David Warlick has posted on this subject. His thoughts may make an interesting addition to the pot. The question of ethics comes up quite often in our class discussions, and we often conclude that a purely ethical approach would be paralysing to the future of research. At what point do the ends sufficiently justify the means to press ahead with research even though people may be negatively affected or given and unfair advantage as a consequence? Where do ethics end and political correctness begin? Lots of questions. Fewer answers.

Steven is part of an increasing number of peope who are publishing their text books themselves online where students and other interested parties can access them free of charge. This book is likely to prove useful to me as I come to grips with academic writing, particularly in respect of my dissertation. For those for whom the recommended texts seem pricy, it might be worth considering…

Eep! When I had to write a critical review early on in this course, one of the pointers given to us by a professor was to assess whether the research methodology was appropriate. I felt like quoting my younger son’s favourite expression: the what-now-who?

Then I learnt that I was going to have to adopt a research methodology of my own for my dissertation. Oh pants! How was I going to do that when I didn’t know what the blooming things are, let alone how they work? Well, gradually, things are becoming clearer. We do not yet have crystal, but we have moved away from mud!

We have spent time looking at each of a few different methodologies and exploring the extent to which they are practical (and even practicable) within the context of our situations. So I have diligently taken notes on positivism, interpretativism, case studies, interviews, personal construct psychology, experimental and quasi experimental design and observation. There are a few more methodologies to follow.

My current hot favourite thing at the moment, though, is Judith Bell’s book Doing your Research Project. I swear this book is going to save my hide. Not only does it have a lot to say about action research, it also has a lot of very accessible information about methodologies. I took the book with me on holiday recently (yeah, I know – it’s got sand in it, now!) and I found the section that will be the making of my dissertation, I reckon: Narrative inquiry and stories. I kid you not. Narrative. Stories. I can do that. I can so do that. I have done that all my life. I think in analogies and allegories. I have used them for 20 years as a teaching tool. I used to have my learners in stitches teaching absolute references in Excel by means of a story about ballet dancing toddlers. I am an (unpublished) author of several children’s stories and poems. My children used to beg me, “Read us a story out of your head, Mom!” Bell says: “narrative enquiry can involve reflective autobiography, life story or the inclusion of exerpts from participants’ stories.” I am a born story teller. And telling my own story, as I strive to improve my practice as a learning professional through the use of social media? Bring it on!

I read that section of Bell’s book on the plane going to Spain. The light went on for me. I read it again on the beach. The light stayed on. I know at least one person whose hair will stand on end if he has anything to do with a research project like this. I will just have to make sure that he doesn’t, I guess.

A few weeks ago, I spent a valuable half hour or so with my course leader, talking about the educational research project that is designed to lead me to the topic of my dissertation. Up in smoke went all my previous lofty ideals about games and simulations in learning and the balance between those immersive environments and the increasing trend towards just-in-time, learner driven, random access (call it what you will) online learning resources.

Rats! Although I realise the practical issues would have been difficult, because I have not yet had any direct involvement with a blend that includes these delivery media. Quizzes and the like are the closest I have come. So far….

What she suggested however, was that I opt for an action research project. This makes sense. I am constantly seeking to drive my practice forward, but I don’t work within the education system or an organisation that gives me access to information about a cohort of learners. She recommended the Action Research website, which has proved interesting, if counterintuitive in terms of navigation.

Some useful things I have found on the site have been:

• Jean McNiff’s booklet: Action research for professional development: concise advice for new action researchers. The document is free to download – isn’t it wonderful that some researchers are so generous with their stuff? But then, as she says in the introduction to the third edition “I have learnt from Jack (Whitehead) the power of sharing ideas to generate new ones”
• A whole raft of action research theses, which, even if they don’t help me with the content of my own dissertation, will certainly inspire me towards a title and help me get a clearer idea of how to tackle things.
• Margaret Farren’s many publications around action research as well as around the sort of areas that interest me.
• Jack Whitehead’s writings - wow, this guy is prolific!
• A list of living theory theses. It’s fascinating to see the sort of topics that make acceptable PhD theses. I was tickled pink by Eleanor Lohr’s thesis title: Love at Work: What is my lived experience of love, and how may I become an instrument of love’s purpose? I haven’t actually read the thesis yet, but wow! Just wow! It fills me with hope that this can be regarded as academic writing.
• Action Research expeditions, which uses “the expedition as a metaphor for the processes of action research”

I have been delighted with the level of enthusiasm and passion evident in the materials. I was so afraid of having to translate my labrador-puppy-with-oversized-paws type enthusiasm and lack of panache into something erudite and urbane and, well, dry and dusty.

What I haven’t been able to establish is whether any of these folks blog. I shall have to ask. Of course, I am now brimming with enthusiasm and keen to meet them all in person.