Belize to revise their proposals -- we'll see if I still think that after I get my grade and response on the proposal!  She read my draft and loved all of the feedback that I had received.  She is working on her first problem statement exercise for a class and as I read hers, I can see a little more about how these need to evolve and become so definite and concise.  The reason I feel sorry for her is that she is just experimenting with a topic and doesn't even plan to keep with it for her ultimate study -- but this is just her second semester of course work, so I bet she'll be okay.

Read the rest of this entry ... (456 words left)

Okay.  The first thing is that after my class last night, I realize that I am doing a field log more than I am doing field notes.  At least that is what I think I am supposed to be thinking and doing.  Whatever. I am going to write a little bit about how my topic has solidified in my mind a bit since discussing it so much over last summer.  THEN I will dig out my old proposal draft and see where my idea has grown and changed.  Should be interesting.

Read the rest of this entry ... (307 words left)

For the purposes of my Qual 2 class and my grad student life (nearing dissertation time) I have to keep field notes of the research I am doing.  Or just fieldnotes of the process of getting ready for research.  And writing this post makes me realize/remember that I need to do that IRB thing at OSU so that none of my efforts are wasted and they can all count toward my dissertation research.

Read the rest of this entry ... (176 words left)