This appendix contains a transcript of a discussion between the two assignment authors, Megan Dick and Alastair Reynolds. The purpose of the discussion was to compare and contrast each others' cases studies and analyses, and to jointly reflect on and discuss their findings.
NOTE: The discussion was carried out on ExcitePal, an Internet-based real-time communications program.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Discussion participants : Megan Dick and Al Reynolds ----------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Al Hi Megan how are you? Megan Fine thanks....you? Al I think we should be pleased that we've almost finished our assignment - and I'm well thank you Al Your pages look great. Megan Thanks. Again, our work seems to mesh quite well. Al Yes - although our cases were quite different Megan It is finished pretty much! All appendices and formatting etc. Al Did you get the comments I mailed you? Megan Oh, yeah. Hang on, haven't had a chance to read them. Al Anyway, we ought to decide what this discussion is for - any ideas? Al I thought it would be good to look at what we've gained from doing the assignment (personal development) Megan To figure out our joint conclusion. I think that we considered very different cases of staff development, so we should figure out a way of looking at them. Al I guess the three factors were the common theme, although it's becoming clear that they come in different measures Megan Yeah, but that can be explained by the different stages we were at on the Passey and Ridgeway scale. Al And that things aren't as clear cut as we'd sometimes like them to be. Megan Should we put a bit in about how we found writing an assignment like this? And how useful ExcitePal was for documenting conversations? Al I guess we could talk generally about what we've learnt by doing the research Al I found the electronic communication a useful way to work collaboratively. Megan OK...topics for discussion then. 1) Personal development 2) case comparison 3) Format of assignment Megan Though not necessarily in that order? Al By format of assignment do you mean style of working? Megan Yes. Al So (1) Case comparison (2) Style of working (3) Personal development Al Our cases are pretty different but the models still seemed to be appropriate (just at different levels) Megan Yes, exactly. I found that the three factors for assessment were more relevant to your case, as my staff has not progressed as far. Al But both our cases are following Passey & Ridgeway's phases fairly closely (at different stages) Al The interesting thing for me was that there are so many factors which influence each situation and make it different. Al Do you think we can actually draw concrete conclusions from cases like these? Megan No, probably not. Well, maybe. We can definitely compare the cases and learn from them ourselves. We did draw conclusions, but those were our personal ones on our pages. Al And I suppose someone else in a similar situation would be able to relate to them and learn from them as well. Megan Well, we have basically tried to analyse our cases based on the relevant research. That is useful, as all concrete case studies can add something. Al So the cases speak for themselves really - we shouldn't feel we have to come up with some big discovery - a large part of the benefit will be to ourselves (and possibly others in similar situations) Megan Right. Our assignment was reflection. Al yes. Megan So, is the address now /assignment/index.htm? Al yes Al but you can leave off the index.htm Al but not all browsers will find it Megan Oh...OK, so will leave it in. Al anyway, what about (2) Style of working - have you found it easy working collaboratively or on-line? Megan It has gotten easier. We should have spent more time collaboratively working on the on-line format. I think we spent too long doing that at the beginning rather than agreeing a format and then formatting our pages. Megan On-line is not a problem for me. :) Al no - me neither - and it's quite a good medium for working together. Megan You build up a record of exchanges through e-mail and chatting that is very useful Megan It is also extremely easy to share work by e-mailing it each other. Al but you definitely need to be Internet-literate or you could easily get bogged down. Megan And be used to this style of chat. Al I think planning is important when collaborating -like you said about the formatting Megan But this was a first time! Megan And I am really pleased with what we have produced. Al and we've managed to get it finished in time. Megan Ahead of time! Al hopefully it will be useful to others on the courses Megan Should we mail Paul with the suggestion that all use ExcitePal? Al yes Megan I'll mail him then. Al have you found any disadvantages of working on-line? Megan Can't actually think of any. Al again I think it would have made a difference if we hadn't been so comfortable with the systems, or if we hadn't been of a roughly similar level of ability. Megan Or had compatible specialities. Megan Is the working on-line part of our assignment? I guess it is in the sphere of reflection. Al Should we mention that knowing each other well beforehand can help? Megan Dunno....hmm. Al Although I think we would have been OK even if we hadn’t met because of the fact we use the net so much. Megan It has made a big difference. But I think we would have gotten on well if we had just met. Megan Touche! Megan I was going to add... because we are always on-line. Al Apparently we are telepathic :) Megan Just finished reading changes....Not too many! What did you think of the ones I sent you? Al I added them in Megan I think we have written some worthwhile stuff! Al PS you spelt something wrong in the appendices - COMPETANT should be COMPETENT :) Megan