I did a TLT Talk today on the Learning Design Summer Camp. It was mostly focused on how the event was put together, what influenced us (Berkman, Symposium, unconferences, etc...) unique features, facilities, preparing the attendees, how the day went, and lessons learned. The marketing/communication group recorded most of it, so I'll add the video once it's done. I might need to go back in and cover the last few minutes in a studio -- the memory filled up before I finished.
In any case, when putting together my presentation, it occurred to me that there may be some good qualitative data surrounding the event: pictures, e-mail, blog posts, and survey results, but also, the complete editing history of the wiki we used. The problem with studying this event is that I was in the middle of it. In cases like that, it's really difficult to set aside your biases.
Okay, so if not the Learning Design Summer Camp, perhaps I could sift through the wikis of other community-driven events (Berkman, Northern Voice, etc...) and see how they develop over time. The data exists in the open. I have an interest in event planning. Educational event planning falls within Adult Education. It seems like a good match that could lead to a publication or even my dissertation. I should talk this over with my advisor.
As an aside, this is the first time I've been nervous about posting something online. The PhD dissertation process is built around the idea of filling a gap in existing research. It's possible that a full-time student could take this idea and start working on it before I can get around to it -- and by the time I do, someone else could have made the big publication on this kind of data. But in the grand scheme of things, that is unlikely to happen. Even if it does, it still fills in a gap in the research, whether I was the one to do it or not.
In any case, when putting together my presentation, it occurred to me that there may be some good qualitative data surrounding the event: pictures, e-mail, blog posts, and survey results, but also, the complete editing history of the wiki we used. The problem with studying this event is that I was in the middle of it. In cases like that, it's really difficult to set aside your biases.
Okay, so if not the Learning Design Summer Camp, perhaps I could sift through the wikis of other community-driven events (Berkman, Northern Voice, etc...) and see how they develop over time. The data exists in the open. I have an interest in event planning. Educational event planning falls within Adult Education. It seems like a good match that could lead to a publication or even my dissertation. I should talk this over with my advisor.
As an aside, this is the first time I've been nervous about posting something online. The PhD dissertation process is built around the idea of filling a gap in existing research. It's possible that a full-time student could take this idea and start working on it before I can get around to it -- and by the time I do, someone else could have made the big publication on this kind of data. But in the grand scheme of things, that is unlikely to happen. Even if it does, it still fills in a gap in the research, whether I was the one to do it or not.
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