08/16/2018: Finally found a research topic

Today I found the topic for my research project. I want to investigate the following question: Can e-learning tools, such as blogs, wikis, or podcasts, foster the students' understanding of democratic forms of communication as well as motivate them to act accordingly?

Since this idea is still in its baby shoes, I have not yet developed a complete plan to realise that research. This planning process will be my primary activity in the days to come.

08/21/2018: Developed more definitive guiding questions

Topic:

E-Learning Tools, Democratic Teaching and Student Participation

Research questions:

Can e-learning tools, such as blogs, wikis, or podcasts solve as a democratic teaching method?

Can e-learning tools foster the individual student’s participation?

Method:

A survey among the fellow proPIC students (see below)

09/02/2018: Published questionnaire and asked the other ProPIC participants to answer it

09/10/2018: Until now, there were only ten answers to the questionnaire. I hope that there will be some more until next week so that I can make some assumptions based on quantitative data. Otherwise I will have to find another strategy of evaluating upon the answers given.

09/14/2018: The Design Thinking Process Applied to my Research Project

At the end of the Study Week in Barcelona, we reflected upon the various research projects using the phase model of the Design Thinking Process as is, for example, proposed by Welsh & Dehler (2013). This was an activity that helped me in further defining my research goals because I noticed that some of my thoughts were not that well understandable for those who dealt with my research project outline. In the presentation below, the working results are visualised.

09/17/2018: Specification of the Research Question

I specified my research question to:

How can e-learning tools, such as blogs, wikis, podcasts, or real-life resembling games, foster the students’ understanding of democratic forms of communication and enhance their degree of participation?

09/25/2018: Analysis of the Answers to the Questionnaire

Today I analysed the answers that I received to my questionnaire. Because there were only 11 participants I decided to exclusively do a qualitative data analysis focussing on the answers that were given to the open questions. The most controversial topic was that on the attitudes of the changing understanding of the concept 'community' at times of online communities. Some believe that the value of the term stays, while others believe that the anonymity of online communities devalues the term.

09/26/2018: Recommendation on How to Use E-Learning Tools in Order to Foster the Students' Understandings of Democratic Forms of Communication and Enhance their Participation (based on the research results)

1. Be a good example in terms of the use of digital tools.

* make mindful professional decisions on when, how and for what purpose you use digital tools in teaching

* be an expert in using these tools

2. Educate your students following the goal of making them digitally literate.

* teach them about the chances and risks of the internet (goal: students should be critical decision makers when it comes to working with New Media)

* teach them how to communicate appropriately on the internet (-> 'netiquette', prevention from bullying and trolling)

* teach them how to use the internet for educational purposes (they should become digital experts instead of staying solely digital natives who know how to use the internet and New Media for their freetime)

3. Introduce your students to the various e-learning tools.

* when to use them

* how to use them (YOU are the expert and should have tried them out beforehand)

* for what purposes to use them

4. Use e-learning tools in appropriate, communicative contexts.

* Wikis: collaborative writing, sharing knowledge ('collaborative intelligence'), negotiating meaning, researching

* Blogs: collaborative writing, (global) networking, reflective practices, negotiating meaning, sharing thoughts, assessment (students' working progress is visible, direct feedback is possible)

* Podcasts: creating final product to present and share working results, negotiating knowledge and meaning, assessment, reflective practices

* Communities: collaboration, negotiating meaning, discussing (current) issues, agreeing upon certain topics/working strategies

* Real-life resembling games: collaboration, agreeing upon strategies to be used, preparation for situations they might be confronted with in their (future) every-day lives

5. Technology is always in progress. Keep informing yourself about technological innovations, be open to use them and try something innovative.