Qual 2/Dissertation Fieldnotes

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? 

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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