Tuesday 17 February 2009

What is your Philosophical Paradigm in Educational Research? Reflections by Nelson Dordelly-Rosales

Deciding what is your paradigm is an effort depending of the type of research.

Let's review main concepts. You will find in this site a list of articles that will help to discuss the problem. Below I transcribe the answer that Wiki provides regarding the question:
What are the major differences between quantitative and
qualitative research?
Retrieved May 7th, 2009 from:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_major_differences_between_quantitative_and_qualitative_research

“QUALITATIVE: Concerned with meaning, rather than with measurement. The emphasis is on subjective understanding, communication, and empathy, rather than on prediction and control, and it is a tenet that there is no separate, unique, ‘real’ world. Qualitative methods vary, and are generally based on empirical research, and all qualitative researchers are positioned subjects. As such, the rigour of their research depends not only on the suitability of the methodology, the use of multiple methods, and the inclusion of verbatim quotations, but also on its credibility and transferability. For a checklist for evaluating qualitative research, see Baxter and Eyles, Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 22. There is some discussion over the extent to which the researcher should intervene, and much awareness of the way in which any research process will affect the subjects of the investigation. See also L. Kong, Area 30.”(http://wiki.answers.com)

“QUANTITATIVE: A quantitative attribute is one that exists in a range of magnitudes, and can therefore be measured. Measurements of any particular quantitative property are expressed as a specific quantity, referred to as a unit, multiplied by a number. Examples of physical quantities are distance, mass, and time. Many attributes in the social sciences, including abilities and personality traits, are also studied as quantitative properties and principles.”(http://wiki.answers.com)

References
• Michell, J. (1993). The origins of the representational theory of measurement: Helmholtz, Hölder, and Russell. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, Vol. 24 No. 2, 185-206.
• Nagel, E. (1932). Measurement. Erkenntnis, 2, 313-33, reprinted in A. Danato and S. Morgenbesser (Eds.), Philosophy of Sciences (pp. 121-140). New York: New American Library.
What are the major differences between quantitative and
qualitative research?
Retrieved May 7th, 2009 from http://wiki.answers.com

How important is a portfolio? By Nelson Dordelly-Rosales

An e-portfolio on educational research provides us with the opportunity to share our views about this important field. The challenge to shift to new strategies to assess academic success entails many decisions and changes. This portfolio aims to select, collect, reflect and connect links and publications providing the opportunity for feedback. The focus is on introduction to educational research using an e-portfolio. Through this activity I show that designing an e-portfolio is a matter of assessment and decision making process: Why e-portfolio is a decision-making process to assessing academic success? How do I make e-portfolio decision-making an ongoing and consistent process to assess academic success?According to George Lorenzo and John Ittelson (2005) portfolios can help show the student’s talents; that is, students will be able to display their best products by creating their portfolios. In addition, “positive effects on students’ learning have occurred through the use of portfolio assessment” (Hewett, 2008 p. 3202). E-portfolios “have opened the doors to many opportunities for the person who has a professionally organized display of their finest works” (Hewett, 2008 p. 3200).

How to design an e-portfolio?

1. An Overview of E-Portfolios
- What is a portfolio and why use a portfolio?
- How to develop an e-portfolio: a multidimensional process
- Key Steps in Portfolio Design.
- E-Portfolios in Higher Education

2. E-portfolio as a different way to assess academic success
- A multi-faceted process
- Candidate-centered
- Development of effective e-portfolio:
a) Collection and Selection
b) Reflection and Direction
c) Connection and Publication

3. E-portfolio as a decision-making process to assess academic success: How do I make e-portfolio decision-making an ongoing and consistent process to assess academic success?

Decision 1 Audience: Who should be involved?
Decision 2 Outcomes: What are the purposes?
Decision 3 Contents: What do I need to know?
Decision 4 Strategies: How and when to accomplish the assessment?
Decision 5 Evaluation: Is it an ongoing improvement process?
Continuous process of evaluation and future use

Conclusion and suggestions for future research

Bibliography

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Designing Courses and Teaching on the Web by Nelson Dordelly-Rosales

E- Portfolios in Higher Education: Different higher education institutions use e-portfolios in a variety of careers including art, architecture, medicine, education, journalism, among others. According to Stephenie M. Hewett, the e-portfolios are used “to display a person’s skills and talents” (2008, p. 3200). These institutions have shown and continue to show a strong interest in the theme of E-Portfolios, which is a “different way to assess academic success” (Stephenie M. Hewett, 2008). However, what does it mean ‘a different way’? There is a great need for expertise and experience in this area.