Yeah, Appendix D right? Al I think so Al It actually reads quite well - and we'll end up with very close to 8000 words. Megan Now? Or with the conclusion? Al With the conclusion. Megan Were the changes to appendix.htm OK? Al Yes they were fine Megan OK...where were we. Al Anyway - that just about covers (2) - let's do (3) - Personal development - what have we learned / gained? Megan I have learned a lot about how to plan a staff development strategy. Al Yes - and I've realised that every situation is complex and has to be dealt with individually Megan I have also learned how long the process of innovation can be. This is easy to ignore as you merrily go along reading government documents. Al I feel I've learnt a lot about research methods and how to do research, Megan OK...and that staff development has to be specifically targeted to the people involved or it will be useless. Al coming from a maths background means the qualitative paradigm is all new to me Megan I knew before that a high level of support was needed after training, and was surprised that his was not dealt with more in the literature. Al Chapter 18 has some stuff on it - as do the DITTE texts Megan They do have *some*. But it is often not dwelt on very much and I do feel that it has a major role to play. Al I think support is probably the *most* important because it's the on-going one. Megan Yes, learned lots about research methods. and what was acceptable. Al And not acceptable :) Al I think I'll be much more prepared for the next assignment - this one has been quite a steep learning curve. Megan Huge learning curve. Megan You have to be very good at independent learning to do well at this type of studying. Al I think it's the first time that I've done almost completely independent learning. Al I think one thing we've certainly implemented well is peer tutoring. Megan Yes, that goes hand in hand with our compatible strengths. Al So we make a good group and ought to stick together. Al Perhaps we will publish papers together someday ;) Al Anyway - I think we've covered the ground we need to. Al I'll format up this document and send you it so you can summarise it for the conclusions. Megan Okay then. Al Shall we do what we did in the last one and just sum up here? Megan Right. Al OK - so I'll type the area (e.g. style of working) then we each add thoughts then type 'DONE' and then do the next one - OK? Megan OK. Al (1) Points from comparison of cases. Al Models apply but at different levels and stages. Megan Depending on progress of particular case. But all parameters applied to both cases and made comparing them interesting. Al Situations are very complex and need to be dealt with individually. Megan And need to consider all factors to make a coherent staff development plan. Megan Also, we did pick out very useful factors to use in our analysis. Al No need to draw concrete conclusions from case - value is in study/reflection and relatability to others' situations. Megan DONE Al DONE Al (2) Style of working. (on-line and collaborative) Al I found that on-line working suits collaborative work, Megan Basic ways of working collaboratively on assignment found, like making sure to do formatting first and then add this to the pages we have written. Al Having Internet skills beforehand a definite advantage. Al Planning is important when working collaboratively. Megan ExcitePal is very useful in this style of work, as conversations can be recorded. One can also look at the work being referred to at the same time. Al Much easier than transcribing discussions or interviews. Megan You need to spend time becoming comfortable with the medium in order to use it to its full advantage. Megan Also provides good record of collaborative work. Megan You do need to spend quite a bit of time on-line, or this medium does not work. Al I think the fact we were comfortable with it was more important than the fact we knew each other beforehand. Al Absolutely right about time on-line. Al And tutors need to also. Megan Yes, and the fact that we both were willing and able to spend time chatting and comparing our work. Al And work pretty hard. Al DONE Megan You need to check regularly with each other. When this happens, as did with us, you get pieces of work, done separately that mesh very well. Megan DONE Al (3) What have we learned/gained? Al Much greater understanding of the qualitative research paradigm. Megan That a staff development program MUST take the users needs into account, and should train people how to use an application that is relevant. Megan Rather than just how to use computers. Al That it is always dangerous to assume things will happen as you expect because everything is so complex. Megan The process of introducing and assimilating an innovation takes a while if all people are to be included. Megan Exactly. Megan You also need to figure out the exact level of expertise of the people who need training before you begin. Al How peer tutoring can be effective in our context (as in us doing assignment) Al That theory can be a useful reference point from which to consider personal experience. Megan And that doing an assignment collaboratively can be twice as useful, especially when trying out new styles of learning. Al Practical experience of web design. Al DONE Megan Experience of how to write a paper in 3D rather than linear. Megan Did that make sense? Al Kind of hypertext rather than linear text. Megan Yeah, that is it. Megan DONE Al I'll edit this up then send it to you so you can do the conclusions in jnt_conc.htm Megan I'll fix and upload the other pages meanwhile...before I get to my marking and planning. Al OK - better go now. Megan Bye! Al Cya. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ - End of transcript ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------