Book Review by Nelson Dordelly-Rosales

Mercedes Fisher, Designing Courses and Teaching on the Web: A “How-To” Guide to Proven, Innovative Strategies (Lanham: Scarecrow Education, 2003)
________________________________________________________________________

This book is about (main discussion) Themes or topics

• The Constructivist Approach to Online Learning with Technology, Effective Planning and Design for Online Teaching, Foundation for Instructional Screen Design, Communication and Community Create Online Success and Evaluating the Student.

• This book focuses on pedagogical strategies, guidelines, rubrics, and plans for implementation, and explains the benefits and liabilities of interactive learning, online collaboration, knowledge sharing, project-based learning, future-thinking faculty, and technology supported curriculum, and program innovation.

• This book provides information, examples and check lists of online course maintenance, technology resources, tools, online tutorials, journals, instructor’s websites and “real-time chat activity.”
________________________________________________________________________
The author argues that:

• The framework presented in the book, provides an excellent scaffold for instructors to base their web-based instruction on.

• Successful online courses must become systematic, even organic.

• Soon, education will no longer be defined by static guidelines but rather by growing, changing, and evolving sets of opportunities, technologies, projects and people. Connecting others that might not otherwise be connected can provide important, new ideas to the group.
________________________________________________________________________
The author makes the following statements or cites the following references on support of his/her argument (provide 2-3 quotes):

• The challenge for teachers is to use the technology in new and unique ways instead of just trying to recreate traditional lessons. “’Shovelware’ is widespread in today’s online courses. Instead of making a pedagogical change in delivery, a teacher simply “shovels” current content into new container (A.B. Fraser, 1999, b8). Like, Arthur C. Clarke, we agree that information is not knowledge, knowledge is not wisdom, and wisdom is not foresight. Each grows out of the other and people need them all.” p.xvi

• Socrates noted that a teacher is only a midwife to students, who must carry out the labor of learning themselves. There is no learning unless the student is the worker. The student learns by listening, by writing, by arguing, by imagining, by building, by drawing, by experiencing. ( Fisher, 2003 p.13

• Learning is a social process that occurs through interpersonal interaction within a cooperative context. Individuals, working together, construct shared understanding and knowledge (David Johnson, Roger Johnson, and Karl Smith, 2002)
________________________________________________________________________
The author concludes that:

• There are five major challenges of proactive application of online teaching and learning: (1) “selectivity,”(depending on time and money), (2) “malleability,” creativity the author explains that ‘morphing’ method describes computer user’s ability to take something and change it into something else, i.e., Forrest Gump wherein the fictional character interacted with 3 dead presidents…as educators and course designers, we have always rested in the notion of fact, verifiability, and reality, (3)“vulnerability,” the author says that the vulnerability that technology has created is both liberating and threatening in the sense that it expands students ‘capabilities as well as increases their dependence on technology. Also from a knowledge standpoint, students are becoming increasingly dependent on those people who are proficient with technology (4) “exclusivity,” that is, some people know about technology and others don’t know, (5) and “superficiality” the academic and social challenge for instructors is to navigate through the “clutter” and accumulate a true body of knowledge. (Fisher, 2003, p. 167-169)

• Regardless of the teacher experience, s/he can use the information, instructional strategies, principles, activities, and processes outlined in this book to make decisions about pedagogical issues and to become a better course designer and facilitator. The teacher can create online courses with the image s/he wants and the impact s/he needs. (Fisher, 2003, p. 176).
________________________________________________________________________
The author feels that the challenge for instructors and institutions is how to create educational experiences for students that enhance learning and take advantage of the inherent capacity of the World Wide Web. A unique aspect of quality online courses is how they rely heavily on effective collaboration to create a meaningful learning environment. (Fisher, 2003, p.1-224).
________________________________________________________________________
Are any references given (footnotes or bibliography)? What is the size of the reference section? Are the references recent, important? How are the references used: for support, rebuttal, etc.?

One hundred forty six references are provided, dating from 1947 to 2002.